BARfly Help

BARfly Help - Options Menu - Settings for loading and saving BAR implementation files

Settings for loading and saving BAR implementation files

Select Options.BAR I.F. Load/Save Settings to bring up the dialog box to the left. From this dialog, you can modify how BARfly handles the loading and saving of implementation files.

Many of the loading and saving options, such as those that involve automatic compilation, are only available in BARfly Gold. You cannot save or compile an I.F. in BARfly Silver or BARfly Bronze.

Loading Settings
- Check validity of binary/mixed formats on load: BARfly has an internal "schema for schemas" implementation file that it can employ to ensure that a compiled I.F. is valid before attempting to use it. Check this setting to have BARfly perform a rigorous examination of an implementation file's validity as a pre-load step. This takes a bit longer than if the setting were unchecked, but it is safer.
- Attempt compile of text formats on load: BARfly can automatically compile text-only versions of implementation files as a post-load step. The results of the compilation can vary: a successful compilation instantly transforms the I.F. into a "mixed" format, while an unsuccessful compilation reports errors to the log and leaves the I.F. in text form.
- Attempt compile of mixed formats on load: BARfly can automatically compile mixed versions of implementation files as a post-load step. Generally, this is not necessary because an already-compiled binary portion of the file exists from a previously successful compilation. Still, sometimes the user might want recompilation on load as a matter of principle.
- Do not allow forward compatibility: Any one particular version of BARfly attempts to load all the features that it can for a particular I.F. If an I.F. was built with a later version of the compiler and thus has additional features, this setting will prevent BARfly from attempting to use it.
Saving Settings
- Attempt compile before saving: BARfly can automatically compile text-only and mixed versions of implementation files as a pre-save step. If the compilation is unsuccessful, the I.F. is not saved.
- Automatically choose binary format when using "Save As": When you choose File.Save File As from the menu for an I.F., you are given the opportunity to select, from the File Type combo box, one of the three storage formats for implementation files. By default, BARfly chooses "mixed" if it is available. If you check this setting, BARfly chooses "binary" initially instead of "mixed."
- Save backup text copy: If checked, this setting causes a text-only version of the implementation file to be saved as a backup file in the same directory as the original I.F. This happens whenever you save a mixed-format I.F. Backup files have the same filename as the original, with its "BAR" extension replaced by "BAK."
Open master registry on BARfly startup: The easiest way to get started in BARfly is to use the master registry, and having it always load on BARfly startup helps you start work right away. Note that the master registry MUST be opened on startup if you want to open a data file in BARfly from the command line, since the data file's schema is taken directly from the master registry.