README file for abc tools

Hello all.

 This is an OS/2 - eCS port of some ABC utilities, written in C. I ported these
applications  for eCS  using the new  GCC  4.3.3 port for  OS/2  built by  Paul 
Smedley, who deserves our praise (and our money :-)) for his huge work.

 Every executable in the archive  is described  in the corresponding  man page,
written in the standard UNIX man format. Basically:


- abc2abc is a reformatter/checker/transposer for ABC files.
- abc2midi converts ABC files into MIDI format
- mftext dumps a MIDI file in a textual format
- midi2abc does the reverse of abc2midi
- midicopy copies a selected track from a MIDI file in a new MIDI file
- yaps converts an ABC file in PostScript format. It gives results like abcm2ps
  but uses some different algorithms.


 Take a look at the  manpages  (you can  format them if you want,  provided you
have some UNIX environment or ported apps for OS/2) for more informations about
the programs' switches from command line.
Documentation for the programs is available also as HTML file for abc2midi  and
in plain text format, for  abcmatch and  yaps (alternative PS formatter for abc 
score files).

 Please note that these apps have been built with the first GCC 4.3.3 port from
Paul Smedley, and because of this they need the common LIBC dlls which everyone
of you should already have  (if you use the latest Mozilla  you should  already
have them installed), together with the (included) gcc433.dll. Simply keep this
dll in its original position, or (to avoid the dreaded DLL Hell) copy it into a
suitable location included in the LIBPATH variable in CONFIG.SYS file.  Notice,
however, that I tried to launch these executables without references to the DLL
and they worked flawlessly (so maybe these programs do not need this DLL).

 Please keep in mind that neither I nor Paul Smedley give *any*  warranty about 
the correct behavior of the programs present in this package. The GCC port from 
Paul is experimental and should not be used without precautions, like backup of 
your source files (i.e. all your ABC files should be copied somewhere). I tried 
the programs, and got zero problems, but the recommendation is always the same:
USE THESE PROGRAMS AT YOUR RISK.  Neither I nor Paul Smedley will be liable for
any kind of damage could  possibly  arise from  proper or improper  use  of the 
programs here contained. You've been warned...

 After these  oh-so-unkind  recommendations, I hope you will use these programs
and maybe report me about success or failure stories. Have fun!

Mentore Siesto
Team eCS Italia
eCS Dev Team
mentore.siesto@alice.it