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1
2This directory contains a Pascal (Delphi, Kylix) interface to the
3zlib data compression library.
4
5
6Directory listing
7=================
8
9zlibd32.mak     makefile for Borland C++
10example.pas     usage example of zlib
11zlibpas.pas     the Pascal interface to zlib
12readme.txt      this file
13
14
15Compatibility notes
16===================
17
18- Although the name "zlib" would have been more normal for the
19  zlibpas unit, this name is already taken by Borland's ZLib unit.
20  This is somehow unfortunate, because that unit is not a genuine
21  interface to the full-fledged zlib functionality, but a suite of
22  class wrappers around zlib streams.  Other essential features,
23  such as checksums, are missing.
24  It would have been more appropriate for that unit to have a name
25  like "ZStreams", or something similar.
26
27- The C and zlib-supplied types int, uInt, long, uLong, etc. are
28  translated directly into Pascal types of similar sizes (Integer,
29  LongInt, etc.), to avoid namespace pollution.  In particular,
30  there is no conversion of unsigned int into a Pascal unsigned
31  integer.  The Word type is non-portable and has the same size
32  (16 bits) both in a 16-bit and in a 32-bit environment, unlike
33  Integer.  Even if there is a 32-bit Cardinal type, there is no
34  real need for unsigned int in zlib under a 32-bit environment.
35
36- Except for the callbacks, the zlib function interfaces are
37  assuming the calling convention normally used in Pascal
38  (__pascal for DOS and Windows16, __fastcall for Windows32).
39  Since the cdecl keyword is used, the old Turbo Pascal does
40  not work with this interface.
41
42- The gz* function interfaces are not translated, to avoid
43  interfacing problems with the C runtime library.  Besides,
44    gzprintf(gzFile file, const char *format, ...)
45  cannot be translated into Pascal.
46
47
48Legal issues
49============
50
51The zlibpas interface is:
52  Copyright (C) 1995-2003 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.
53  Copyright (C) 1998 by Bob Dellaca.
54  Copyright (C) 2003 by Cosmin Truta.
55
56The example program is:
57  Copyright (C) 1995-2003 by Jean-loup Gailly.
58  Copyright (C) 1998,1999,2000 by Jacques Nomssi Nzali.
59  Copyright (C) 2003 by Cosmin Truta.
60
61  This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
62  warranty.  In no event will the author be held liable for any damages
63  arising from the use of this software.
64
65  Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
66  including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
67  freely, subject to the following restrictions:
68
69  1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
70     claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
71     in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
72     appreciated but is not required.
73  2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
74     misrepresented as being the original software.
75  3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
76
77