PORTING A SIMULATION FROM THE IBM WORLD TO THE MACINTOSH WORLD Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Exercises, Volume 17, 1990 188 PORTING A SIMULATION FROM THE IBM WORLD TO THE MACINTOSH WORLD David J. Fritzsche, University of Portland Richard V. Cotter, University of Oregon ABSTRACT The issues examined are 1. Which platform is best for developmental work? 2. How can you physically transfer code from one platform to the other? And 3. What modifications in code need to be made before the simulation will run on a Mac? WHICH PLATFORM? Our discussion is limited to the use of QuickBASIC from Microsoft on both platforms. BASIC is the language used for most microcomputer based simulations, and QuickBASIC is the most popular version of BASIC in use. The platform of choice for initial development is dependent upon the stage of development of the QuickBASIC language for each computer. Currently the IBM version of QuickBASIC is more advanced than the Mac version. This is not surprising, as QuickBASIC for the 113>1 has gone through four versions while QuickBASIC for the Mac is in its initial version. The difference between the two may disappear when the second version of QuickBASIC for the Mac is released. QuickBASIC for both machines support mice. On the ‘IBM, a mouse is mandatory. On the IBM, a mouse is desirable. Several features which make the IBM version attractive include the ability to split the edit window into two windows showing different parts of the program simultaneously, the viewing of subprograms as separate sections of the main program, and a history record feature which records the last 20 lines of code executed. You can step through the 20 records either backward or forward. The random access file handling for the IBM is also more advanced and thus easier to use. Keyboard commands let the user move more easily through the file when riot using a mouse. Finally, QuickBASIC for the IBM includes an excellent help system. The Macintosh version’s search menu offers a Jump To option which allows you to go to any line of the source code by entering the number of the line in the associated dialog box. Compiler errors include line numbers even if the statements do not have numbers. And, of course, the Mac’s graphics are easier to use. PHYSICALLY TRANSFERRING THE CODE There are several ways to transfer code between IBM compatible and Macintosh computers. One can simply retype the code into the other computer from a source code program listing. A second method is to use a translator package such as MaclinkPlus offered by Datavitz. A third method is to obtain a special disk drive and board which connect to a Mac II or a Mac SE. The last method, If you have access to a Macintosh with a FDHD floppy disk drive and a 3 1/2-inch disk drive on an IBM compatible computer, is to use the Mac Apple File exchange utility. CODE MODIFICATIONS While there are some slight differences in the standard BASIC code, most of the QuickBASIC code written on IBM compatible machines will run without modification on the Mac. However, there are significant differences in the input/output sections of code. Disk Drives If you are using sequential access files, the file handling statements are identical for both platforms. However, you may need to alter file path names if they are included in the program where MS-DOS uses root and subdirectory designations, the Mac operating system uses volume names, folders and applications and documents. (An application is a program while a document consists of text or numerical data.) Random access file statements for the Mac are identical to the random access statements for the IBM in QuickBASIC version 3. Numeric data must be converted to string data using MKD$, MKI$ or MKL$ statements. In addition, a new random access file may not be opened directly. Instead, you must first open a new file as a sequential access file and then close the file. Then the file may be opened as a random access file. Path specifications are the same as those discussed above for sequential access files. Screen The macintosh does not contain a text mode. All output to the Macintosh screen is in graphics mode. Graphics, including text, are developed using Quick-Draw, a part of the macintosh Toolbox. Other parts of the Toolbox may be invoked to create the output you desire, but the actual output is drawn by Quick-Draw. Graphics output developed on the IBM will have to be completely rewritten to run on the Macintosh. Likewise, are extensions to QuickBASIC for the IBM such as the assembly routines from Micro-Help will not function on the Mac. The Macintosh Toolbox should be used to insure that applications adhere to the standard Macintosh user interface, and thus users will not have to learn new procedures for accessing, and using the program. There also should be no unpleasant surprises when a new version of the Macintosh operating system is introduced. The Toolbox makes use of Macintosh RON and thus saves code in the application program. The Macintosh Toolbox may be accessed from QuickBASIC in three ways. First the Toolbox may be accessed using built-in QuickBASIC commands. Second, the Toolbox may he accessed through libraries. Third, the Toolbox may be accessed by using QuickBASIC’S Toolbox statement. The built-in QuickBASIC commands used to access the Toolbox will likely be sufficient to handle most simulation needs. The first step in building the user interface with the Mac is to create custom menus where needed. This is done using MENU statements. Following the menu creation, a window is opened using the WINDOW statement. Once the window has been opened, the data entry screen can be created. This is done by using EDIT FIELD statements to create data fields and PRINT statements to provide informative text. Developments In Business Simulation & Experiential Exercises, Volume 17, 1990 189 Table of Contents Volume 17, 1990 The Impact of Decision Support Systems on the Effectiveness of Small Group Decisions - Revisited The Relationship Between Financial Performance and Other Measures of Learning on a Simulation Exercise Use and Effectiveness of an Analogy-Based Expert System Suggestions for Computerized Business Authors Dealing with Power: An Experiential Exercise Using Movie and Personal Diary Analysis Techniques A Model for Developing Student Skills and Assessing Outcomes Through Outdoor Training Computer-Aided Exercises Versus Workbook Exercises as Learning Facilitator in the Principles of Marketing Course An Exposition of Guilford's Si Model as a Means of Diagnosing and Generating Pedagogical Strategies in Collegiate Business Education Formal Planning and Simulation Team Performance: A Cross Sectional Approach Cases: Real Organizations in Real Time in the Classroom An Empirical Investigation of the Internal Validity of Marketing Simulation Game An Empirical Evaluation of the Pedagogical Value of Playing a Simulation Game in a Principles of Marketing Course Factors Affecting Effective Teaching of Strategic Planning: Some Preliminary Evidence An Experiential Exercise for Learning About the Relationship Between Organizational Form & the Project Management Process Accounting Communication Skills can be Taught in the Auditing Course Modeling Cost Functions in Computerized Business Simulation: An Application of Duality Theory and Sheppard's Lemma A Life Cycle Analysis of Decision Making for a Strategic Management Team What's the Problem? A Dynamic Model for Teaching Problem Solving Skills Experientially International Currency Fluctuations: Money$im, A Simulation Superstores: A Specialized Retailing Simulation Within a Specialized Marketing Curriculum Factors Affecting Student Perceptions of Learning in a Business Policy Game VC + EL = VL The Name Game: An Experiential Exercise in Intergroup Relations The Effects of Experiential Accounting Work Experience on Student Performance in Intermediate Accounting Courses The Results of Using the Experiential Activity Group Performance Evaluation in a Business Policy Setting Using a Legal Database to Describe the Legal Environment of Marketing (and Business) Matching Environmental Uncertainty and Organizational Configuration An Instructional Computer Simulation of Tampering in QC Executive Evaluation of Student Learning in the Looking Glass Simulation Group Personality Composition and Total Enterprise Simulation Performance An Expert System for Selecting Analytical Techniques for Analyzing Marketing Research Data Effects of Cognitive Styles on Responses in an In-Basket Simulation A Psychometric Analysis of Kolb's Revised Learning Style-Inventory Selecting and Developing Experiential Exercises Using Movies Application of a Real-World Strategic Management Model in the Classroom Demand Equations which Include Product Attributes Consumption as the Objective in Computer-Scored Total Enterprise Simulations The Effects of Decision Format and Evaluation on Simulation Performance, Decision Time, and Team Cohesion The Effects of Computer Related Assignments on Student Performance in Business Administration The Money Game: A Dynamic Simulation Including Random Shocks for Money and Banking Courses Methods for Evaluating Performance on Business Simulations: A Survey The Effects of Synergogy on the Policy Course: Significant Improvements in Student Learning and Teacher Evaluation Conditions and Outcomes of Trust in a Two-Person Bargaining Exercise Bankgame Enhancing Computer Business Simulation with the Use of VGA Graphics An Experiential Approach to Entrepreneurship An Advanced Simulation Method (ASM) for Multiple Objective Problems The Influence of Experiential learning Techniques on Student Recognition of Non-Primary Learning Styles Negotiating Mergers and Acquisitions: A Cocktail Napkin Approach Identification of Unintended Effects in Experiential Laboratory Exercises An Experimental Comparison of Paper and Pencil and Computer Aided Decision Support Tools Porting a Simulation from the IBM World to the Macintosh World A Transaction Cost Analysis of Experiential Learning The Development of Experiential Exercises for Courses in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management The Assessment Center as and Experiential Classroom Exercise Pricing Strategy Algorithms for Playing Business Simulations Organizational Structures for International Operations: An Experiential Activity Simulation Emphasis in the Business School Capstone Course An Integrated Approach to Computerizing the Business Curriculum Cross-Cultural Business Negotiations Exercise Organizational Socialization and Gender Differences in Students at Work Understanding Student Work Experience: A Content-Analytic Approach Introducing Executive MBA Programs with Management Games An Analysis of Improvement in Business Decision Outcome with Sequential Use of Two Simulation Games Teaching Business Policy Utilizing Mass Lecture and Individual Case Labs Potholes Along the Road to Evaluating Learning Outcomes: The Case of Outdoor Management Training Experiential Learning for Interior Design Students: Using CADD, Lotus 1-2-3, and Wordperfect Cognitive Learning Using a Computer-Based, Qualitative Interactive Business Simulation Sex Discrimination: Does the Woman get the Job or Does the Best Man Win? A Search for Visual Aids to Support Experiential Learning Through the 1990's An Experimental Analysis fo the Effectiveness of Student Role-Playing in Sales Training How to Have Students Learn from their Term Projects Self-Evaluation Exercise (SEE): An Assessment of Class Contribution A Study of the Influence of Team Formation on Attitudes and Performance in Management Games A Hardware Based CIM Simulation Laboratory Model Test Substance Abuse in Organizations Micro Computer Training Models Teaching Forecasting, Cash Budgeting and Inventory Model Building Using SBTools A Comparison of the Effects of Experiential Learning Activities and Traditional Lecture Classes An Adjunct Writing Instruction Assistant, The Computer; With an Illustration Classroom Software for ABC Analysis Utilizing Information Processing Technology to Enhance the Business Policy Simulation Experience Progressive Cases Realistic Job Previews Vs. Traditional Job Previews: Experiencing the Differences and Understanding the Consequences Investment Analysis Using the Pragmatic Multiplier Approach A Computer Simulation Interface for Competitive and Firm Analysis Self-Assessment of Ethical Decision Making Predispositions Preparing Managers for Overseas Assignments An Inquiry into Japanese Marketing: Workshop on Teaching Japanese Marketing The Performance Appraisal Feedback Interview: A Role Play for Human Resources Management Teaching Counselor Selling techniques Using Experiential Techniques to Teach International Topics International Management Simulation Gaming: Current Status and Future Developments A Realism Comparison of Simulation Technologies/Methodologies A Time-Efficient Game to Illustrate Concepts Taught in Management Courses and Management Development Programs Teaching the Management of Technology The Concept of Face and the Applicability of Experiential Exercises in an Oriental Culture's