Dear Friends, Thanks to Ron Anthony and Steve Lelievre for sending me programs they wrote for DeltaCad BASIC. Both programs included algorithms provided by Fer de Vries.
While no expert, I have had some experience with BASIC programming for sundials, starting with GWBASIC, then moving to QuickBASIC, and DesignCAD for DOS which included a BasicCAD programming language. I still use DesignCad and BasicCAD to draw my sundials. While I have only had the demo version of DeltaCad for a few days, I have some observations. Perhaps others with more experience can provide more. The BASIC macro language used by DeltaCad includes some of the annoying features of other BASICs. Among other things, there is no built in inverse sine function and it insists on angles expressed in radians. TurboCad, one of the alternatives mentioned, uses Visual Basic which I have found to be somewhat like trying to write Chinese music. The DeltaCad drawing interface appears adequate but meager. I would like a custom toolbox. However, all things considered, and given the price to suitability ratio, I think DeltaCad would make a good choice for a program members of this list could use to exchange files, drawings, and programs. Ron, thanks for taking on the responsibility of coordinating the order. I would not order ten copies unless there are enough people ready to purchase so you can cover yourself. Bob Terwilliger
