Subject: Using Turbo Profiler

64. *****
 Q: How do I get started with the Turbo Profiler?

 A: Borland's separate Turbo Profiler is a powerful tool for
improving program code and enhancing program performance, but far
from an easy to use. It is an advanced tool. In fact setting it up
the first time is almost a kind of detective work.
   Let's walk through the steps with Turbo Profiler version 1.01 to
see where a running Turbo Pascal program takes its time.
Assume a working directory r:\
1. Copy the target .PAS file to r:\
2. Compile it with TURBO.EXE using the following Compiler and
   Debugger options. The standalone debugging option is crucial.
     Code generation
      [ ] Force far calls        [X] Word align data
      [ ] Overlays allowed       [ ] 286 instructions
     Runtime errors             Syntax options
      [ ] Range checking         [X] Strict var-strings
      [X] Stack checking         [ ] Complete boolean eval
      [ ] I/O checking           [X] Extended syntax
      [ ] Overflow checking      [ ] Typed @ operator
                                 [ ] Open parameters
     Debugging
      [X] Debug information     Numeric processing
      [X] Local symbols          [ ] 8087/80287
                                 [ ] Emulation
     Debugging         Display swapping
      [X] Integrated    ( ) None
      [X] Standalone    () Smart
                        ( ) Always
3) Call TPROF.EXE
4) Load the .EXE file produced by compilation in item 2.
5) Choose from the TPROF menus
     Statistics
       Profiling options...
         Profile mode
          () Active    ( ) Passive
          Run count
           1
          Maximum areas
           200
6) Choose from the TPROF menus
      Options
       Save options...
      [X] Options
      [ ] Layout
      [ ] Macros
     Save To
      r:\tfconfig.tf
7) Press Alt-F10 for the Local Menu. Choose
     Add areas
       All routines
and so on.
8) Choose Run from the TPROF menus (or F9)
9) Choose from the TPROF menus
      Print
       Options...
     Width
      80
     Height
      9999
      ( ) Printer     ( ) Graphics
      () File        () ASCII
     Destination File
      r:\report.lst
10) Print
       Module...
         All modules
         Statistics
           Overwrite
Also see Edward Mitchell (1993), Borland Pascal Developer's Guide.
It has a a very instructive chapter "Program Optimization" on the
Turbo Profiler. The material in the Turbo Profiler manual is so
complicated that additional guidance like Mitchell's is very much
needed.
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