
Mint - the Syntax Checker
=========================


DESCRIPTION

  The Mint application provides a robust syntax-checking facility for Maple
  code files.  Access Mint by using the method appropriate for your operating
  system.

    Windows:       From the Start menu, choose Programs, then Maple 7,
    		   then Mint. Enter the filename in the parameters box. 
    		   Alternativey, you can type "mint filename" in a DOS 
    		   window.

    Macintosh:     Double-click on the Mint icon, then open the text file 
		   that contains Maple input by choosing "Open" from the 
		   File Menu and choosing the file from the dialog box.

    UNIX:          Enter "mint filename" at the command line prompt, where 
		   filename is the file you want to check.
  
  You can specify the level of information you require by specifing the
  following options before the filename.  If the info_level option is not
  specified, the default is level 2. To choose a level, use the option -i
  info_level where info_level is one of the following.

    0    no information

    1    severe error messages only 

    2    severe and serious error messages

    3    warnings and error messages

    4    usage, warning, and error messages

  Mint displays a report for each procedure in the file, followed by a global
  report for statements not contained within any procedure.  If the severity
  of errors found within a procedure is less than what info_level specifies,
  then Mint does not produce a report for that procedure.

  A severe error is an undisputable error, such as a break statement outside
  of any loop. A serious error is almost certainly a coding error, such as two
  nested loops using the same control variable, or code appearing immediately
  after a return statement. Warnings indicate possible coding errors, such as
  using an equation as a stand-alone statement (suggesting that an assignment
  was probably intended).


OTHER PARAMETERS

  To get a list of the other parameters that you can pass to Mint, type
  ?mint at the Maple prompt.


USING MINT INTERACTIVELY

  To use Mint interactively, do not enter a filename when entering parameters
  for Mint.

  If you are using the interactive version of Mint, Mint will display
  information about the Maple commands that you enter.


NOTES FOR WINDOWS USERS

  To store the output of Mint in a file, you must use Mint from a DOS session.
  For example: To run Mint on a file called mint_in.txt and store the output
  in a file called mint_out.txt, issue the following command from a DOS
  session:

    mint mint_in.txt > mint_out.txt


TO EXIT AN INTERACTIVE MINT SESSION

  To quit the Mint application, do one of the following:

    Windows:         Press 'Ctrl+Z,' then 'Enter'. Close any window by 
                     clicking on the close window button (X) at the
                     top of the window.

    UNIX:            Press 'Ctrl+D'.

    Macintosh:       From the "File" menu, choose "Quit".

For more information on the workings of Mint, refer to the help pages for
Mint. Type the Maple command ?mint or refer to the Mint man page (UNIX only).
