Most of the executable files provided with MASM 6.0 are new or revised. For a complete list of these files, read the PACKING.LST file on the distribution disk. The book Installing and Using the Professional Development System also provides more information about setting up the environment, assembler, and online help system.
The macro assembler, now named ML.EXE, is capable of assembling and linking in one step. The command-line options are completely new. For example, the new /EP option produces a listing file during the assembler's first pass. Command-line options now are case-sensitive and must be separated by spaces.
For backward compatibility with version 5.1 makefiles, a MASM.EXE utility is included. When you run MASM.EXE, it translates version 5.1 command-line options to the new version 6.0 command-line options and calls ML.EXE. See the Microsoft Macro Assembler Reference for details.
H2INC converts C include files to MASM include files. It translates data structures and declarations but does not translate executable code. For more information, see Chapter 16, “Converting C Header Files to MASM Include Files.”
NMAKE is the new version of the MAKE utility. NMAKE provides new functionality in evaluating target files and more flexibility with macros and command-line options. For more information, see Chapter 10, “Managing Projects with NMAKE.”
PWB is an integrated environment for writing, developing, and debugging programs. See Installing and Using for information on using PWB, and the Reference for information on command-line options. See also Chapter 14, “Customizing the Microsoft Programmer's WorkBench,” and Chapter 15, “Debugging Assembly-Language Programs with CodeView.”
The Microsoft Advisor online help system has been added to MASM 6.0. It provides a vast database of online help about all aspects of MASM, including the syntax and timings for processor and coprocessor instructions, MASM directives, command-line options, and support programs such as LINK and PWB.
See Installing and Using, Chapter 4, for information on how to set up the help system. You can invoke the help system from within PWB or from the QuickHelp program (QH).
You can use the HELPMAKE utility to create additional help files from ASCII text files, allowing you to customize the online help system. For more information, see Chapter 11, “Creating Help Files with HELPMAKE.”
MASM 6.0 contains the most recent versions of LINK, LIB, BIND, CodeView, and the mouse driver. The CREF program is not included in MASM 6.0. The Source Browser provides the information that CREF provided under MASM 5.1. For more information on the source browser, see Chapter 3 of Installing and Using the Professional Development System or online help.