Microsoft KB Archive/37311

= A Handle Points to a Pointer to a Macintosh Heap Block =

Article ID: 37311

Article Last Modified on 1/8/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft QuickBasic Compiler for Macintosh 1.0

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This article was previously published under Q37311



SUMMARY
Many of the Microsoft QuickBASIC Toolbox Library (MBLC) routines make use of handles for manipulating resources.

A handle is a pointer to a block of memory in the Macintosh heap. This pointing structure is used to allow dynamic memory allocation and management by the system to occur without creating havoc.



MORE INFORMATION
The Macintosh heap space is managed by the System dynamically. Parts of the heap can move around. The System can compress the information in the heap to one location, allowing a large continuous block of heap space for other applications.

A handle will actually point to a master pointer, which in turn points to a particular block in the heap. When the system performs its memory allocations and management, it only knows the location of the master pointer. It does NOT know the handle's location. Thus, when the memory block is moved, the master pointer is updated, which in effect updates the handle.

Additional query words: MQuickB

Keywords: KB37311

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