The error-table compiler
========================

   The error table compiler is named `compile_et'.  It takes one
argument, the pathname of a file (ending in `.et', e.g., `dsc_err.et')
containing an error table source file.  It parses the error table, and
generates two output files - a C header file (`discuss_err.h') which
contains definitions of the numerical values of the error codes defined
in the error table, and a C source file which should be compiled and
linked with the executable.  The header file must be included in the
source of a module which wishes to reference the error codes defined;
the object module generated from the C code may be linked in to a
program which wishes to use the printed forms of the error codes.

   This translator accepts a `-language LANG' argument, which
determines for which language (or language variant) the output should be
written.  At the moment, LANG is currently limited to `ANSI-C' and
`K&R-C', and some abbreviated forms of each.  Eventually, this will be
extended to include some support for C++.  The default is currently
`K&R-C', though the generated sources will have ANSI-C code
conditionalized on the symbol __STDC__.