In the introduction I was throwing with some difficult words. These words aren't that difficult, but I think it clears up a lot of confusion just to explain how CA3 actually works...
An IDE is a shortening of Integrated Development Environment. This means it's an application which has an editor and a compiler in one. Good examples of IDE are WBASS and COMPASS... The word wrapper is actually the same, the only difference is that a wrapper uses an external compiler to compile sources made in the editor. It's kind of an 'wrap around' the compiler program. A good example of a wrapper is Chaos Assembler 2.
The compiler is the base of programming. A compiler is used BOTH in an IDE and in a wrapper. The compiler makes binary (compiled) data of sources typed in some kind of editor. A good example of this approach is GEN80. GEN80 users mostly use TED (a dutch Text EDitor) to create ASCII sources (which of course can be created by any text editor which can save it files as an ASCII file).
What is the best approach and why?
All three approaches have both advantages as also disadvantages.
1. IDE
IDE has one big advantage. Because the compiler is IN the application you won't have to use an external compiler and the source you try compile will always be compiled, as it's the same program that edits and compiles. The big disadvantage of the IDE approach is that you have to have written the compiler yourself or you should have the source of the compiler and also have to know how it works.
2. Wrapper
Wrappers also have a big advantage. Because it is external, the compiler can change version and the wrapper (which didn't change of version) still can handle the new compiler. This of course also comes in handy because at that moment only the compiler has to be replaced, this is quite handy when having HTTP or e-mail transfer in mind. A wrapper also has one big disadvantages. The wrapper has to call the compiler correctly, this means the wrapper application has some settings for using the compiler. Also when a compiler changed its interpretation in a certain way, sources could have errors all of a sudden when compiling on another computer (which could have another version of the compiler). Also a wrapper needs to GRAB the output of the compiler and cannot fully interact with the written source. A wrapper is 'further' away from the source than an IDE.
3. Compiler
Compilers have an advantage. Any kind of editor can be used to make binary files. The great disadvantage of this is that no editor will actually interact with the user and this means no auto calling of the compiler, no result output in the editor and so on...
CA3 uses the second approach (the wrapper). CA3 uses TASM (Telemarks cross ASseMbler). TASM is a really extensive compiler which can handle all kinds of neat coding styles. This means e.g. that CA3 can detect errors (generated by TASM) and list them after you compiled a file.
All those options and features will be explained later on in this help file.