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- H#: 64135 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:10:21
- Sb: #63316-pc-week
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Mike Burns 71551,1353 (X)
-
- Thanks for your kind comments about Basic (and PowerBASIC of course!). And
- speaking of more powerful BASIC's, PowerBASIC #2.10 will be formally announced
- shortly. Stay tuned!
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64142 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:41:15
- Sb: #63738-#Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Skene Moody 72657,1553
-
- Hmmmmm. . . .
- Now if someone would volunteer to write a command-line parser as a PowerBASIC
- SUB/FUNCTION, and post it in the library . . . . . .
- Bob
-
- There is 1 Reply.
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64146 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 19:12:16
- Sb: #64142-Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Barry Erick for Spectra 75300,214
- To: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303 (X)
-
- Gee,
- I think I have that in a program I posted. Burried, of course, but I know I
- did write one... I have to try to find which one it is in, though.
- --- Barry
-
-
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64143 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:48:27
- Sb: #63920-#Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: JOHN E. SHIREY 75676,223
-
- John --
- We expect to announce PowerBASIC #2.10 within the week. However, as there
- are lots of new features (networks, com3&com4, fast com to 115200 baud, DIR$,
- ATTRIB, CHDRIVE, faster/smaller .EXE's, larger program capacity, etc., etc.),
- there will be a nominal charge for it. We'll be very happy to get you updates,
- help, or whatever you need for #2.00 right now, and at no cost, of course. If
- you're having any problem with the patches, or downloading PBNEWS, just let us
- know. Here, e-mail, or just call our tech support department. We'll do
- whatever it takes to get you "running". Just let us know what you need.
- Regards,
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- There is 1 Reply.
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64188 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 06-Sep-90 00:37:47
- Sb: #64143-Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: George Green 70565,276
- To: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303 (X)
-
- Bob...
- Re the additional charge for 2.1. How much and can I send it in now sos I can
- get it asap (when it's ready, pr course).
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64144 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:51:36
- Sb: #63782-Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Rob Chandler 72537,1065
-
- Thanks for the kind words, Rob. It "makes our day" to hear that you're
- pleased. Do keep in touch . . . lots of good new "stuff" is coming!
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64150 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 19:30:42
- Sb: #63967-Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Richard Thompson 73200,3071
- To: Barry Erick for Spectra 75300,214 (X)
-
- Hi Barry,
-
- At least that is a start. I'll look for one of the three you suggested.
- I've leafed through both manuals and yes they are excellent. I know PB is
- relatively new so really didn't expect to find a book on it. I just wanted
- something that would get me going in the right direction.
-
- Thanks,
- Rich
-
-
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64145 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:55:32
- Sb: #63838-#Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Mason Landstreet 71220,1547 (X)
-
- Barry's right, Mason. You won't see these items in #2.10, but please stay
- tuned right here. Some pretty powerful tools are in the works, both 2.10 and
- later versions. I really think you'll like them. Please keep the cards and
- letters coming! We need your "wish lists" now more than ever!
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- There is 1 Reply.
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64284 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 06-Sep-90 12:17:20
- Sb: #64145-Peace and Quiet !
- Fm: Mason Landstreet 71220,1547
- To: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303 (X)
-
- Bob,
-
- Don't worry I haven't given up on PB. I think it is a great poduct. I have just
- had to develop a bit of a wait & see posture because it just doesn't seem to be
- the tool for the job right now. I pass through the forum every time I log on to
- CIS just to see what is new. I will be sure and keep you apprised of anything
- new that I think PB needs.
-
- One thing I have thought of recently: Use extraneous keywords (AS, TO, etc.)
- as options. I prefer a more terse BASIC. I never use the OPEN FOR AS form of
- open unless I need to append. Why not allow: OPEN "A",1,"<filename>"?
-
- What is in 2.10?
-
- Mason
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !f2Gx#B~/I{~
- H#: 64139 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:38:10
- Sb: #63910-#$Link & ^KP Questions
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Richard Kanarek 72371,111 (X)
-
- Richard --
- I'm hoping that all of Barry's advice on your assembler code got it running
- ok for you. If there's still any problem, be sure to let us know. We'll do
- whatever it takes to get it to "fly" for you. About error messages, what Barry
- meant was that PowerBASIC #2.10 (as yet not formally released) will warn you
- about initialized data in DSEG. Also, in #2.10, our .MAP file is recognized by
- most source level debuggers (Turbo Debugger, Periscope, etc.), so that external
- source level debugging will now be available to you. Might make things like
- this a bit easier.
- As to your print-screen problem, I can't imagine what's causing it. We do
- not take over the printer controls in any way. The print-screen function is
- handled entirely by the BIOS, so I can't imagine what would cause this. Has
- anyone else experienced similar difficulties? If so, PLEASE speak up! We need
- to get some more details to find the cause. Perhaps we can give Zenith Tech
- Support a call to see what they may suggest. We'll try to track something down
- for you, but any other symptoms you see may help. Let us know.
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- There is 1 Reply.
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64168 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 21:15:16
- Sb: #64139-$Link & ^KP Questions
- Fm: Richard Kanarek 72371,111
- To: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303 (X)
-
- Dear Mr. Zale:
- Thank you very much for the kind words (& deads!). I am sorry to read
- of your commitment to get me using assembly language with PB as it may
- well turn into your own personal Vietnam, but I'm willing to fight it
- out to the end if you and Mr. Erick are!
- Regarding the Print problem- if it helps...
- BIOS ver. 3.34 MS-DOS (Zenith) ver. 3.21
- Equipt with a 5 1/4" & # 1/2" drive.
- Daughter board installed which allows it to use 1 1/2 XT cards-
- So far only 1 (gameport) card installed. Daughter board has
- real time clock.
- Orignally equipt with a 8088 (4.77/8Mhz) now has a V series MPU.
- The machine is like a IBM P/S1, as I understand it. (Yes, thats
- right, IBM actually cloned Zenith- the fools! :-)
- Cordially,
- Richard Kanarek
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64169 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 21:17:31
- Sb: #63969-#$Link & ^KP Questions
- Fm: Richard Kanarek 72371,111
- To: Barry Erick for Spectra 75300,214 (X)
-
- Hello (yet) again! I hate to be a bother but theres something funny
- going on around here! I experimented with your (very much appericated)
- sample code and heres what I found:
- Your sample doesn't work EITHER >unless< I include several blank
- lines on the bottom of the *.bas editor file!!! I have `steped' <F8>
- through the code and unless those lines are there even your sample
- won't work! My sample DOES work with the addition of those blank
- lines (!) except that if I leave the ASSUME DS:CSEG statement in the
- $link file then once the program is run I can't `OS Shell' any more
- (I get an error warning me about being out of memory, which I am
- certainly not!). Whats going on????
- Other curious things: The first time I try running your/my sample
- code it prints the `asmbinfo' message towards the bottom of the
- screen- on each additional try it prints the message where I would
- expect it- right below the PB PRINTed line. If I reload the file
- the same thing happens again! Also, all my experimenting has been
- done in PB- I have not compiled any programs to disk yet.
- Regarding my computer not printing, its offical. I tried yesterday
- and once I run PB theres no more printing until I re boot!
- In conclusion (for today) may I point out that I didn't post any
- questions before Mr.Zale complained about the quit and lack of PB
- bugs- so if I'm getting annoying It's His Fault! :-)
- cordially, Richard Kanarek
-
- There is 1 Reply.
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64199 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 06-Sep-90 04:43:38
- Sb: #64169-$Link & ^KP Questions
- Fm: Barry Erick for Spectra 75300,214
- To: Richard Kanarek 72371,111
-
- I had one balcnk line at the end of the example, and, even removing that it
- was ok. I did see, just now, that the first time, the info from the asm file is
- not printed where it should be. It appears that PB is not updating the current
- cursor location after the direct screen write. It'll do that correctly in 2.10.
- But shell worked fine for me when I added it to tht test. This test was with
- the totally patched (3 patches) PB 2.00b. -- Barry
-
-
-
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64137 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:25:17
- Sb: #63830-Converting TP reals
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Joe Vest 74017,1672
-
- Joe --
- If you're doing a "one-time" conversion of data files, you could write a TP
- program to output numeric data to disk in ASCII format. Then use PB to read
- them and convert to IEEE internal format automatically. You know, both
- PowerBASIC and the newer versions of TP both use IEEE format for floats.
- Doesn't Borland have a TP conversion library in their forum?
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64136 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 18:21:01
- Sb: #63952-#Wishes and a Buglet
- Fm: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303
- To: Bill Harrison 71170,673
-
- Some very good ideas, Bill. They probably won't make it into #2.10a, but most
- of it is going right towards the top of our "wish-list". I think it's safe to
- assume you'll see some in the reasonably near future. For #2.10, there just
- ain't enough time. We'll be announcing this week or so. As to your buglet,
- "Oooops"! How did we ever miss that! Actually F7/F8 as alternates to mark a
- block are holdovers from Turbo Basic. In PowerBASIC we use them for debugging
- purposes: F7 is STEP-INTO and F8 is STEP-OVER. Without that, you wouldn't have
- any reasonable means to single-step your program! As an alternative, you could
- use PBINST to assign some other key(s) for block marking functions. Perhaps
- another combination you find more intuitive. Wouldn't that help?
- Bob Zale (PowerBASIC R&D)
-
- There is 1 Reply.
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64147 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 05-Sep-90 19:12:23
- Sb: #64136-Wishes and a Buglet
- Fm: Barry Erick for Spectra 75300,214
- To: Bob Zale: PowerBASIC R&D 76304,1303 (X)
-
- Which reminds me.. quite often I reach for f7 to mark, but then, as the compile
- window comes up, I reach for ^Break. Then I think.. I'm gonna change that..
- Never had. Almost wish there was a one function key to toggle on and off ...
- But for what F7 and F8 do, it's worth the errors I get sometimes.. I just work
- with too many things....
- --- Barry
-
-
-
-
- Press <CR> for next or type CHOICES !
- H#: 64290 S12/SPECTRA Publishing
- 06-Sep-90 12:32:38
- Sb: Take a Look
- Fm: Mason Landstreet 71220,1547
- To: Bob Zale
-
- Another thought. Take a look at some of the enhancememts (the now defunct)
- Summit software put into their Better BASIC product. It was a fineproduct but
- the company just was not big enough to keep up with Microsoft & Borland. They
- still were using an incremental compiler with an interface much like GWBASIC
- when TB & QB came out.
-
- Some of there best features were there language extensibility (including
- multiple definitions of the same keyword based on different parametertypes and
- variable numbers of and optional parameters) and there built in support for a
- windowing library. The windows could be defined and normal I/O saw the current
- windo as the screen.
-
- If you can't scrounge up a copy of the manual and you don't think it would be
- illegal I'll be happy to let you borrow mine. I don't think letting you see the
- manual would be illegal since the company is no longer in business and no one
- is currently marketing or supporting the product.
-
- I have seen a product called MBC-BASSIC in the metrabyte instrumentation
- catalog who's demo program segments look like Better BASIC. Metrabyte won't
- acknowledge the similarity or reveal the source of there product so I don't
- think they have dibs.
-
- Mason
-
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