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Question

Here are some tips to remember while programming with Small Basic.  Feel free to add more as you figure out.

* Double clicking on the compiler errors will take you to the actual error.

Answer 1

Some operations like ImageList.LoadImage or Array.SetValue must be initialized before they can be used.  For example:
    
     Array.SetValue(ElementName, 6, "Carbon")

will throw a Null Reference Exception error.  You must initialize the variable Elements before using it and it can be initalized to a string or integer.

    ElementName = "Periodic Table"
    Array.SetValue(ElementName, 6, "Carbon")

Answer 2

 * You can zoom the text in the editor by holding control and using the mouse wheel.  You can do the same by holding Control, Shift and hitting + or -. 

Answer 3

You can resize the Help Pane on the right.  Just move the mouse to the left edge of the pane and the cursor will change to indicate it's resizable.

Answer 4

You can make the Intellisense Window translucent by holding down the Control key.  Useful to see the text underneath.

Answer 5

The program does not completely close if your Program.End() is in the middle of a loop.
Even the executable closes the Task, but leaves the Process running in Task Manager.

So I have a template that works for me on the projects I have worked on so far.

1) Start off with code that sets up your screens, variables, and Events - code that you don't want executed over and over again.

2) Then setup a main loop (I prefer using While) around the code that does have to process over and over again.

2b) A lot of times there are parts of your code that don't need to be in the main loop.  Parts that only need to happen at a specific moment - like when a variable reaches a certain condition or when a key is pressed.
Look for this part of your code and try to make it a regular sub or (especially in the case of key pressing) an Event (see chapter 10 of MSB introduction guide - http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/0/6/90616372-C4BF-4628-BC82-BD709635220D/Introducing Small Basic.pdf).

3) At the end, and outside, of that main loop put your Program.End().

So, something like this:

'Setup graphics window for instructions.

code

code

code

'Show instructions

code

code

code

'setup graphics window for use by mainloop

code

code

'setup Event to read keypress

GraphicsWindow.KeyDown = keypress

'Run game until

While (EndProgram<>"yes")

mainloop()

EndWhile

Program.End()

Sub mainloop

code

code

code

code

EndSub

Sub keypress

key = GraphicsWindow.LastKey

If (key = "Escape") Then

EndProgram = "yes"

EndIf

EndSub

Another variation puts the main loop inside the While instead if making it a Sub:

'Setup graphics window for instructions.

code

'Show instructions

code

'setup graphics window for use by mainloop

code

'setup Event to read keypress

GraphicsWindow.KeyDown = keypress

'other settings

MainLoopContinue = "Yes"

'Run game until

While (MainLoopContinue="Yes")

code

code

code

code

EndWhile

Program.End()

Sub keypress

key = GraphicsWindow.LastKey

If (key = "Escape") Then

MainLoopContinue = "No"

EndIf

EndSub

I hope you find this simple guide useful.

THNX!

drc

Answer 6

 Spell check when posting in these forums:

So that the spell check does not spell check your inserted code, spell check before inserting code.

One better is to spell check by pasting or creating message in an application that has spell check (like Word or Outlook).
Copy from the app into your post and then insert code.
Be careful though because some formatting can be copied over.  In my test the font size did copy over, but not the font name.


THNX!

drc

Answer 7

If you forget the syntax while entering an expression, click back on the Operation name preceding the opening bracket. This will bring the help back up for that command. You can then click where you want to edit and continue.

Answer 8

Color (Graphics)

We can use such colors "#FFF" or "#80FFFFFF" in GraphicsWindow.

The first one means "#rgb" and is same as "#FFFFFF".

The second one means "#aarrggbb".  "aa" is transparency (alpha blending).  But at the point using alpha, GetPixel returns blended color with "Black".

---

Nonki Takahashi

Answer 9

Following program shows <> three times.  "" <> "" ?

a["a"] = ""
b["a"] = ""
a["b"] = "b"
b["b"] = "b"
TextWindow.WriteLine("a[]=" + a[""] + ".")
TextWindow.WriteLine("b[]=" + b[""] + ".")
If a[""] = b[""] Then
  TextWindow.WriteLine("a[]=b[]")
Else
  TextWindow.WriteLine("a[]<>b[]")
EndIf
TextWindow.WriteLine("a[1]=" + a[1] + ".")
TextWindow.WriteLine("b[1]=" + b[1] + ".")
If a[1] = b[1] Then
  TextWindow.WriteLine("a[1]=b[1]")
Else
  TextWindow.WriteLine("a[1]<>b[1]")
EndIf
TextWindow.WriteLine("a[a]=" + a["a"] + ".")
TextWindow.WriteLine("b[a]=" + b["a"] + ".")
If a["a"] = b["a"] Then
  TextWindow.WriteLine("a[a]=b[a]")
Else
  TextWindow.WriteLine("a[a]<>b[a]")
EndIf

 

---

Nonki Takahashi

Answer 10

Getting a number from inside text 

* is the separator inside the variable "texte" between text and number

To remove the spaces from the number add +0 

texte= " a b c d *    123   "
number = text.getsubtexttoend(texte,text.getindexof(texte,"*")+1)
Textwindow.WriteLine("Number With spaces ="+number+"=")

number = text.getsubtexttoend(texte,text.getindexof(texte,"*")+1)+0
Textwindow.WriteLine("Number without spaces ="+number+"=")

It's useful when placing buttons in the graphics if several are using the same  "OFF" statement in the button.

example : If you put as  texte in the third  "small" button  "OFF     *  3" you will only see "OFF" as 3 is behind the button but you can easily catch the fieldnumber "3" to make choices in your program

Eddy Abts

Answer 11

Nonki,

It seems that an empty string is equal an empty string,

an empty array member is equal to an empty string

but an empty array member is not equal to an empty array member ???

---

Jan [ WhTurner ] The Netherlands

Answer 12

I could use some Small Basic methods/properties in PowerShell script!

Add-Type -Path 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Small Basic\SmallBasicLibrary.dll'
$Math = [Microsoft.SmallBasic.Library.Math]
$Clock = [Microsoft.SmallBasic.Library.Clock]
$Sound = [Microsoft.SmallBasic.Library.Sound]
$pi = $Math::Pi
$Math::Ceiling($pi)
$Math::Floor($pi)
$Clock::ElapsedMilliseconds
$Sound::PlayBellRing()

---

Nonki Takahashi