Announcement

**Jerry Fielden** · 28 Dec 2007, 01:44 AM

Try putting that function ahead of the Main function, or you can declare it.

**Edwin Knoppert** · 28 Dec 2007, 02:34 AM

First, i have never seen 'as public' ??

I guess:

FUNCTION cc4Input$()

And also place it on top like:

Declare FUNCTION cc4Input$()

**Joe Byrne** · 28 Dec 2007, 02:39 AM

I get a 'Failure' at the line 'Function CCInput$() if I run the program in its present form. Why ???.

First of all, 'Failure' is not a PB error message AFAIK. Giving the specific message makes a world of difference when asking for help.

Second, function names don't (generally) use a type declaration such as CCInput$

Third, AS PUBLIC is not a valid PB function type.

Try this:

Code:

FUNCTION CCInput() as STRING
   mode$ = "A"
   DO
      g$ = INKEY$
      IF LEN(g$) = 1 THEN
         IF ASC(g$) = 13 THEN
         EXIT DO
      ELSEIF Mode$ = "" AND (ASC (g$) < 32 OR ASC(g$) > 127) THEN
         g$ = ""
      ELSEIF Mode$ = "A" AND (ASC(g$) < 65 OR ASC(g$) > 122) THEN
         g$ = ""
      ELSEIF Mode$ = "N" AND (ASC(g$) < 48 OR ASC(g$) > 57) THEN
         g$ = ""
      ELSEIF Mode$ = "N." AND (ASC (g$)< 46 OR ASC(g$) > 57 OR ASC(g$) =47) THEN
         g$ = ""
      ELSEIF Mode$ = "AN" AND (ASC (g$) < 46 OR ASC(g$) > 122 OR ASC(g$) = 47) THEN
         g$ =""
     END IF
     PRINT g$;
     gg$ = gg$ + g$
     
     IF LEN( g$ ) = 2 THEN
         k% = ASC(g$,2)
         IF k% = 59 THEN gg$ = "F1"
         IF k% = 72 THEN gg$ = "Cursor UP"
         EXIT DO
     END IF
   LOOP
   FUNCTION = gg$
END FUNCTION

Note: Before leaving the function, you need to set FUNCTION = <something> in order for the function to return a value. You could also use a SUB instead, and pass gg$ as a parameter: SUB CCInput(gg as string).

If you use the FUNCTION, then you also need to declare it before you call it. Before the PBMAIN() function, add: DECLARE FUNCTION CCInput() AS STRING

If you want to pass "MODE$" as a parameter, then use this instead:

FUNCTION CCInput(mode AS STRING) AS STRING

and change the declare to:

FUNCTION CCInput(STRING) AS STRING

and remove Mode$ = "a" in the CCInput FUNCTION

**Mel Bishop** · 28 Dec 2007, 03:11 AM

...>>>function names don't (generally) use a type declaration such as CCInput$<<<...

But they are not invalid. I use "ThisFunction$" style syntax all the time.

...>>>AS PUBLIC is not a valid PB function type<<<...

In CC and PB/win. The PUBLIC verb is valid in PB/DOS which is where I think he is migrating from.

(The rest deleted as being redundant)

**Warren Sugden** · 28 Dec 2007, 04:28 AM

Using Functions in PBCC

Thank you everyone

I placed the CC4Input function BEFORE the PBMain and also removed the 'AS Public' and the program is now running EXCEPT that while it allows me to enter a name it does not print it out after the text string 'You have responded with the name". Nor is there a fail message, just no YourName$ printed as a response.

I had added the 'As Public' hoping it would solve the problem, but it didn't.

I'm finding the debugger is difficult to use. Certainly, not as easy or as convenient as PBDOS or VB5.

**Eddy Van Esch** · 28 Dec 2007, 04:37 AM

Warren,

Change

Code:

     YourName$ = cc4Input$()

    LOCATE 12,12
    PRINT " You responded that your Name is : "; gg$

into:

Code:

     YourName$ = cc4Input$()
 
     LOCATE 12,12
     PRINT " You responded that your Name is : "; YourName$

I would use #DIM ALL ...

Kind regards

**Michael Mattias** · 28 Dec 2007, 09:13 AM

>But they are not invalid. I use "ThisFunction$" style syntax all the time.

FuncName The name of the Function. A type-specifier may be appended (just like an ordinary variable name) to specify the data type of the Function's return value, in place of the [AS type] clause.

· Future versions of PowerBASIC may not support type-specifier symbols for the Function return type, so specify the return data type with an explicit AS type clause in all DECLARE and FUNCTION definitions, to ensure future compatibility.

**Warren Sugden** · 28 Dec 2007, 05:53 PM

Using Functions in PBCC

I have got the program running correctly using FUNCTION CC4Input, however if I rewrite the code using a SUB instead I find it fails at line 19 (indicated in the code at that location), otherwise it is the same.

I have REM'd out the code relevent to FUNCTION and added corresponding code to suit SUB using the same 'rules' as worked with FUNCTION.

The rules I have learnt from those posting replies and my own efforts are :
1) Function Names DO NOT have type specifiers, although parameters in the Function can
2) Functions must go before PBMAIN OR if after, must include
DECLARE Function cc4Input (mode AS STRING) AS STRING before PBMain
OR Declare FUNCTION cc4Input (mode$) AS STRING before PBMain
3) Function headed and named as FUNCTION cc4Input (mode AS STRING) AS STRING
OR FUNCTION cc4Input (mode$) AS STRING
4) Function value returned with cc4Input = gg$ as last line (or near)to provide RETURN value
NOTE : no brackets or parameters
5) parameters NOT Type specified DIMensioned with DIM Mode AS STRING within PBMain
DIM statement NOT required if Mode$ includes type specifier

[Code]

#COMPILE EXE

'#INCLUDE "Win32API.inc"
'#RESOURCE "Hello.pbr"
'#DIM ALL

'DECLARE FUNCTION cc4Input (mode$) AS STRING '+++++++
DECLARE SUB cc4Input (gg AS STRING,mode AS STRING) AS STRING '+++++++
'&&&& COMPILE FAIL on above LINE 19 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

SUB cc4Input (gg AS STRING,mode AS STRING) AS STRING '++++++
'FUNCTION cc4Input (mode$) AS STRING '++++++

DO
g$ = INKEY$
IF LEN(g$) = 1 THEN

IF ASC(g$) = 13 THEN
EXIT DO
ELSEIF Mode$ = "" AND (ASC (g$) < 32 OR ASC(g$) > 127) THEN
g$ = ""
ELSEIF Mode$ = "A" AND (ASC(g$) < 65 OR ASC(g$) > 122) THEN
g$ = ""
ELSEIF Mode$ = "N" AND (ASC(g$) < 48 OR ASC(g$) > 57) THEN
g$ = ""
ELSEIF Mode$ = "N." AND (ASC (g$)< 46 OR ASC(g$) > 57 OR ASC(g$) = 47) THEN
g$ = ""
ELSEIF Mode$ = "AN" AND (ASC (g$) < 46 OR ASC(g$) > 122 OR ASC(g$) = 47) THEN
g$ =""
END IF
PRINT g$;
gg = gg + g$ '++++++++++++
ELSEIF LEN( g$ ) = 2 THEN
k% = ASC(g$,2)
IF k% = 59 THEN gg = "F1" '++++++++++++
IF k% = 72 THEN gg = "Cursor UP" '++++++++++++
EXIT DO
END IF
LOOP

'cc4Input = gg$ '+++++++++++++

'END FUNCTION '++++++++++++
END SUB '+++++++++++

FUNCTION PBMAIN () AS LONG

'DIM Mode AS STRING ' - required if MODE does not include type specifier ie. Mode$
'DIM gg AS STRING ' - required if gg does not include type specifier ie. gg$

BLACK% = 0: BLUE% = 1: GREEN% = 2: CYAN% = 3: RED% = 4: MAGENTA% = 5: brown% = 6: WHITE% = 7
grey% = 8: LBLUE% = 9: LGREEN% = 10: LCYAN% = 11: LRED% = 12: Lmagenta% = 13: yellow% = 14: brightwhite% = 15
bright% = 8

COLOR Yellow%,Magenta%

NoBorderRows% = 23
NoBorderColumns% = SCREENX - 3

STDOUT CHR$(201);
STDOUT STRING$(NoBorderColumns% ,CHR$(205));
STDOUT CHR$(187)
FOR y% = 1 TO NoBorderRows%
STDOUT CHR$(186);
STDOUT STRING$(NoBorderColumns%," ");
STDOUT CHR$(186)
NEXT
STDOUT CHR$(200);
STDOUT STRING$(NoBorderColumns%,CHR$(205));
STDOUT CHR$(188);

LOCATE 7,20
STDOUT "Hello World ! ";

LOCATE 9,12
STDOUT " What is your first Name ? " ;

'mode$ = "A" '++++++++++++++++
mode = "A" '++++++++++++++++

'YourName$ = cc4Input (mode$)
CALL cc4Input (gg, mode) '++++++++++++++
yourName$ = gg '++++++++++++++++

LOCATE 12,12
PRINT " You responded that your Name is : "; YourName$,gg

CURSOR OFF
WAITKEY$

'END FUNCTION
END SUB

[\code]

**Joe Byrne** · 28 Dec 2007, 07:11 PM

Warren,

SUB and FUNCTIONS are similar, but not equal.

A FUNCTION returns a value (usually) where a SUB does not. Therefore, when you declare a FUNCTION you need to tell the compiler what format the FUNCTION will return (String, Long, Integer, etc). Therefore the declare looks like this:

DECLARE FUNCNAME(parameter1 as string) AS TYPE (where type is the 'kind' of value you want returned.)

A SUB does not return a value, therefore you don't specify a TYPE when its used. ie:

DECLARE SUBNAME(parameter1 as string)

Your "failure" is due to the fact that you've included the return type (AS STRING) to a SUB.

There is an excellent section on SUBs and FUNCTIONs in the help documents, and since these are the building blocks of PB, I would highly recommend you (re)read those sections until you fully understand the use.

--Joe

**Mike Doty** · 28 Dec 2007, 07:58 PM

Formatted input routine

Here is a formatted input SUB you might find useful:

Formatted input PB/CC - PowerBASIC Peer Support Community

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=24503

PowerBASIC and related source code. Please do not post questions or discussions, just source code.

**Warren Sugden** · 29 Dec 2007, 12:21 AM

Using Functions and Subs in PBCC

Mike Doty and Joe Byrne

Thanks for your help. Joe, I will study your 'InputCC.bas'.

I've made up a set of rules which I will keep by me when writing this type of program. They are:

1) Function Names DO NOT have type specifiers, although parameters in the Function can, but FUNCTIONS must have AS TYPE ???? definition.
Sub Names CANNOT have type specifiers NOR do they have AS TYPE ????, although parameters in SUBS can have Type Specifiers OR AS TYPE ???
2) Functions must go before PBMAIN OR if after, must include DECLARE Function cc4Input (mode AS STRING) AS STRING before PBMain
OR Declare FUNCTION cc4Input (mode$) AS STRING before PBMain
SUBs can be placed before or after PBMain and DO NOT require DECLARE statements either way.
3) Function headed and named as FUNCTION cc4Input (mode AS STRING) AS STRING
OR FUNCTION cc4Input (mode$) AS STRING
SUB headed and named as SUB cc4Input (mode AS STRING)
OR SUB cc4Input (mode$)
4) Function value returned with cc4Input = gg$ (OR Function = gg$) as last line (or near)to provide RETURN value
NOTE : no brackets or parameters
Subs do not return values
SUBs are accessed by ; CALL cc4Input(gg,mode)
OR CALL cc4Input(gg$,mode$)
Note : no AS TYPE ???? declarations
5) parameters in FUNCTIONS abd SUBs if NOT Type specified MUST be DIMensioned within PBMAin
DIM Mode AS STRING within PBMain. (also DIM gg as string in SUB)
DIM statement NOT required in PBMain if Mode$ includes type specifier, but is legitimate. DIM mode$ in PBMain is legitimate but NOT required.

If you see any problem with these, let me know.

**Mike Doty** · 29 Dec 2007, 12:24 AM

Actually, I wrote it.

**Joe Byrne** · 29 Dec 2007, 02:11 AM

Warren,

Ok, let me see if I can explain this more clearly.

When writing a Windows program, everything is either a SUB or a FUNCTION. The only exception to this is some general initialization commands that you need prior to the MAIN SUB or FUNCTION executing. These initializations include things like DECLARE statements, Compiler directives (#COMPILE EXE or #COMPILE DLL, etc), setting the scope of various variables such as GLOBAL variables, and some other things as needed.

A FUNCTION returns a value to your calling code.

* i.e.: a$ = UsersEnteredName

In this case, code in the FUNCTION UsersEnteredName gets user input and returns that user input to your program which you save in variable A$

Since a FUNCTION returns a value, you must tell the compiler what type of data the FUNCTION will be returning (be it a string, long, integer, etc)

A SUB does not return a value to your calling code.

Otherwise, they are (for all practical purposes) the same.

The main purpose of SUBs and FUNCTIONs is to create 'blocks' of code that is used more than once. It can also be useful to make code easier to read and modify.

Both SUBs and FUNCTIONs can have parameters passed to them. These parameters can be variables or constants. Each parameter must specify the TYPE of data it contains (strings, longs, integers, etc). There are two ways you can pass variables as parameters; By value (BYVAL) or By Reference (BYREF). By Reference is the default.

IF you pass variable parameters BYREF, the values of those variable can/will be changed in the FUNCTION. If the variables are passed BYVAL, their values will not be changed upon returning from a FUNCTION.

For example:

Code:

#COMPILE EXE

FUNCTION MyFunction1(BYVAL var1 AS STRING, BYVAL var2 AS LONG) AS STRING
     var1$ = "Is Changed"
     var2& = -99
     FUNCTION = "Function-1"
END FUNCTION


FUNCTION MyFunction2(BYREF var1 AS STRING, BYREF var2 AS LONG) AS STRING
     var1$ = "Is Changed"
     var2& = -99
     FUNCTION = "Function-2"
END FUNCTION


FUNCTION MyFunction3(var1 AS STRING, var2 AS LONG) AS STRING
     var1$ = "Is Changed"
     var2& = -99
     FUNCTION = "Function-3"
END FUNCTION


FUNCTION PBMAIN() AS LONG

100   var1$ = "No Change": var2& = 99
        [COLOR="Blue"]A$ = MyFunction[B]1[/B](var1$, var2&)[/COLOR]
        PRINT "BYVAL: A$= "; a$,"var1: ";var1$,"var2:";STR$(var2&)
     
200   var1$ = "No Change": var2& = 99
        [COLOR="blue"]A$ = MyFunction[B]2[/B](var1$, var2&)[/COLOR]
        PRINT "BYREF: A$= "; a$,"var1: ";var1$,"var2:";STR$(var2&)
     
        PRINT ""  'for clarity

300  var1$ = "No Change": var2& = 99
       [COLOR="blue"]A$ = MyFunction[B]3[/B](var1$, var2&)[/COLOR]
       PRINT "DEFAULT: A$= "; a$,"var1: ";var1$,"var2:";STR$(var2&)
     
     waitkey$
END FUNCTION

There are three functions, MyFunction1, MyFunction2, and MyFunction3. They all return a STRING value regardless of what the parameters passed to them are. In MyFunction1, the two parameters passed are var1$ and var2& and they are passed by value. As you can see, after returning from the FUNCTION call in block 100, the values of var1$ and var2& have not changed. However, after the calls in blocks 200 and 300, the values of these variables have been changed by the FUNCTION.

In both cases however, the value returned BY THE FUNCTION itself is not dependent on any of the parameters. In other words, A$ in all 3 calls returns whatever value FUNCTION = is set to inside the corresponding FUNCTION block.

All variables used INSIDE a SUB or FUNCTION, except those passed as parameters BYREF, are local only to that SUB or FUNCTION. In other words, I could use the variable A$ inside any/all of the three functions above without ever effecting the value of A$ outside the FUNCTION. The only time this is not true is when you specifically declare a variable as GLOBAL. GLOBAL variables (can/will) change their value anyplace within your program.

There are a couple of "rules" I tend to follow when writing my code. Most of it is out of habit, but as Michael said, I try to do things with the most likelihood of having "proper syntax" in the future.

Always DECLARE every SUB and FUNCTION before using it (even though I didn't do this above to show that you don't need to DECLARE everything IF you have the actual SUB/FUNCTION before its used in your program). However, I normally put all my DECLARE statements in a separate file then use: #INCLUDE "declares.inc" in the top of my main program. (where "declares.inc" is the file name I used)
Always use AS {TYPE} when declaring variables in SUBs and FUNCTIONs, including the FUNCTION name: ie: FUNCTION MyFunction (var1 AS STRING, var2 AS LONG) AS STRING. It really doesn't take long to get used to this.
Always set the FUNCTION = value just prior to ending the function, even if there is no return value.
Use a SUB unless a specific return value is needed.

Personally, I prefer to use variable type identifiers as I go (a$, var2&, etc) although others suggest using DIM ALL. With DIM ALL, you must pre-define all of your variables with DIM, LOCAL, STATIC or GLOBAL before you can use them. In this case, the type identifier is not necessary since the compiler already knows what type of data each variable is to have. I find DIM ALL to be overly burdensome, but others prefer the advantage of catching typo's by enforcing the DIM ALL command.

I hope this is helpful. It sounds to me like you've got the basic idea of SUBs and FUNCTIONs down now. Again, I'd take a little time and read over the programming concepts section in the PB help file. There is a lot of good stuff in there that will help you get over the hump a lot easier.

**Mike Doty** · 29 Dec 2007, 02:37 AM

Code:

REM See CALL statement in help file
#DIM ALL
#COMPILE EXE
SUB Test1(BYREF Parameter AS LONG)   'BYREF (the default) returns values
    Parameter = 99
END SUB
 
SUB Test2(BYVAL Parameter AS LONG)   'BYVAL does not return valuess
    Parameter = 100
END SUB
 
FUNCTION PBMAIN AS LONG
  LOCAL dummy AS LONG
 
  dummy = 1
  Test1 dummy     'returns 99
  ? STR$(dummy)  
 
  dummy = 1
  Test2 dummy     'returns no value, dummy remains 1
  ? STR$(dummy)  
 
  SLEEP 3000
END FUNCTION

**Warren Sugden** · 29 Dec 2007, 03:41 PM

Using Functions and Subs in PBCC

Joe Byrne and Mike Doty

Thank you both. I now have a much clearing understanding of the processes.

Mike, as to copying code I note your comments. I have in the past found that I left click just before the first character on the first line of the code and then drag the mouse to the end of the code so it is all highlighted. I then do a CTRL+C to copy, open a new file in PBCC4, delete all the default lines (if not required), do a CRTL+V to copy the code into the file and the program is ready to run.

**Michael Mattias** · 1 Jan 2008, 11:17 AM

I have in the past found that I left click just before the first character on the first line of the code and then drag the mouse to the end of the code so it is all highlighted.

I am generally not this effusive about software I find here, , but Adam Drake's clipboard-listener/forum source code copy utility is really, really well thought out and absolutely the easiest way to copy code from here.

Not only does it work with IE6 (which does not support the 'easy select of a section' as does IE7), but if it's one of those posts with multiple messages (eg, a 'main', an 'include' a 'resource script' and a "binbas program to create an icon"), you get ALL the code blocks - from all posts of the thread! - with one simple "select all, copy", and each code block is then separately-pastable into a fresh source code file in the PB IDE (and other IDE/editors, too).

PB/Win Source here:

New Forum - Clipboard Listener - Source Code Copy... - PowerBASIC Peer Support Community

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showthread.php?t=35818

PowerBASIC and related source code. Please do not post questions or discussions, just source code.

This one would really nice to compile and make available as 'exe' for PB/CC users.

Announcement

Using Functions in PBCC4

Using Functions in PBCC4

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