Text Lines too few in SCREEN 9 mode?

[Greg Neill]

The following code segment works as expected in other BASIC
version, but PBDOS 3.5 gives an "Illegal Function Call"
type error. It seems to have something to do with the number
of text lines available in SCREEN 9 mode.

SCREEN 9
LOCATE 40,40
PRINT "HELLO";

Note that a "WIDTH ,43" statement prior to the locate has no
effect on the number of lines available, despite what the
documentation says...

Is this a known bug?
Is there a workaround?

[Lance Edmonds]

Greg, if you carefully read the documentation on WIDTH in the Reference Guide, you'll see that only certain combinations of SCREEN and WIDTH are possible with PB/DOS.



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Lance
PowerBASIC Support
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>

[Greg Neill]

Lance,
Thank you for the prompt reply.

I would have thought that the functionality would be
compatible with QB for the screen modes. I suppose I can
choose another screen mode for future codes, but legacy
codes will require conversion... unless of course PB will
adopt the QB convention in the future (?).

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[Lance Edmonds]

Given that PB/DOS's graphics modes have remained the same for a lot of years now (with the exception of the loss of Herc support in v3.5), at this late stage in the DOS game, I would suspect it pretty unlikely that it would be changed be 100% compatible with the [now long obsolete] QB, but, hey, never say never!

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Lance
PowerBASIC Support
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>

[Greg Neill]

> Given that PB/DOS's graphics modes have remained the same for a lot of years now (with the exception of the loss of
> Herc support in v3.5), at this late stage in the DOS game, I would suspect it pretty unlikely that it would be
> changed be 100% compatible with the [now long obsolete] QB, but, hey, never say never!

Understood. I'm an old hand (rather older than I'd care to admit) at "convincing" codes to work on whatever platform
is available, and I can manage with the given circumstances. The reason this item came up is that I happen to edit
an astronomy related newsletter which includes BASIC language programs in each issue. Having recently switched to
PB, I've been validating some of the programs from past issues and happened upon this quirk. It won't pose a problem
unless the already published codes are run by others who make the switch. I *would* like to be able to recommend PB
to them, and to new readers who don't have an ancient copy of QB to invoke -- hint, hint.

Regards,

Greg Neill

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[Lance Edmonds]

I'll pass your comment along to R&D to be added to the wish list... Thanks!


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Lance
PowerBASIC Support
mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>

[Edmund Melerski]

Greg,

I have a subroutine that will allow you to put text at any position on the screen.
You can use 5 different font sizes and also different colors.
If you want it send me an e-mail.

Edmund

[email protected]

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[Richard L Bianchi]

Edmund
I would like to see how you did that!
[email protected]
Thanks - Rick

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[Edmund Melerski]

Richard,

I have tried to send you the requested procedure but your address does not seem to work.
Send me an e-mail, then I should have no problems.
By the way, that procedure was not developed by me.
However, it is a free-ware, so you, of course, could use it.

[email protected]

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