Newbie question

[Philip Mui]

Hi,

I have just bought PB compiler and started learning BASIC programming. I only managed to find 1 book, titled 'QBasic Fundamentals and Style' by James S. Quasney, published by Course Technology in my local computer book store.

Is QBasic similar to PowerBASIC?

Does anyone have any suggestion on BASIC programming books suitable for newbie.

Thanks.

Regards,
Philip

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[Michael Mattias]

The two-volume manual sets which came with PB-DOS 2.x and 3.x are pretty good. For each version, one whole book is a series of chapters on various functional tasks.

Check with PB/Sales to see if this set should have been included in your purchase or if not, if the set is available for separate purchase.

MCM

[Philip Mui]

Hi Michael,

I also bought the manuals for PB/DOS.

What I am looking for are books that teaches topics like sorting and problem solving with BASIC.

Anyway, thank you for responding.

Regards,
Philip

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[Lance Edmonds]

The Users Guide that comes with PowerBASIC is pretty comprehensive... be sure to at least read through it first as you will pick up a lot of useful information in there.

Also check out the "Learning Basic" book (comes with a free copy of PB/DOS 2.1). You can order a copy directly from our web site at https://www.powerbasic.com/shop

Also try 2nd hand sites such as http://www.alibris.com for some of the "Turbo Basic" books (the precursor to PowerBASIC, so syntax is very compatible)... BASIC programming theory in those books should apply well to PowerBASIC/DOS.

• "Using Turbo Basic", ISBN 0-07-881282-8
  "Turbo Basic", ISBN1-55851-015-X
  "The Power of Turbo Basic: Programming with applications", ISBN 0-8306-2997-1

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

[Philip Mui]

Thanks Lance.

The Users Guide that comes with PowerBASIC is pretty comprehensive... be sure to at least read through it first as you will pick up a lot of useful information in there.

Will spend time going through these manuals for the time being.

Also check out the "Learning Basic" book (comes with a free copy of PB/DOS 2.1). You can order a copy directly from our web site at https://www.powerbasic.com/shop

I did not order the "Learning Basic" book because I couldn't find any info on it, not even at the online shop of PowerBASIC.

Regards,
Philip

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[Barry Erick]

Ethan Winer has his PC Magazine thick book, now that it is out of
print, available as a download at his sight. www.ethanwinder.com/default.asp
While this is a QB book, most syntax is directly compatible with PB. Look in the
downloads here for the differences. They should be in your PB
manual, also.

He referes to QuickPak Professional at the site and in the book. I did port that
over to PowerBASIC, and add some routines, but it is no longer available for PB.

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[Philip Mui]

Thank you, Barry.

I have just downloaded the zip file at Ethan's web site. Will read through it soon.

Regards,
Philip

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[Michael Mattias]

Ethan Winer has his PC Magazine thick book..

That book, while full of good info, is not IMO suitable for a self-described newbie.

Don't spend a lot of time looking through all twenty or so chapters for basic (fundamental) programming techniques.

MCM

[John Lee]

If you want a Basic Language book "from the ground up", try

"Learning IBM Basic", by David A. Lien

COMPUSOFT Publishing, ISBN: 0-932760-13-9


Remark : This book is for IBM BasicA and no problem to run on PBDOS.
Plus, PBDOS has more features, like ARRAY SORT......
you will love the PB ARRAY SORT once you try it.

Regards



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[Philip Mui]

Michael, John

I don't think I can get this book, "Learning IBM Basic" at my local book store.

Anyway, thank you both of you for your advice.

Regards,
Philip

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