Announcement

**Bob Zale** · 21 Feb 2009, 07:07 AM

Since you haven't shown any code which demonstrates this occurring, it's virtually impossible for anyone to offer a meaningful suggestion. Make a sample and show some code?

I don't suppose you're using the intrinsic equate %PB_EXE, are you? We have advised that it should not be used in PB/WIN 9.00 for some time now: http://powerbasic.com/support/pbforu...ad.php?t=38661

Best regards,

Bob Zale
PowerBASIC Inc.

**Michael Mattias** · 21 Feb 2009, 10:09 AM

FWIW, be VERY careful using NOT in your conditional compilation statements, except perhaps when used with %DEF().

Why? Because "NOT 1" does not equal "zero."

MCM

**Brian Chirgwin** · 21 Feb 2009, 03:16 PM

NOT returns results not expected

Originally posted by Andrew Parker View Post

For conditional compilation "#if %equate = 0" is meant to work the same as "#if not %equate", isn't it? According to the manual it does, and according to what one would expect from other languages.

Well, it may be that you get the correct logic blocks executing, so the program runs correctly, but the output sure as anything is different! For example, I have some DLLs which I can compile with a %testing equate set so they can be stand-alone executables for debugging. That's been fine, for years. But just now I was surprised to see a load of string literals in the output binary code of the release DLL version which occur ONLY in the stand-alone debug sections of the source. Sure enough, if I recompiled with "#if %testing = 0" rather than "#if not %testing", I got the correct output, and the executable was over 2k smaller in a 94k program.

Now that shouldn't be happening, should it?

Any comments?

Andrew Parker.

Read the help file on NOT keyword. Some info from the help file is below.

NOT is a bitwise arithmetic operator and is often incorrectly used as a Boolean operator. Use IsFalse instead.

Not -1 = 0
Not 0 = -1
Not 1 = -2 (canPrint was set to 1)

NOT returns 0 (FALSE) if and only if its operand is exactly -1 (TRUE).

Generally, you should use the ISFALSE operator instead of NOT, when you are testing for logical falsity.

I've made this mistake myself and still do when I forget. Bugs me every time I do it too.

**Andrew Parker** · 21 Feb 2009, 04:00 PM

I've made some samples, and confirmed that it's happening ...

But I've also confirmed why it is happening, and Michael and Brian are quite right. There's no point in me posting my results

But I have to say the help file on #IF is very misleading. It shows signs of having been put together at different times! True, it states that the NOT operator is bitwise arithmetic, but it also contains this:

Examples of valid expressions can include:

#IF %DEBUG = -1&
#IF %DEBUG AND (NOT %RELEASE)
#IF NOT %DEBUG
#IF %VERSION <> CVQ("DemoMode")

Note that the AND, OR and NOT operators work as bitwise operators, rather than logical operators, in #IF metastatements.

If the value of %equate or if %DEF(%equate|$equate) is TRUE (non-zero) or if the result of expression is TRUE, the statements between #IF and #ELSE or #ELSEIF are compiled, and the statements between #ELSE or #ELSEIF and #ENDIF are ignored.

If the value of %equate or %DEF(%equate|$equate) is FALSE (zero) or the result of expression is FALSE, the statements between #IF and #ELSE or #ELSEIF are ignored, and those between #ELSE or #ELSEIF and #ENDIF are compiled.

I've hilighted the misleading sections. They are misleading particularly when you give "#IF NOT %DEBUG" as a valid statement. Yes, it's valid, but it won't function as you might logically expect if you combine that information with the statements in the next two paragraphs! The point is that you are quoiting TRUE and FALSE, but the evaluation is not taking place that way. It will work in that manner only if -1 is selected as the TRUE condition and 0 as the FALSE one.

When conditional compilation is often a logical choice between one condition or another, can anyone tell me why bitwise arithmetic was deemed the way to evaluate #IF statements?

Andrew Parker

**Bob Zale** · 21 Feb 2009, 04:11 PM

Let's see...

TRUE = Non-Zero and FALSE = Zero

These are misleading? What about them is misleading? What is the real definition of True and False?

"...can anyone tell me why bitwise arithmetic was deemed the way to evaluate #IF statements?"

I may be wrong here, but it looks to me like you were the one who made the choice to use a bitwise operator. A boolean expression returns a boolean result. You can use any number of numeric operators and any number of numeric operands when forming it. All those choices were yours. This just needs a little more practice. {smile}

Best of luck,

Bob Zale
PowerBASIC Inc.

**Marc Giao** · 21 Feb 2009, 04:35 PM

Hi Andrew:

can anyone tell me why bitwise arithmetic was deemed the way to evaluate #IF statements?

I think you did, "#IF %DEBUG = -1&" is not a bitwise operation.

Note that the AND, OR and NOT operators work as bitwise operators, rather than logical operators, in #IF metastatements.

By including the "NOT" in "#IF NOT %DEBUG" you make it a bitwise operation, as stated in the manual.

**Andrew Parker** · 21 Feb 2009, 05:03 PM

Oh for goodness sake.

I was quoting the help file when I quoted "#IF %DEBUG = -1&", so telling me I just answered my question is pretty unhelpful.

As for Mr Zale's rather aggressive response, telling me that it's been my choice, and, in effect, I should learn to live with it and I just need a little more practice:

It's your helpfile which introduces the idea of combining the bitwise operator with the logical expression. I suggest you seriously consider whether giving "#IF NOT %DEBUG" as an example of a valid syntax isn't encouraging people to use it in the way it won't work.

Asking me about the real meaning of TRUE and FALSE I find rather offensive.

I think you're on the brink of losing a customer.

Andrew Parker.

**Michael Mattias** · 21 Feb 2009, 05:45 PM

"IF NOT %DEBUG" returns the desired result (false) if an only if %DEBUG equals precisely -1& (minus one) - as shown but not explained.

But you are right, it is a crummy example. Don't do that, or some day it WILL bite you in a tender place.

**colin glenn** · 21 Feb 2009, 06:16 PM

Originally posted by Andrew Parker View Post

Oh for goodness sake.

#IF NOT %DEBUG

Code:

#IF %DEBUG = -1& ' <- does the %DEBUG equate equal -1?
#IF %DEBUG AND (NOT %RELEASE) ' <- IF %DEBUG is defined and %RELEASE is not defined

 #IF NOT %DEBUG ' <- IF %DEBUG is not definded

 #IF %VERSION <> CVQ("DemoMode")

As I read them.

Did not put anything with the last one because, of the CVQ function, am going to have to experiment with that sucker. The documentation sez:

Expressions involving Numeric Equates and conditional compilation (#IF) may also include the CVQ function. This allows you to easily assign numeric values to an equate, based upon a meaningful mnemonic. In this context, the CVQ expression is limited to a length of eight bytes.

My brain went flip flop over this, interesting.

**José Roca** · 21 Feb 2009, 06:21 PM

#IF NOT %DEBUG ' <- IF %DEBUG is not definded

If you use #IF NOT %DEBUG, and %DEBUG is not defined, you will get an Undefined equate error. You must use #IF NOT %DEF(%DEBUG).

**Michael Mattias** · 21 Feb 2009, 06:22 PM

#IF %DEBUG AND (NOT %RELEASE) ' <- IF %DEBUG is defined and %RELEASE is not defined

This statement tests values, not if the equates have been defined or not.

%DEF() is used to determine if an equate has been defined.

**colin glenn** · 21 Feb 2009, 06:31 PM

Ahh, thank you, and another light bulb gets lit for me.

**Andrew Parker** · 21 Feb 2009, 07:01 PM

I just think it's a couple of paragraphs or three of the helpfile which could be more transparently written, or attention could be drawn as to what #IF NOT %DEBUG really means.

Perhaps if the debugger was able to show the evaluation of conditional compilation switches it would be an easy way of people no longer falling into these traps? Perhaps it could render the lines in the source code which will not be compiled in gray? Furthermore it would be good if it could also avoid stepping through each of the lines, regardless of their compilational status, and just jumping over a section which is inoperative?

Andrew Parker.

**Eric Pearson** · 22 Feb 2009, 06:30 AM

The following mini-tutorial on Logical True and False values may help. It applies to conditional compilation and everything else.

PowerBASIC

http://www.powerbasic.com/support/pbforums/showpost.php?p=225473&postcount=9

Colin --

The coolest thing (IMO) about using the CVQ function to create equates is that your program can then simply display them, using the MKQ$ function. For example if you use %PROGRAM_MODE = CVQ("DemoMode") then your program can display MKQ$(%PROGRAM_MODE) and you'll see "DemoMode". The basic idea is a number that works like a number and a human-readable string at the same time.

-- Eric

**Cliff Nichols** · 23 Feb 2009, 07:41 PM

Andrew,
I feel your pain as far as documentation, (MSDN is WAYYYY worse though)

Bob may have sounded a little brisque with

Let's see...

TRUE = Non-Zero and FALSE = Zero

These are misleading? What about them is misleading? What is the real definition of True and False?

But I am sure it was not meant that way....it was more a lead to what we all often forget is...."What is TRUE" and "What is FALSE" ????

A common case in point would be PB usually refers to "True" to be 1, and "False" to be 0, API on the other hand tends to lend to "True" to be either 1 or -1 (or some other NON-ZERO value

but we forget the meaning that TRUE (as documented) means "Any Non zero value)

Now in the scope of what you are trying to do.....usually no problems, but when problems arise, its awfully hard to find because you take an assumption and think of true=1 false = 0

95-5 rule.....95% of examples cover all examples, 5% "break" them....and if you hit the 5%...then back to "basics" of if the example "Fits" your problem????

**colin glenn** · 23 Feb 2009, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by Eric Pearson View Post

The coolest thing (IMO) about using the CVQ function to create equates is that your program can then simply display them, using the MKQ$ function. For example if you use %PROGRAM_MODE = CVQ("DemoMode") then your program can display MKQ$(%PROGRAM_MODE) and you'll see "DemoMode". The basic idea is a number that works like a number and a human-readable string at the same time.

Oh! Sort of like using:

Code:

TYPE BITMAPFILEHEADER WORD
  bfType AS STRING * 2
  bfSize AS DWORD
  bfReserved1 AS WORD
  bfReserved2 AS WORD
  bfOffBits AS DWORD
END TYPE

Instead of:

Code:

TYPE BITMAPFILEHEADER WORD
  bfType AS WORD
  bfSize AS DWORD
  bfReserved1 AS WORD
  bfReserved2 AS WORD
  bfOffBits AS DWORD
END TYPE

So that in the program, you can use the simple test of:

Code:

IF fileBitmapHead.bfType = "BM" THEN

**Andrew Parker** · 23 Feb 2009, 10:16 PM

Thanks for that Colin.

Originally posted by Cliff Nichols View Post

I feel your pain as far as documentation, (MSDN is WAYYYY worse though)

I know only too well ...

A common case in point would be PB usually refers to "True" to be 1, and "False" to be 0, API on the other hand tends to lend to "True" to be either 1 or -1 (or some other NON-ZERO value

I've got a feeling that, in the old days, PB for DOS used -1 for TRUE (I suppose because NOT TRUE would give 0). Yes, the confusion is at its height when TRUE = 1 and NOT TRUE therefore = -2.

I'm still quite keen on the idea of the debugger responding to conditional switches in compilation by rendering the "switched off" sections of code in gray ... I reckon if people had a quick visual reassurance of what was about to happen in that way, it would be the end to all confusion. Well, gray display, and not still stepping line by line through those inoperative sections, which is what happens stepwise in the debugger now!

**Bob Zale** · 24 Feb 2009, 08:02 AM

I'm afraid that's misinformation. Every version of PowerBASIC has returned -1 for TRUE and 0 for FALSE. There has never been an exception to this rule, and we do not expect one in the future. This philosophy has been followed by virtually all credible versions of the BASIC programming language

When PowerBASIC evaluates a Boolean expression, it treats the result as any non-zero value as true and zero as false. This philosophy is followed by virtually all programming languages.

The Windows API generally returns the value one (1) for TRUE and zero (0) for false. For that reason, it was necessary to identify the equate %true = 1 in the WIN32API.INC header file. However, please note that both true values are evaluated properly as the result of a Boolean expression.

Best regards,

Bob Zale
PowerBASIC Inc.

**Michael Mattias** · 24 Feb 2009, 08:51 AM

Never test a function which returns 'true' or 'false' (most Windows' API functions return 'true' or 'false' ) for equality with an artificial constant such as %TRUE or even minus-one.

This is why ISTRUE() and ISFALSE() exist.

If your code is written properly, you could define....

Code:

%TRUE =  66872

... and your program would still work perfectly.

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