QBASIC Introduction

INTRODUCTION

                BASIC (Beginners' All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is one of the easiest high level programming languages. It allows the usage of English-like language and use mathematical notation. It was developed in 1964 at Dartmouth College, U.S.A. by Professors Johan and Thomas Kurtz.

                          QBASIC is high level computer language published by Microsoft. QBASIC environment includes a full screen syntax checking, multi-file and multi window editing, full debugging facilities, pull-down menus, syntax-checking editor and a simple yet a powerful menu structure that can be driven through either by a keyboard or a mouse. Once you are in the QBASIC environment you can edit, run, debug and rerun the program without switching programs.

                

Using QBASIC Menus

                       Menu bar is a one-line, horizontal menu at the top of the edit window. It contains the various choices that you can select from. The selection can be done using the mouse or the keyboard. The menu bar contains the following option.

Use Of File Menu Options

• New           :      Clear the current programs.
• Open         :      Loads a program from the disk.
• Save          :      Save the program to disk.
• Save As    :      Save the program, but under a different name.
• Print          :      Prints the selected text, current window, or entire program.
• Exit         :       Close the OBASIC interpreter.

Use Of Edit Menu Options

• Cut            :       Removes the selected text and stores in the clipboard.
• Copy         :       Copies the selected text instead of removing it.
• Paste        :        Adds the text in the clipboard to the current position of                                  the cursor.
• Clear         :       Removes the text without storing it on the clipboard.

Use Of Search Menu Options

• Find           :       Allows you to search for a string of text in the program.
• Repeat Last Find: Continues the previous search operation.
• Change     :       Replace each instance of string with another string.

Use Of Run Menu Options

• Start         :         Executes the current program.
• Restart     :         Starts from the beginning.
• Continue  :        Continues executes at the current position.

Use Of Help Menu Options

• Index        :         List of all QBASIC commands, Keyboards, operators,                                  etc.
• Contents  :         The table of contents for QBASIC help.
• Topic        :         Shows help for specific Keyword.
• Using Help :       Displays information about the QBASIC help.
• About       :         Shows information about the QBASIC interpreter.