[fixed] Difficulties with "Help" in QB64 1.3

[hanness]

In help, I am not seeing any of the new commands  such as _ACCEPTFILEDROP, _TOTALDROPPEDFILES, _DROPPEDFILES$, and _ECHO.

In addition, when I select the Alphabetical Keyword Listing in help, I what is shown in my attached image.

I'm running the 64-Bit version of QB64 1.3.

Any suggestions on how I might correct this? Am I missing something simple here?

[FellippeHeitor]

Hello. The wiki is still being updated and the new statements are still being added.

After that is done I'll let you know so you can update the index to fetch the new content into the offline help.

To fix what you currently see just go to Help->Update current page.

[bplus]

Thanks for your question hanness and thank you Fellippe for your answer.

I thought that stuff was side effect of using x64 version, hadn't noticed in v1.3 yet, but yeah there it is, and yea it is now fixed. :)

Welcome to the forum hanness!

[FellippeHeitor]

You can update each help page individually by going to Help->Update Current Page or you can trigger a global update with Help->Update All Pages (takes quite a while).

If instead you'd like to go downloading the fixed pages as you need, you can delete all the contents of the internal/help folder (they are all text files with the exception of one links.bin, which can be safely removed).

After you do that, launch QB64 and go to Help->Keyword Index. That'll download the main help page with the links to the new keywords added recently.

From then on, you can simply type a keyword in your program and hit F1 to download the desired help page.

So far these new keywords have been added to the wiki/help system:

• _ACCEPTFILEDROP, _TOTALDROPPEDFILES, _DROPPEDFILE, _FINISHDROP
• _ALLOWFULLSCREEN
• _SMOOTH (function)
• _ECHO
• _TRIM$
• _RGB32 (updated with new alternative syntaxes)
• _INSTRREV

_SHL and _SHR are still to be added.

[Cobalt]

_SHL and _SHR are still to be added.

You need any input/assistance on those pages Fellippe?

when I have a little more free time I have _SETBIT, _READBIT, _TOGGLEBIT, and _RESETBIT to contribute to QB64. Afraid to say its been so long since I submitted _SHL and _SHR I will need help with it again.

[FellippeHeitor]

Hi Cobalt. Of course!

I'll give you the template of a generic function so you can write according to it, and then I'll just add it to the wiki.

This one has two parameters, so it's probably a good start:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. {{DISPLAYTITLE:_MK$}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
2. The [[_MK$]] function can convert any numerical type into an [[ASCII]] [[STRING]] value that can be converted back using [[_CV]].
3.  
4.  
5. {{PageSyntax}}
6. :{{Parameter|string_value$}} = [[_MK$]]({{Parameter|numericalType}}, {{Parameter|numericalValue}})
7.  
8.  
9. {{Parameters}}
10. * {{Parameter|numericalType}} is any QB64 numerical type: [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]], [[SINGLE]], [[DOUBLE]], [[_INTEGER64]], [[_BYTE]] or [[_BIT]].
11. * Whole integer values can be signed or [[_UNSIGNED]].
12. * {{Parameter|numericalValue}} must match the {{Parameter|numericalType}} used.
13.  
14.  
15. {{PageDescription}}
16. * Supports converting any QBasic or '''QB64''' numerical value into a string value.
17. * Some resulting [[ASCII]] string characters might not be able to be printed to the screen.
18.  
19.  
20. {{PageSeeAlso}}
21. * [[_CV]] {{text|(QB64 conversion function)}}
22. * [[MKI$]], [[CVI]], [[INTEGER]]
23. * [[MKL$]], [[CVL]], [[LONG]]
24. * [[MKS$]], [[CVS]], [[SINGLE]]
25. * [[MKD$]], [[CVD]], [[DOUBLE]]
26. * [[MKSMBF$]], [[CVSMBF]] {{text|(Microsoft Binary Format)}}
27. * [[MKDMBF$]], [[CVDMBF]] {{text|(Microsoft Binary Format)}}
28. * [[PDS(7.1) Procedures#CURRENCY|CURRENCY]]
29.  
30.  
31. {{PageNavigation}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
32.  

Here's one with an example block as well as sample output:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. The '''STR$''' function returns the [[STRING]] representation of a numerical value.
2.  
3.  
4. {{PageSyntax}}
5. :: result$ = '''STR$('''{{Parameter|number}}''')'''
6.  
7.  
8. {{Parameters}}
9. * {{Parameter|number}} is any numerical type value to convert.
10.  
11.  
12. {{PageDescription}}
13. * Returns any type number value with leading sign(space/minus) or decimal point when one exists in the numerical value.
14. * If {{Parameter|number}} is positive, the [[STRING]] value returned will have a leading space character which can be removed using [[LTRIM$]].
15. * If {{Parameter|number}} is negative, the minus sign will precede the number instead of a space which [[LTRIM$]] will not remove.
16. * Trimming a STR$ string number using [[RTRIM$]] is not required as [[PRINT]] creates the undocumented trailing number space.
17.  
18.  
19. {{PageExamples}}
20. {{CodeStart}}{{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|STR$}}( 1.0 )
21. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|STR$}}( 2.3 )
22. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|STR$}}( -4.5 )
23. {{CodeEnd}}
24. {{OutputStart}}
25. 1
26. 2.3
27. -4.5
28. {{OutputEnd}}
29.  
30.  
31. {{CodeStart}}
32. a = 33
33. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|STR$}}(a) + "10" + "1" + "who" + {{Cl|STR$}}(a) + {{Cl|STR$}}(a) + {{Cl|LTRIM$}}({{Cl|STR$}}(a))
34. {{CodeEnd}}
35. {{OutputStart}} 33101who 33 3333
36. {{OutputEnd}}
37.  
38.  
39. {{PageSeeAlso}}
40. * [[VAL]], [[STRING]]
41. * [[LTRIM$]], [[MID$]]
42. * [[RIGHT$]], [[LEFT$]]
43. * [[HEX$]], [[OCT$]]
44.  
45.  
46. {{PageNavigation}}
47.  

Compare that with the output at http://qb64.org/wiki/MK$ and http://qb64.org/wiki/STR$ so you'll know what each symbol does.

[hanness]

Thanks for your help! I very much appreciate it.

The funny thing about the timing of version 1.3 is that I had literally just completed a major program (for me at least) hours before 1.3 was released on version 1.2. It's a program that completely automates a bunch of Windows Image related stuff like injecting Windows Updates into Windows ISO images, injecting updates into the images, creating bootable thumb drives, etc. I had been working on this on and off for the last two months or so and hours after completion 1.3 is released.

As soon as I saw 1.3 I recompiled my program on it and all is working perfectly!

Thanks for the help and such a wonderful program. I've been working with computers professionally since the early 80's, but I'm far from a professional programmer. However, I did spend many an hour writing simple programs in QuickBasic way back in the day. The beauty of QB64 was that I immediately felt at home and was able to become productive almost instantly.

Thanks again!

[Cobalt]

see what you think of this Fellippe, it probably needs some tweaks.

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. {{DISPLAYTITLE:_SHR}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
2. The [[_SHR]] function is used to shift the bits of a numerical value to the right.
3.  
4.  
5. {{PageSyntax}}
6. :{{Parameter|Numerical_value}} = [[_SHR]]({{Parameter|numericalVariable}}, {{Parameter|numericalValue}})
7.  
8.  
9. {{Parameters}}
10. * {{Parameter|numericalvariable}} is the variable to shift the bits of and can be of the following types: [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]],[[_INTEGER64]], or [[_BYTE]].
11. * Integer values can be signed or [[_UNSIGNED]].
12. * {{Parameter|numericalValue}} the number of places to shift the bits.
13. * While 0 is a valid value it will have no affect on the variable being shifted.
14.  
15. {{PageDescription}}
16. * Allows for division of a value by 2 faster than normal division
17. * Bits that reach the end of a variables bit count is dropped
18. * The type of variable used to store the results should match the type of the variable being shifted.
19.  
20. {{PageExamples}}
21. {{CodeStart}}A~%% = 128 'set left most bit of an{{Cl|_UNSIGNED}} {{Cl|_BYTE}}
22. {{Cl|PRINT}} A~%%
23. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR$}}(A~%%,7)
24. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR$}}(A~%%,8) 'shift the bit off the right 'edge'
25. {{CodeEnd}}
26. {{OutputStart}}
27. 128
28. 1
29. 0
30. {{OutputEnd}}
31.  
32.  
33. {{CodeStart}}
34. A~%% = 128
35. {{Cl|FOR}} I%% = 0 to 8
36. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR$}}(A~%%,I%%)
37. {{Cl|NEXT I%%}}
38. {{CodeEnd}}
39. {{OutputStart}}
40. 128
41.  64
42.  32
43.  16
44.  8
45.  4
46.  2
47.  1
48.  0
49. {{OutputEnd}}
50.  
51. {{PageSeeAlso}}
52. * [[_SHL]], [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]]
53. * [[_BYTE]], [[_INTEGER64]]
54.  
55.  
56. {{PageNavigation}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
57.  

if that looks good I will go ahead and work up the _SHL page.

[Raven_Singularity]

I have been using QB64 for several months, and I have never seen the Help menu before.  Having it hidden away by itself in a corner of the screen is not a good location.  I think it should be with the other menu items like a standard application, for consistency, clarity, findibility, and helpfulness.  On a 4K display, the Help menu is nowhere near the other items.  In standard QuickBASIC you had an 80x25 display that forced the menu items to be physically closer to each other (screenshot attached), so there was never any confusion about where the Help menu was located.  It actually stood out a bit being on the right side.  Now it's nearly invisible on a modern display!

I was going to try updating the Help files, as there's a ton of broken help pages for me.

[Cobalt]

I have been using QB64 for several months, and I have never seen the Help menu before.  Having it hidden away by itself in a corner of the screen is not a good location.  I think it should be with the other menu items like a standard application, for consistency, clarity, findibility, and helpfulness.  On a 4K display, the Help menu is nowhere near the other items.  In standard QuickBASIC you had an 80x25 display that forced the menu items to be physically closer to each other (screenshot attached), so there was never any confusion about where the Help menu was located.  It actually stood out a bit being on the right side.  Now it's nearly invisible on a modern display!

I was going to try updating the Help files, as there's a ton of broken help pages for me.

That is where the old QB's had the help menu located, and is part of the nostalgia. Not sure about all us old timers here but it feels more natural to me to have it over there.

[FellippeHeitor]

see what you think of this Fellippe, it probably needs some tweaks.

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. {{DISPLAYTITLE:_SHR}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
2. The [[_SHR]] function is used to shift the bits of a numerical value to the right.
3.  
4.  
5. {{PageSyntax}}
6. :{{Parameter|Numerical_value}} = [[_SHR]]({{Parameter|numericalVariable}}, {{Parameter|numericalValue}})
7.  
8.  
9. {{Parameters}}
10. * {{Parameter|numericalvariable}} is the variable to shift the bits of and can be of the following types: [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]],[[_INTEGER64]], or [[_BYTE]].
11. * Integer values can be signed or [[_UNSIGNED]].
12. * {{Parameter|numericalValue}} the number of places to shift the bits.
13. * While 0 is a valid value it will have no affect on the variable being shifted.
14.  
15. {{PageDescription}}
16. * Allows for division of a value by 2 faster than normal division
17. * Bits that reach the end of a variables bit count is dropped
18. * The type of variable used to store the results should match the type of the variable being shifted.
19.  
20. {{PageExamples}}
21. {{CodeStart}}A~%% = 128 'set left most bit of an{{Cl|_UNSIGNED}} {{Cl|_BYTE}}
22. {{Cl|PRINT}} A~%%
23. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR$}}(A~%%,7)
24. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR$}}(A~%%,8) 'shift the bit off the right 'edge'
25. {{CodeEnd}}
26. {{OutputStart}}
27. 128
28. 1
29. 0
30. {{OutputEnd}}
31.  
32.  
33. {{CodeStart}}
34. A~%% = 128
35. {{Cl|FOR}} I%% = 0 to 8
36. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR$}}(A~%%,I%%)
37. {{Cl|NEXT I%%}}
38. {{CodeEnd}}
39. {{OutputStart}}
40. 128
41.  64
42.  32
43.  16
44.  8
45.  4
46.  2
47.  1
48.  0
49. {{OutputEnd}}
50.  
51. {{PageSeeAlso}}
52. * [[_SHL]], [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]]
53. * [[_BYTE]], [[_INTEGER64]]
54.  
55.  
56. {{PageNavigation}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
57.  

if that looks good I will go ahead and work up the _SHL page.

Looks good to me, Cobalt.

[Raven_Singularity]

@Cobalt:

QuickBASIC was 80x25, which is completely different from modern QB64 with a variable width display.

The Help menu is not placed on the screen in the same way, unless you use an excessively large IDE font to match DOS' 80x25... which I actually can't even do in my QB64.  :-/  My QB64 has font issues which prevent me from picking a custom font size.  It's either default tiny font size that is smooth and anti-aliased, or big but scaled up from the tiny size and heavily aliased/pixelated.  The IDE can't do large fonts clearly on my Windows 10 system.  I would probably use 100 width if I could pick a font size... instead it's forced to 172 columns wide for me.

Out of curiousity, how many columns does your QB64 IDE have?

[Cobalt]

Out of curiousity, how many columns does your QB64 IDE have?

My 80x25 QB64 is identical to the dosbox QB45 ide's 80x25. Font is the same too.

Though I never used QB4.5 at 80x25 I used it with the /H option which I think is 80x50(or 80x43?)
I have my Qb64 set to 100x33, I couldn't even fit 173 wide on my screen. If  the QB64 ide had it I would set the old '/h' option for a smaller font. Far as I can tell I cannot use the custom font option in the ide, least it always unchecks it when I try.

[FellippeHeitor]

Wrong post.

[Cobalt]

Believe these to be finished Fellippe, corrected some spelling in _SHR. You might still give them a once over to make sure it is all good.

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. {{DISPLAYTITLE:_SHR}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
2. The [[_SHR]] function is used to shift the bits of a numerical value to the right.
3.  
4.  
5. {{PageSyntax}}
6. :{{Parameter|Numerical_value}} = [[_SHR]]({{Parameter|numericalVariable}}, {{Parameter|numericalValue}})
7.  
8.  
9. {{Parameters}}
10. * {{Parameter|numericalvariable}} is the variable to shift the bits of and can be of the following types: [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]],[[_INTEGER64]], or [[_BYTE]].
11. * Integer values can be signed or [[_UNSIGNED]].
12. * {{Parameter|numericalValue}} the number of places to shift the bits.
13. * While 0 is a valid value it will have no affect on the variable being shifted.
14.  
15. {{PageDescription}}
16. * Allows for division of a value by 2 faster than normal division
17. * Bits that reach the end of a variables bit count is dropped
18. * The type of variable used to store the results should match the type of the variable being shifted.
19.  
20. {{PageExamples}}
21. {{CodeStart}}A~%% = 128 'set left most bit of an{{Cl|_UNSIGNED}} {{Cl|_BYTE}}
22. {{Cl|PRINT}} A~%%
23. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR}}(A~%%,7)
24. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR}}(A~%%,8) 'shift the bit off the right 'edge'
25. {{CodeEnd}}
26. {{OutputStart}}
27. 128
28. 1
29. 0
30. {{OutputEnd}}
31.  
32.  
33. {{CodeStart}}
34. A~%% = 128
35. {{Cl|FOR}} I%% = 0 to 8
36. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHR}}(A~%%,I%%)
37. {{Cl|NEXT I%%}}
38. {{CodeEnd}}
39. {{OutputStart}}
40. 128
41.  64
42.  32
43.  16
44.  8
45.  4
46.  2
47.  1
48.  0
49. {{OutputEnd}}
50.  
51. {{PageSeeAlso}}
52. * [[_SHL]], [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]]
53. * [[_BYTE]], [[_INTEGER64]]
54.  
55.  
56. {{PageNavigation}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
57.  

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. {{DISPLAYTITLE:_SHL}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
2. The [[_SHL]] function is used to shift the bits of a numerical value to the left.
3.  
4.  
5. {{PageSyntax}}
6. :{{Parameter|Numerical_value}} = [[_SHL]]({{Parameter|numericalVariable}}, {{Parameter|numericalValue}})
7.  
8.  
9. {{Parameters}}
10. * {{Parameter|numericalvariable}} is the variable to shift the bits of and can be of the following types: [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]],[[_INTEGER64]], or [[_BYTE]].
11. * Integer values can be signed or [[_UNSIGNED]].
12. * {{Parameter|numericalValue}} the number of places to shift the bits.
13. * While 0 is a valid value it will have no affect on the variable being shifted.
14.  
15. {{PageDescription}}
16. * Allows for Multiplication of a value by 2 faster than normal multiplication
17. * Bits that reach the end of a variables bit count is dropped(when using a variable of the same type otherwise they will carry over)
18. * The type of variable used to store the results should match the type of the variable being shifted.
19.  
20. {{PageExamples}}
21. {{CodeStart}}A~%% = 1 'set right most bit of an{{Cl|_UNSIGNED}} {{Cl|_BYTE}}
22. {{Cl|PRINT}} A~%%
23. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHL}}(A~%%,7)
24. B~%% = {{Cl|_SHL}}(A~%%,8) 'shift the bit off the left 'edge'
25. {{Cl|PRINT}} B~%%
26. {{CodeEnd}}
27. {{OutputStart}}
28. 1
29. 128
30. 0
31. {{OutputEnd}}
32.  
33.  
34. {{CodeStart}}
35. A~%% = 1
36. {{Cl|FOR}} I%% = 0 to 8
37. {{Cl|PRINT}} {{Cl|_SHL}}(A~%%,I%%)
38. {{Cl|NEXT I%%}}
39. {{CodeEnd}}
40. {{OutputStart}}
41.   1
42.   2
43.   4
44.   8
45.  16
46.  32
47.  64
48. 128
49. 256*(see note)
50. {{OutputEnd}}
51. *Note: When directly printing the result {{Cl|PRINT}} is treated like a larger variable type so the left most bit is carried to the next value.
52. *      To avoid this store the result in a variable of the same type before printing.
53.  
54. {{PageSeeAlso}}
55. * [[_SHL]], [[INTEGER]], [[LONG]]
56. * [[_BYTE]], [[_INTEGER64]]
57.  
58.  
59. {{PageNavigation}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:}}
60.