Why is this bit of code borking on the LOCATE statement?

[CharlieJV]

G'day,

I imagine it is something simple for which I'll be kicking myself in the rear.

I felt like doing some mindless coding tonight with another BASIC implementation, and wanted to see if that code would work as-is in QB64.  The compiler is not happy with line 32 (The "LOCATE" statement in "DisplayBombs".  What silly mistake am I making here?

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. VariableDeclarations:
2.         type tAlphaBomb
3.                 sChar as string
4.                 iY as integer
5.                 iX as integer
6.         end type
7.         dim AlphaBomb(1) as tAlphaBomb
8.         DangerBomb% = 1
9.         NewBomb% = 1
10.         StopGame% = 0
11. '
12. MainProgram:   
13.         gosub NewBomb
14.         do
15.                 cls
16.                 gosub DisplayBombs
17.                 sound 55, 3
18.                 sleep 0.75
19.                 gosub PrepNextBombPositions
20.                 gosub CheckKeyboard
21.         loop while NOT StopGame%
22.         end
23. '
24. NewBomb:
25.         AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).sChar = chr$(int(rnd * (90 - 65 + 1) ) + 65)
26.         AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).iY = 1
27.         AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).iX = int(rnd * (80) + 1)
28.         return
29. '
30. DisplayBombs:
31.         for i = 1 to 24
32.                 locate AlphaBomb(i).iY, AlphaBomb(i).iX
33.                 print AlphaBomb(i).sChar
34.         next i
35.         return
36. '
37. PrepNextBombPositions:
38.         for i = 1 to 24
39.                 AlphaBomb(i).iY += 1
40.                 if AlphaBomb(i).sChar <> "" and AlphaBomb(i).iY = 25 then
41.                         AlphaBomb(i).sChar = ""
42.                         locate AlphaBomb(i).iY-1, AlphaBomb(i).iX
43.                         print "*"
44.                         sound 37,3
45.                         sleep 9/18
46.                         DangerBomb% = i mod 24 + 1
47.                 end if
48.         next i
49.         NewBomb% = NewBomb% mod 24 + 1
50.         Gosub NewBomb
51.         return
52. '
53. CheckKeyboard:
54.         NextKey$ = inkey$
55.         while NextKey$ <> ""
56.                 if NextKey$ = chr$(27) then
57.                         StopGame% = -1
58.                 else
59.                         if NextKey$ = AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).sChar then
60.                            locate AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).iY-1, AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).iX
61.                                 print "#"
62.                                 sound 290, 1
63.                                 sleep 3/18
64.                                 AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).sChar = ""
65.                                 DangerBomb% = DangerBomb% mod 24 + 1
66.                         end if
67.                 end if
68.                 NextKey$ = inkey$
69.         wend
70.         return

[SMcNeill]

What BASIC are you trying to compile under?  It doesn't look like QB64 code to me...


AlphaBomb(i).iY += 1


We don't have a += shortcut.  Do we??

[CharlieJV]

Arg, bad copy paste.

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. AlphaBomb(i).iY += 1

is something that works with the other BASIC implementation, which I did change to

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. AlphaBomb(i).iY = AlphaBomb(i).iY + 1

in QB64.

[SMcNeill]

My guess would be a LOCATE 0,0 statement, which is out of bounds of the screen.

Relevant code is here:

NewBomb% = 1

GoSub NewBomb

NewBomb:
AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).sChar = Chr$(Int(Rnd * (90 - 65 + 1)) + 65)
AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).iY = 1
AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).iX = Int(Rnd * (80) + 1)
Return

Do
    Cls
    GoSub DisplayBombs

DisplayBombs:
For i = 1 To 24
    Locate AlphaBomb(i).iY, AlphaBomb(i).iX
    Print AlphaBomb(i).sChar
Next i
Return


Now, as you can see from the flow here, you set the first bomb to be at location 1, rnd * 80...   You never set a location for the rest of the bombs, so they all default to 0,0.   When you get to the DisplayBombs routine, you try and display all 24 bombs on the screen, but only the very first one has a location for it.

You're locating off the screen coordinates.

[CharlieJV]

 Oh man, good eyeballs.

I was not thinking.  The other implementation is forgiving of that kind of thing.  I just need to slap a wee check in there.

Thanks !

Aside, the working version in the other implementation: https://basicanywheremachine.neocities.org/Alphabet%20Attacks.html

[CharlieJV]

That code in the OP, I had to do some tweaking and now have a version that works A-1 with QB64.

(It took me a bit to figure out that the SLEEP statement in QB64 does not like fractions of seconds, so a switch to _Delay fixed that right up.)

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. VariableDeclarations:
2.         type tAlphaBomb
3.                 sChar as string
4.                 iY as integer
5.                 iX as integer
6.         end type
7.         dim AlphaBomb(1) as tAlphaBomb
8.         DangerBomb% = 1
9.         NewBomb% = 1
10.         StopGame% = 0
11. '
12. MainProgram:   
13.         gosub NewBomb
14.         do
15.                 cls
16.                 gosub DisplayBombs
17.                 sound 55, 3
18.                 sleep 0.75
19.                 gosub PrepNextBombPositions
20.                 gosub CheckKeyboard
21.         loop while NOT StopGame%
22.         end
23. '
24. NewBomb:
25.         AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).sChar = chr$(int(rnd * (90 - 65 + 1) ) + 65)
26.         AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).iY = 1
27.         AlphaBomb(NewBomb%).iX = int(rnd * (80) + 1)
28.         return
29. '
30. DisplayBombs:
31.         for i = 1 to 24
32.                 locate AlphaBomb(i).iY, AlphaBomb(i).iX
33.                 print AlphaBomb(i).sChar
34.         next i
35.         return
36. '
37. PrepNextBombPositions:
38.         for i = 1 to 24
39.                 AlphaBomb(i).iY += 1
40.                 if AlphaBomb(i).sChar <> "" and AlphaBomb(i).iY = 25 then
41.                         AlphaBomb(i).sChar = ""
42.                         locate AlphaBomb(i).iY-1, AlphaBomb(i).iX
43.                         print "*"
44.                         sound 37,3
45.                         sleep 9/18
46.                         DangerBomb% = i mod 24 + 1
47.                 end if
48.         next i
49.         NewBomb% = NewBomb% mod 24 + 1
50.         Gosub NewBomb
51.         return
52. '
53. CheckKeyboard:
54.         NextKey$ = inkey$
55.         while NextKey$ <> ""
56.                 if NextKey$ = chr$(27) then
57.                         StopGame% = -1
58.                 else
59.                         if NextKey$ = AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).sChar then
60.                            locate AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).iY-1, AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).iX
61.                                 print "#"
62.                                 sound 290, 1
63.                                 sleep 3/18
64.                                 AlphaBomb(DangerBomb%).sChar = ""
65.                                 DangerBomb% = DangerBomb% mod 24 + 1
66.                         end if
67.                 end if
68.                 NextKey$ = inkey$
69.         wend
70.         return

[bplus]

https://basicanywheremachine.neocities.org/Alphabet%20Attacks.html

@CharlieJV does this Basic have Dynamic arrays? All I see is DIM, no REDIM.

[CharlieJV]

G'day,

Yup, dynamic arrays.

I'm working on a customized version of wwwbasic in my BASIC Anywhere Machine project.

[bplus]

G'day,

Yup, dynamic arrays.

I'm working on a customized version of wwwbasic in my BASIC Anywhere Machine project.

Hey, I just checked it out, won't run any of the QB64 code I tried but did ok typing in a Game of Hi Lo, Guess the number. Interesting to run programs On-Line. Where did my save of the Game go?

[CharlieJV]

Yeah,  wwwbasic has been dormant for a few years.

I'm in the process of ironing out kinks that get on my nerves, then slowly figure out how to get more QB64 compatiblity in there.  (List of changes I've made to wwwbasic at the bottom of this post.)

Really, BASIC Anywhere Machine is for the BASIC hobby programming, a portable run-anywhere BASIC for learning fundamental programming skills (loops, for example) and, if I can get there, a portable side-tool to crank out and test small bits of code for export and inclusion in big projects with robust tools and goals.

So work on a little subroutine or function in BASIC Anywhere Machine, export the code, and slap that in your QB64 project.  That might make more sense than bringing full QB64 programs into BASIC Anywhere Machine.

Something like that.  My thoughts/feelings are scattered all over the place.

Let's just say I'm a huge fan of BASIC, immense fan of TiddlyWiki, and QB64 is the twinkle in my eye.

Putting it all together somehow is something the hamsters in the back of my head are still spinning away on.  To look at me, one may think the hamster's dead, yet multiple squeaky wheels are always spinning ...

Enhancements I've made to wwwBASIC so far:

🤕 Fixes to Broken Features
SWAP
✏ Edited Behaviour
SLEEP
VAL
➕ Language Implementation Additions
DATE$
NOW$
TIME$
SOUND
🔩 Architectural Enhancements
Console Focus Before Program Execution

[bplus]

@CharlieJV

Cool, glad you aim for QB64 compatibility, never heard of TiddlyWiki, interesting.
Love to see people connect outside interests o QB64.

[CharlieJV]

Well (re QB64 compatibility), I am going to get as close as I can on this side of the cuckoo's nest, and within my abilities.

Javascript and I largely do not get along.  The work done by the wwwbasic contributors is something to behold.

My work on BASIC Anywhere Machine is a slow-going intertwingled labour o' passion, putting together the BASIC programming TiddlyWiki, a programmer's guide and web site.  Trying to figure out project management, communication, etc.

All while reminiscing via reading old BASIC Programming books on the internet archive, getting inspiration related to writing a BASIC Anywhere Machine User Guide and some kind of resource for folk who want to learn programming (BASIC is great for that kind of thing.)

Good times !