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QuickBasicNews Issue 1: COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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∫ COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ∫
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Question What is the difference between QBASIC and QuickBasic?
Answer QBASIC is the interpreted version that has been included
with all versions of MS-DOS since the release of version
5.0 If you still are not sure whether you have QBASIC
or QuickBasic then do this: Start your QBasic or QuickBasic
program. If the editor comes up with a screen in the middle
that asks you if you want to run the Survival Guide then
you have QBasic and not QuickBasic. Another way is to select
the Help menu selection at the upper right of your screen.
After you select it, if you see a submenu option called
( About... ) then select it. If it says - DOS QBASIC
VERSION 1.1 then you have QBASIC and not QuickBasic.
With QBASIC alone you:
Cannot create .EXE files from your QBASIC code.
Cannot use libraries
Cannot use interrupts.
QuickBasic is the compiler version of QBASIC. There are
many similarities. For instance, most programs written in
QBASIC will run in QuickBasic. Think of QuickBasic as
the enhanced version of QBASIC. While QBASIC was provided
free, QuickBasic was not. With QuickBasic you:
Can create .EXE self running files from your code
Can use libraries
Can use interrupts
Have greater control when operating within the environment
There are a number of other advanced features included
with QuickBasic. Most of these have to do with debugging,
and other things that make it easier to work within the
environment.
QuickBasic came in version 2.0 , 3.0 , 4.0 , and version 4.5 .
Version 4.5 is the latest version and no further versions
are planned. ( However the use of libraries which can be
used with QuickBasic continues to enhance the capabilities of
QuickBasic).
Microsoft probably did not intend for this to be a confusion
factor ( or maybe they did ). However, the fact remains that
many people do not know the difference. Others refer to
QBasic as QuickBasic and many QuickBasic users often refer
to their version as QBasic. You might also hear someone
refer to QuickBasic as QBasic 4.5 QuickBasic is also
called QB. In fact, you start it by entering QB at the DOS
prompt when you are under the QuickBasic directory.
In my opinion the absolute best way to let someone know what
you have is by giving the version number. Even if you said
that you have QBasic version 4.5 it would be obvious that you
must have QuickBasic since there was no version 4.5 of QBasic.
QBasic is simply version 1.1
It is not necessarily assumed that someone has QuickBasic
just because they say they have QuickBasic, because to many,
the Q in QBasic means Quick. And so the confusion goes
on.............
Question Can I still buy QuickBasic 4.5?
Answer Yes. However, something incredible has happened. Although
Microsoft is not planning any new releases of QuickBasic,
the price for QuickBasic 4.5 has gone up. ( One would
have thought the price would have gone down). When QuickBasic
first came out I understand that it could be found for
anywhere from about $45 to $65. Now the price can be as high
as $135. A call (in August '94) to Computer Discount Warehouse,
a large discount distributer (1-800-726-4239) showed that
QuickBasic 4.5 is still being sold. Their price was $123.
Question I only have QBasic. Is there a shareware compiler available?
Answer You may want to try to find the shareware version of ASIC,
however, I understand it is not 100% compatible with QBasic.
We suggest you try and obtain a copy of QuickBasic 4.5 . It
Should still be available through some college bookstores, or
check with your software supplier. He may not have it on hand
but can probably order it. Another good source is from someone
who has a legal copy but no longer uses it. Be sure to ask
for the original manuals.
Question I have QuickBasic 4.0 Are there any major differences
between it and the latest version 4.5?
Answer There is very little difference. The main difference is
within the QuickBasic environment itself. For example
version 4.5 allows you to set instant watches for variables
and expressions. It also lets you set default search paths,
and use symbol help.
Question Can I still find any good books on QBasic and or QuickBasic?
Answer Definitely ! In addition, new ones continue to come out. Since
QBasic was included free with DOS by Microsoft most people have
it on their computer (Which is certainly one reason why it
is widely used). Some books include:
For QBasic: QBasic Programming 101
by Greg Perry
Sams Publishing
ISBN 0-672-30281-0
For QuickBasic: Mastering QUICKBASIC
by Rita Belserene
SYBEX
ISBN 0-89588-589-1
Microsoft QuickBasic Bible
by the Waite Group
ISBN 1-55615-262-0
For Interrupts: MS-DOS 5 Programming
by OPeter G. Aitken
MicroSoft Press
ISGN 1-55615-471-2
PC INTERRUPTS (Second Edition)
by Ralf Brown & Jim Kyle
Addison Wesley
ISBN 0-201-62485-0
1210 pages intended as a reference list
of interrupt numbers and functions
