Anyone on the list know the major differences between version
4.0 & 4.5 of QuickBASIC?
Woody

|>
|>
|> Anyone on the list know the major differences between version
|> 4.0 & 4.5 of QuickBASIC?
|>

As I recall, the big differences were almost all confined to
the IDE.  For example, the online, context-sensitive help
system was introduced in QB45.

There was the usual complaining about this, in that the
additions to the IDE left less free RAM in which to
edit source code and do compiles -- but you must remember
that this was an era when not all machines had 640K.
Many PCs had 512K of RAM, or even less.

The only language difference I can remember is the introduction
of the SLEEP command, which is rather flawed, in that it will
abort as soon as a key is pressed, but it does not remove the
pending keypress from the keyboard buffer. Can't recall any
other new keywords being introduced in QB45.

Others with better memories may be able to pinpoint some
other differences for you.

--
Brian McLaughlin, Technical Writer  |"Thanks to the Internet, misinformation
Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.| now travels faster than ever before!"
Beaverton, OR, USA                  | ---- Standard disclaimer applies ----

Differences from Previous Versions of QuickBASIC

                                          QuickBASIC Version
Feature                                     2.0          3.0           4.0
         4.5

On-line QB Advisor                    No           No            No      
  Yes
(detailed reference)
Selectable right mouse button     No           No            No        
Yes
function
Instant Watches for variables      No           No            No        
Yes
and expressions
Set default search paths             No           No            No        
 Yes
User-defined types                     No           No            Yes    
   Yes
IEEE format, math coprocessor   No           Yes           Yes         Yes
support
On-line help                                No           No            Yes
        Yes
Long (32-bit) integers                  No           No            Yes    
    Yes
Fixed-length strings                     No           No            Yes  
     Yes
Syntax checking on entry            No           No            Yes        
Yes
Binary file I/O                             No           No            Yes
        Yes
FUNCTION procedures                No           No            Yes        
Yes
CodeView support                       No           No            Yes    
   Yes
Compatibility with other                No           No            Yes    
    Yes
languages
Multiple modules in memory         No           No            Yes        
Yes
ProKey, SideKick, and                No           Yes           Yes      
 Yes
SuperKey compatibility
Insert/overtype modes                 No           Yes           Yes      
  Yes
WordStar-style keyboard             No           No            Yes        
Yes
interface
Recursion                                   No           No            Yes
        Yes
Error listings during                     No           Yes           Yes  
      Yes
separate compilation
Assembly-language listings           No           Yes           Yes      
 Yes
during separate compilation

Features New to QuickBASIC 4.5

You can now access on-line help for QuickBASIC's keywords, commands,
and menus, as well as general topics and your own variables. Examples
shown on help screens can be copied and pasted directly into your
own program, reducing development time.

Mouse users can now set the function of the right mouse button with the
Right Mouse command from the Options menu. Use the function that best
suits your needs.

For faster debugging, QuickBASIC now offers an Instant Watch command
for immediately identifying the value of a variable or the condition
(true or false) of an expression.

Version 4.5 also lets you set default search paths to specific types
of files. This lets you organize your files by type and keep them
in separate directories. QuickBASIC will search the correct directory
after you set the new default search path. You can set default paths
for executable, include, library, and help files.

ANTI SPAM : to reply via email, remove asterisk from address

? |> Anyone on the list know the major differences between version
? |> 4.0 & 4.5 of QuickBASIC?
? |>

4.0 was buggy, with a compiling fault which caused run time crashes.  This was
quickly superseded by 4.5, which cured the error.

Leicester, UK.  Tel. 0976 379489

In Ethan Winer's "First Looks" in _PC Magazine_ (31 Jan 89, p.56)
the thing found to be most impressive was the minimum compiled
program size of 10K, compared with previous versions which compiled
just an END statement to a standalone .EXE of more than 25K.

In an review article on BASICs in _PC Magazine_ (31 Oct 89, pp. 187-227
[less the ads :-) ] 4.5 also got a good press.  In fact, the Editor's
Choices were Microsoft BASIC 6.0 and QuickBASIC 4.5.  

The editors singled out: intelligent editor and wealth of debugging
features; TYPE variables and arrays; multi-module programs; easy
interface to assembly language routines; and the extensive on-line
help system.

Cheers,  Ian S.

--

c/- P.O. Box 1054 MAREEBA          Phone  : +61 (0)70 928 555 Home 924 847
Queensland Australia 4880            Fax  : +61 (0)70 923 593   "   "   "

good old .. for i = 1 to xxx :next i      :)

WRT differences between the versions, its in APPENDIX of the QB4,5 Manual

Locke