HANDS ON INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUICKBASIC

Click on the QBasic option.  Please follow the instructions on the screen.  You will be asked to insert your data diskette and press the enter key.

Read through and do the exercises in the sections below. Read the screen, press enter for help or press ESC to clear box and exit help.

A.   Entering your program

     Type the following program in. The enter key is represented by <‑. If you make a mistake backspace to erase it and retype the characters.

     PRINT "START"                       <‑

     PRINT "THE SUM OF 3 AND 7 IS "; 3+7 <‑

     PRINT "DONE"                        <‑

B.   Executing the program

     To run you program,

          press Alt R (to get to the run menu)

          type S (to start the execution)

          you will be prompted to press any key to go back to the editor

     Note: A shorter way to execute a program is Shift and F5

     For later use ‑ To stop execution of a program when in an endless loop, press the Ctrl and Break keys.

     To look at the output again

          press Alt V (for View menu)

          type O (for output screen)

     Note: A shorter way to view the output again is to press F4

     To print this output, press the Prnt Screen key. Make sure you are on the output screen not the QBasic menu screen.

C.   Listing the program to the printer

     Note: Before you try to print make sure you do the following:

     1. turn printer on

     2. switch the printer switch box to your computer

     3. printer online light is on.  If it is not press the online button.

     Please check these three items again if you have a problem printing.

     To print your hardcopy (source program) on the printer,

          press Alt F (to go to the file menu)         

          type P (to print your hardcopy)

          your then press enter on the Entire Program

     To get the paper out of the printer. Press formfeed (or line feed) to position paper until you see the perforation. Do not use the knob. Then tear the paper at the perforation.

D.   Making corrections to your program

     Note: Do NOT position cursor by using the enter key. Use the cursor keys.

     1.   To type over characters,

          get out of the insert mode by pressing INSERT key (the cursor will now be a blinking block), then position cursor and type over characters. 

              change all 3's to 8's and change all 7's to 9's in line

                        PRINT "THE SUM OF 3 AND 7 IS " 3+7              

              giving .. PRINT "THE SUM OF 8 AND 9 IS " 8+9

     2.   To insert characters,         

          get into insert mode by pressing the INSERT key (the cursor will not be a blinking line) and position cursor and type the characters in. 

              insert the phrase 'WE ARE ' in line

                        PRINT "DONE"

              giving .. PRINT "WE ARE DONE"

     3.   To delete characters,

          position cursor to characters to be deleted and press the DELETE key.

              delete the characters 'THE' in line

                         PRINT "THE SUM OF 8 AND 9 IS "; 8+9

              giving .. PRINT "SUM OF 8 AND 9 IS "; 8+9

     4.   To insert lines,

          position cursor to beginning of line where new line is to go before or to end of line where new line is to go after, and then press the enter key.

              insert the following line at the beginning of your program

                   PRINT "type your name here"

     5.   To delete lines,

          place cursor on line to be delete and press CTRL Y

              delete the following line   PRINT "START"

E.   Saving program

     To save a file,

          type Alt F (for file menu)

          type S (to save)

     Note: If the file has been save previously then it will not prompt you for any other information.

     enter filename for program to be saved under press enter.

     Save the program you have just written as NEWPRG.BAS

     Note: there are no spaces in the filename

     FILENAMES will consist of a drive letter colon (A: for left drive and B: for right drive, if none given uses the default drive) then the filename (consisting of 8 characters or less beginning with a letter, period and an extension of BAS)

     Note: If you want to change the name of the program later, use option A (Save As) on the file menu.  This option will allow you to save the file with a new name.

F.   Clear Workspace for new program

     To clear the workspace for a new program,

          type Alt F (for file menu)

          type press N (for new)

     if the work file has changes which haven't been saved, it will prompt you to either save or not save these changes before it clears the workspace. [Use the tab key to move to correct response then press enter.]

G.   Load (open) old program

     To load a previously created program,

          type Alt F (for file menu)

          type O (to open program)

          next will appear File Name : *.bas

          Note: Change *.bas to *.* if you want to see all the files.

          tab down to file (the key over Ctrl with two arrows on it)

          to pick from list use cursor keys (it doesn't matter which cursor key you use) to position cursor to filename wanted and press enter.  The cursor keys are the keys with the numbers and arrows on them. Load the file you created earlier NEWPRG.BAS

          Note: Do not use press enter before you use the cursor keys to pick the file, otherwise the command will not be accepted.  If you do this press the ESC key and try again.

H.   Exiting Quick BASIC

          To exit Quick BASIC,

              type Alt F (for file menu)

              type X (to exit)

     If the file hasn't been saved, you will be prompted to save it before exiting Quick BASIC.

Sample Exercise

See if you can do the following assignment using the information you have just learned. (You can look back at the previous information for help). 

Since you have exited QuickBasic take the menu option to start QBASIC again.

1. Type in the following basic program. 

   LET A=2+2

   PRINT "2+2=";A

   END    

2. Save the program.  Use the filename FIRST.BAS

3. Execute the program and print it. (Print the output from the program)

4. Make a hardcopy of your program. (Print the basic program)

5. Load the program you created previously NEWPRG.BAS

6. Exit QuickBASIC