Is usage of expanded memory the only advantage that qb71...

[TheBigBasicQ]

has over 45?

[toonski84]

If I remember straight, you can't use expanded memory, the ide does, to save memeory.

It is also more efficient all around, and allows for arrays in type structures. Look in the help, it usually has a "differences from previous version" thing in the content.

EDIT: forget that, apparently it does share some array space, and I can't find the differences from.

But hey, you can use arrays in type structures.

EDIT: There also appears to be some kind of 8 byte fixed point integer you can used called a "scaled integer".

[Dav]

There are some other enhancements, such as DIR$, REDIM PRESERVE, COM input buffered during SHELL. Also, it comes with PWB (programmers work bench) and CodeView. I *think* PDS has a font system too (can't remember exactly - I don't use PDS). Maybe someone who uses PDS can expand on these things.

Oh yeah, one nice feature I read that the QBX.EXE IDE has over QB.EXE is that under the Run menu, the Make .EXE File command lets you set any BC.EXE compiler option.

Here's a little doc I found covering PDS...

Code:

Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System (PDS)
-----------------------------------------------------

   Version  Operating System     Date         Changes
   -------  ----------------     ----         -------

   7.00     MS-DOS and MS OS/2   11/9/89      * Addition of:
                                                - ISAM files for MS-DOS
                                                - Linker code overlays
                                                - Better size and speed
                                                  optimizations
                                                - CURRENCY data type
                                                - Local error handling
                                                - Arrays in user TYPEs
                                                - Far strings
                                                - Expanded memory
                                                - 80286 instructions
                                                - QuickBASIC Extended
                                                - Date/time, financial,
                                                  format libraries
                                                - Matrix math toolbox
                                                - User Interface toolbox
                                              * Problem corrections
                                                (fixlist7.00)

   7.10     MS-DOS and MS OS/2   6/24/90      * Addition of:
                                                - ISAM for OS/2
                                                - ISAM faster than 7.00
                                                - Programmer's WorkBench
                                                  (PWB)
                                                - C 6.00 compatibility
                                                - More-efficient QBX.EXE
                                                  expanded memory usage
                                                  (1K granularity for
                                                  procedures < 16K)
                                                - REDIM PRESERVE
                                                - CALL by value for SUB/
                                                  FUNCTION parameters
                                                - Pass fixed-length string
                                                  arrays as parameters
                                              * Problem corrections
                                                (fixlist7.10)

[seph]

So should we switch? Is it worthwhile?

EDIT: Rather, are there any disadvantages?

[toonski84]

the only disadvantage is you can't use your precious dqb

[seph]

You're goddamn kidding me. You can't use libraries at all?

[Piptol]

You're goddamn kidding me. You can't use libraries at all?

Well you can, but it just so happens that almost every lib ever written was done for QB4.5. Why? Beats me. I guess it was just the version most people had.

[toonski84]

The qlb format is different for 4.5 and 7.1. If you can get the original .objs of any library you can compile it for any version of qb, nonetheless any real mode dos compiler.

UGL and Cosmox can be compiled for 7.1 easy, though.

[red_Marvin]

Can I make a SUB containing "SCREEN 13" compile it,
take the obj and use it with c++?

[toonski84]

never tried it. I would have to be a real mode compiler, and it would have to shove the actual "screen" subroutine into hte obj. It might be better to take out the obj from bcom45.lib and compile that into a new library. Of course, this is all theoretical, and i've never tried it, and glenn will probably come out telling me 1200 reasons why the technicalities of this make it impossible.