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Q39362: QuickBASIC Compile Errors Not Given in M.EXE Editor; No BC /Z

Article: Q39362
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 1.00 1.01 1.02 2.00 2.10 3.00 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | SR# S881213-16 B_BasicCom S_Editor | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 4-SEP-1990

QuickBASIC versions 1.x, 2.x, 3.00, 4.00, 4.00b, and 4.50 do not
generate the error message format necessary for the Microsoft Editor
(M.EXE). You can compile programs from within the M.EXE Editor, but
return code 4 (which is an ARG COMPILE return code stating an error
occurred) will not give the error message inside the M.EXE Editor
program.

Note: The Microsoft M.EXE Editor is not provided with the QuickBASIC
package. The Microsoft Editor is provided with Microsoft BASIC
Compiler versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS and MS OS/2, with
Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System (PDS) version 7.00 for
MS-DOS and MS OS/2, and with some Microsoft system languages.

The BC.EXE environment that comes with QuickBASIC versions 4.50 and
earlier does not allow the /Z option, which produces the proper error
message format for the M.EXE Editor. However, the /Z option is
supported by the BC.EXE environment provided with Microsoft BASIC
Compiler versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS and OS/2. Adding the
following line to the TOOLS.INI file under section [M] will allow the
BC.EXE version 6.00 or 6.00b environment to be used from within the
M.EXE Editor:

   EXTMAKE:BAS BC /Z %|F;

If this EXTMAKE line is in the TOOLS.INI and ARGCOMPILE is set to F5
(ARGCOMPILE:F5) in the TOOLS.INI file, pressing F5 while editing BASIC
source code in the M.EXE Editor causes BC.EXE to be invoked. If BC.EXE
finds errors, they are returned correctly to the M.EXE Editor and the
cursor is placed on the first error.

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