Q42553: "Illegal Function Call" Using VIEW, WINDOW, GET, or PUT

Article: Q42553
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | SR# S890130-51 B_BasicCom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 16-DEC-1989

When using the QuickBASIC graphics functions GET, PUT, VIEW, and
WINDOW, it is very easy to encounter the error "Illegal Function
Call." The error can be generated for many reasons.

This information applies to Microsoft QuickBASIC Versions 4.00, 4.00b,
and 4.50 for MS-DOS, to Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and
6.00b for MS-DOS and MS OS/2, and to Microsoft BASIC PDS Version 7.00
for MS-DOS and MS OS/2.

If you encounter the above error, the following are some suggestions
for determining where the error occurs:

1. If "Illegal Function Call" occurs on a GET statement, do the
   following:

   a. Make sure you are actually GETting part of the screen or VIEW.

   b. Make sure your array is large enough to hold the image. There is
      a formula in the "Microsoft QuickBASIC: Programming in BASIC"
      manual for Version 4.50 on Page 194 that calculates the size of
      the array:

      sizeinbytes=4+height*planes*INT((width*bitsperpixel/planes+7)/8)

2. If "Illegal Function Call" occurs on the PUT statement, do the
   following:

   a. Make sure you are PUTting the image within the boundary of your
      WINDOW or VIEW statement.

   b. Certain problems that occur with the WINDOW statement may not
      occur with the WINDOW SCREEN statement. The use of this
      statement is discussed in the "Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0: BASIC
      Language Reference" manual for Versions 4.00 and 4.00b.

3. If you use the following code example, when run under QuickBASIC
   Version 4.50, you will get an "Illegal Function Call" when trying
   to execute the PUT statement:

   DEFINT A-Z
   DIM image(40) AS LONG
   SCREEN 9
   VIEW (0,0)-(300,95)     ' Sets the view for the screen
   WINDOW (0,0)-(300,190)  ' Sets screen coordinates
   LINE (0,0)-(300,190),,B ' Draws a box around the vie
   GET (0,1)-(0,189),Image ' Gets vertical image
   SLEEP       10                ' Pause
   PUT (0,1),Image,PSET    ' Put image back to screen
   SLEEP 10                ' Pause

   This error can be corrected in one of two ways:

   a. The VIEW statement can be enlarged, from 95 to 96 or more.

   b. The WINDOW statement can be changed to a WINDOW SCREEN.

   The current program will not accept values of 95 or less with the
   current WINDOW statement, but it will if a WINDOW SCREEN is used.
   This WINDOW SCREEN statement alters the coordinates of the screen
   to create a right-hand coordinate system.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.