DOCUMENT:Q72502 19-NOV-1999 [msdos] TITLE :Converting Programs from GW-Basic to QBasic PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:5.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system version 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= To run a GW-Basic program under QBasic, do the following: 1. Convert the program in GW-Basic to ASCII format. 2. Run QBasic with the /MBF switch. 3. Load the program into QBasic. MORE INFORMATION ================ All QBasic programs must be in ASCII format. The GW-Basic program editor can save programs in the format QBasic requires. The file must be saved with the A option in GW-Basic. Otherwise, GW-Basic compresses the text of your program into a format that QBasic cannot read. To convert the file to the QBasic format, do the following: 1. Run GW-Basic. 2. Use the LOAD command to load your GW-Basic program. 3. Use the LIST command to verify your program's contents. 4. Use the SAVE command with the A option to save the program. The A switch causes the program to be saved in ASCII format. For example: save"",a 5. Exit GW-Basic by typing "SYSTEM" (without the quotation marks) at the GW-Basic prompt. Once you have saved the program in ASCII format, you can then load the program in QBasic using the /MBF switch. MBF stands for Microsoft Binary Format, which is used for floating point numbers and calculations. It allows you to use your old programs and data without rewriting your programs or changing your files. For example, type the following command and press ENTER: "qbasic /mbf" (without the quotation marks) You can determine if your program is in ASCII format by loading the program into QBasic. If it has strange characters or IBM extended character set characters, the program is probably not in ASCII format. End your QBasic session and save the file in ASCII format using the steps above. To run the program in QBasic, from the Run menu, choose Start. If the program is converted to ASCII, it should run normally. Additional query words: 5.00 noupd ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS500 Version : MS-DOS:5.0 ============================================================================= 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 1999.