I have installed PC basic. I have an old GW Basic program with program lines up to 6060. When I run, I get UNDEFINED LINE IN 320. When I LIST, only program lines up 930 display. Any ideas?
Hi Gene, that sounds like a really strange issue. There may be a problem with newlines, if the program is in a text file, or if it is a binary file it may have become damaged. Or it may be a bug in PC-BASIC.
Would you be able to send the file to me, so I can investigate the issue?
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Anonymous
-
2015-05-12
My name is bob. I am trying to print from PC-3.2 on a laptop to a network printer.
Help please
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I'm assuming you use PC-BASIC release 15.03 on Windows and you can already access the network printer from other Windows applications.
In general, you'll need to set the lpt1= option either in PCBASIC.INI, e.g.: lpt1=NameOfYourNetworkPrinter
or on the command line by calling PC_BASIC with pcbasic --lpt1=NameOfYourNetworkPrinter
where you replace NameOfYourNetworkPrinter with the name of the printer as it appears in the Devices and Printers control panel (or Printers and Faxes, depending on your Windows version).
You may also need to set the option print-trigger=page if you want pages to be printed as soon as they're finished, rather than on closing PC-BASIC.
Hope this helps - if you run into further issues, could you please write a bit more about what is not working? Also please specify your PC-BASIC release version (the name of the file you downloaded) and what operating system you use, including what version.
Rob
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Anonymous
-
2015-05-14
this is bob again. I have tried what you said to do. it keeps saying syntax error. I down loaded 15.03 or 15.02 I donot know. windows 8.1. I use the command line in basic
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Hi Bob, the commands I showed were for the command line in Windows, not the one in BASIC.
You can't set up the printer from BASIC itself, you need to either edit the PCBASIC.INI file or start pcbasic from the Windows command line (DOS prompt) with the options from my previous message. You could also try setting the printer you want to use as your default printer.
Can you print to that printer from other programs in Windows?
What commands or program are you using in BASIC to try to print?
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Anonymous
-
2015-05-14
I can print from my laptop or main computer to the network printer. I got dos prompt of c:\users\linda> I input pcbasic it comes back with basically it does not exist. in basic, I input on the command line file it comes back with alist of things, anything with a dir does not load. when I get into pcbasic.ini file it will not let me change anything.
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You can change PCBASIC.INI with Notepad or Wordpad.
I don't understand what you mean by "I input on the command line file it comes back with alist of things, anything with a dir does not load."
What do you input on the command line in BASIC? Please give me the exact commands you type and the replies you receive from BASIC.
Rob
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Anonymous
-
2015-05-19
bob has troubles. at acer(c:) I tapped on program files(86) then pcbasic then config. it brings up pcbasic.ini and readme. pcbasic tells about this file. readme tells me how to change pcbasic.ini. it tells me to put in c:\users\linda\appdata\roaming\pcbasic this brings up pcbasic and pcbasic.sav in pcbasic.ini I put in [printer] underneath I put in lpt1=brother mfc-470dw printer, this is the name that the computer calls up for my printer. I tried all of this and it did not work. I went back to where it said pcbasic.ini and pcbasic.sav and pcbasic.sav. was in Japanese, that is where I quit
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It looks like you're on the right path.
I forgot something important in my earlier description - apologies.
The line in PCBASIC.INI should be lpt1=PRINTER:"brother mfc-470dw printer"
Note the PRINTER: in front, in version 15.03 it cannot be left out. Also try with and without the double quotation marks around your printer's name.
If that does not work, try setting your printer to be the WIndows default printer and use just lpt1=PRINTER:
Also please let me know what commands you use in BASIC to send text to the printer.
There is no need to edit or open PCBASIC.SAV, it is a binary file that saves your last session. It is not expected to be in a readable format.
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Anonymous
-
2015-05-21
this is bob again. how do you tell which version I down loaded. in the pcbasis.ini file it says look in usage, where do you look in usage. it also says to use --pcbasic -h how do I do this. have you wtitten any book on how to use pcbasic, please say yes
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You told me which version you downloaded, so that was easy.
USAGE is the old name for the Documentation file. It needs to be changed which I'll take care of in the next release.
pcbasic -h is a command you run on the DOS prompt. You need to make sure that you're in the PC-BASIC installation folder (probably C:\Program Files\PC-BASIC\) when you run the command.
The documentation you ask for is supplied with PC-BASIC (click on the icon Documentation in the PC-BASIC start menu folder, or look for a file called PC-BASIC_Documentation.html in the doc\ subfolder in the installation folder).
It is also available online on this site if you click on Documentation at the top of this page, or through one of the following links:
Check out the new version 15.03.3 - it solves a number of issues with Windows printing; perhaps yours too.
I would recommend using the uninstaller to remove the current version, then renaming PCBASIC.INI (if it still exists on your computer) to PCBASIC-old.INI, then installing the new version, to ensure you start with a clean slate.
Then start PC-BASIC and try printing with
OPEN "LPT1:" FOR OUTPUT AS 1: PRINT#1, "test": CLOSE
which should immediately print a page with the word 'test' on your default Windows printer.
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Anonymous
-
2015-06-05
this is a happy bob. my granddaughter is spending the summer with us, so for the past two weeks I have not done to much on the computer. I did what you suggested of loading the newer version and seems to be working just for printing to the printer. I want to than you very much. I know I will be talking to you later, I always need help on something. thank you again happy bob
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I have installed PC basic. I have an old GW Basic program with program lines up to 6060. When I run, I get UNDEFINED LINE IN 320. When I LIST, only program lines up 930 display. Any ideas?
Gene Seibel
Asst. RF Manager
Trinity Broadcasting Network
333 West Bethalto Drive #4
Bethalto, IL 62010
Phone/Fax 618-377-2978
Cell 618-401-2552
E-mail gene@pad39a.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Gene, that sounds like a really strange issue. There may be a problem with newlines, if the program is in a text file, or if it is a binary file it may have become damaged. Or it may be a bug in PC-BASIC.
Would you be able to send the file to me, so I can investigate the issue?
My name is bob. I am trying to print from PC-3.2 on a laptop to a network printer.
Help please
Hi Bob,
I'm assuming you use PC-BASIC release 15.03 on Windows and you can already access the network printer from other Windows applications.
In general, you'll need to set the
lpt1=option either inPCBASIC.INI, e.g.:lpt1=NameOfYourNetworkPrinteror on the command line by calling PC_BASIC with
pcbasic --lpt1=NameOfYourNetworkPrinterwhere you replace
NameOfYourNetworkPrinterwith the name of the printer as it appears in the Devices and Printers control panel (or Printers and Faxes, depending on your Windows version).You may also need to set the option
print-trigger=pageif you want pages to be printed as soon as they're finished, rather than on closing PC-BASIC.Hope this helps - if you run into further issues, could you please write a bit more about what is not working? Also please specify your PC-BASIC release version (the name of the file you downloaded) and what operating system you use, including what version.
Rob
this is bob again. I have tried what you said to do. it keeps saying syntax error. I down loaded 15.03 or 15.02 I donot know. windows 8.1. I use the command line in basic
Hi Bob, the commands I showed were for the command line in Windows, not the one in BASIC.
You can't set up the printer from BASIC itself, you need to either edit the PCBASIC.INI file or start
pcbasicfrom the Windows command line (DOS prompt) with the options from my previous message. You could also try setting the printer you want to use as your default printer.Can you print to that printer from other programs in Windows?
What commands or program are you using in BASIC to try to print?
I can print from my laptop or main computer to the network printer. I got dos prompt of c:\users\linda> I input pcbasic it comes back with basically it does not exist. in basic, I input on the command line file it comes back with alist of things, anything with a dir does not load. when I get into pcbasic.ini file it will not let me change anything.
Bob,
You can change PCBASIC.INI with Notepad or Wordpad.
I don't understand what you mean by "I input on the command line file it comes back with alist of things, anything with a dir does not load."
What do you input on the command line in BASIC? Please give me the exact commands you type and the replies you receive from BASIC.
Rob
bob has troubles. at acer(c:) I tapped on program files(86) then pcbasic then config. it brings up pcbasic.ini and readme. pcbasic tells about this file. readme tells me how to change pcbasic.ini. it tells me to put in c:\users\linda\appdata\roaming\pcbasic this brings up pcbasic and pcbasic.sav in pcbasic.ini I put in [printer] underneath I put in lpt1=brother mfc-470dw printer, this is the name that the computer calls up for my printer. I tried all of this and it did not work. I went back to where it said pcbasic.ini and pcbasic.sav and pcbasic.sav. was in Japanese, that is where I quit
It looks like you're on the right path.
I forgot something important in my earlier description - apologies.
The line in PCBASIC.INI should be
lpt1=PRINTER:"brother mfc-470dw printer"Note the
PRINTER:in front, in version 15.03 it cannot be left out. Also try with and without the double quotation marks around your printer's name.If that does not work, try setting your printer to be the WIndows default printer and use just
lpt1=PRINTER:Also please let me know what commands you use in BASIC to send text to the printer.
There is no need to edit or open
PCBASIC.SAV, it is a binary file that saves your last session. It is not expected to be in a readable format.this is bob again. how do you tell which version I down loaded. in the pcbasis.ini file it says look in usage, where do you look in usage. it also says to use --pcbasic -h how do I do this. have you wtitten any book on how to use pcbasic, please say yes
You told me which version you downloaded, so that was easy.
USAGEis the old name for the Documentation file. It needs to be changed which I'll take care of in the next release.pcbasic -his a command you run on the DOS prompt. You need to make sure that you're in the PC-BASIC installation folder (probablyC:\Program Files\PC-BASIC\) when you run the command.The documentation you ask for is supplied with PC-BASIC (click on the icon Documentation in the PC-BASIC start menu folder, or look for a file called
PC-BASIC_Documentation.htmlin thedoc\subfolder in the installation folder).It is also available online on this site if you click on
Documentationat the top of this page, or through one of the following links:Quick Start Guide
Full Documentation
Hope this helps
Rob
Hi Bob,
Check out the new version 15.03.3 - it solves a number of issues with Windows printing; perhaps yours too.
I would recommend using the uninstaller to remove the current version, then renaming PCBASIC.INI (if it still exists on your computer) to PCBASIC-old.INI, then installing the new version, to ensure you start with a clean slate.
Then start PC-BASIC and try printing with
OPEN "LPT1:" FOR OUTPUT AS 1: PRINT#1, "test": CLOSEwhich should immediately print a page with the word 'test' on your default Windows printer.
this is a happy bob. my granddaughter is spending the summer with us, so for the past two weeks I have not done to much on the computer. I did what you suggested of loading the newer version and seems to be working just for printing to the printer. I want to than you very much. I know I will be talking to you later, I always need help on something. thank you again happy bob