BASIC Accelerator Ver. 2.0.2.1 (2018.05.05)
Summary
BASICAcc 2 is a Full BASIC to Object Pascal translator.
Translated programs shall be executed using FPC + Lazarus.
This verision is applicable for Lazarus 1.6.0 ~ 1.8.2
Windows
Set up (Lazarus)
Download Lazarus 1.8.2 (FPC3.0.4) and install it into the folder that has no space character on its path name.
Lazarus Download (SourceForge)
Mirror
Mirror
Set up (BASICAcc2)
Download BASICAcc2021.zip from
Decimal BASIC Open Source Project Download
BASICAcc2 should be extracted into a regular folder on which the user has write permission.
The name of the folder must not contain any space characters.
For example, Desktop is not suitable. USB flush drives shall be suitable.
When the system is updated by overwriting, the OUTPUT folder must be cleared.
Afterward, execute BASICAcc2.exe, and set up two paths.
Click "Set Up" and select "Path".
"fpc path" is the path to the folder on which fpc.exe exists.
"Lazarus path" is the full path name of the folder "lazarus".
If you have installed win32 Lazarus + fpc 3.0.4 on C drive, the two paths must be rewritten as following.
C:\Lazarus\fpc\3.0.4\bin\i386-win32
C:\Lazarus
Note.
If you use 64 bit Windows, Lazarus win64 also can be used.
Lazarus Win64
Select Setup - Path menu to set Target CPU to 64bit and set the paths.
When you use lazarus-1.6.4-fpc-3.0.2-win64.exe, for instance, the fpc path is like as follows.
C:\lazarus\fpc\3.0.2\bin\x86_64-win64
Note that FPC win64 does not support 80 bit extended precision floating point, thus some may perform inaccurate, that is, 64 bit mode on Windows is fast but rough.
Linux (i386)
Set up (fpc and Lazarus)
Download and install fpc 3.0.4, fpc-src 3.0.4 and Lazarus 1.8.2 from
Lazarus i386 RPM,
Lazarus i386 DEB.
Set up (BASICAcc2)
Download BASICAcc2021.tar.gz from
Decimal BASIC Open Source Project Download.
This system must be installed into the folder on which the user has write permission.
When the system is updated by overwriting, the OUTPUT folder must be cleared.
Troubleshootings
Can't find unit fileutil
When you see this error, modify Lazarus Path on the SetUp menu.
Folders such as components and units are put on the folder that the Lazarus Path directs.
That may as follows.
/usr/lib/lazarus/0.9.30.4/
or
/usr/share/lazarus/1.0
Linux (x86_64)
Set up (fpc and Lazarus)
Download and install fpc 3.0.4, fpc-src 3.0.4 and Lazarus 1.8.0 from
Lazarus x86_64 RPM,
Lazarus AMD64 DEB.
Set up (BASICAcc2)
Download BASICAcc2021_linux64.tar.xz from
Decimal BASIC Open Source Project Download.
This system must be installed into the folder on which the user has write permission.
MAC(Intel)
Set up(Xcode tools)
Install the Apple Developer Tools (or Xcode tools).
In case of OS 10. 7 or later, optional Command Line Tools must be contained.
See Installing Lazarus on MacOS X.
Set up(fpc and Lazarus)
Install FPC 3.0.4 and Lazarus 1.8.0 according to
Installing Lazarus on MacOS X,
downloading from
Lazarus Download
Set up (BASIC Acc)
Download BASICAcc2021.dmg from
Decimal BASIC Open Source Project Download.
This system should be installed into the folder on which the user has write permission.
And the folder must not contain a space character. Note that when you use a USB drive, if it has a name such as "NO NAME", it must be renamed.
Note 1. Overwriting update is undesirable. Old files must be erased before update.
Note 2. On OS 10.9, for the first time any program is compiled, click to execute NoName.app in the OUTPUT folder with Ctrl-key pressed.
Known Faults
SET DRAW MODE (NOTXOR, MASK, MERGE, XOR) do not work.
MOUSE POLL statement does not work properly.
Printers do not work good. And if no printer is registered on the OS, BASICAcc can not start.
Behaviors of some graphics statements are no good as in Decimal BASIC Mac(Intel).
BASICAcc 2.0.0.1 or later can generate 64bit code, when "64bit" is set on Setup-Path menu.
For preparatory, launch Lazarus and follow the sequence as follows.
(1) Select "Project" and then "New Project", and select "Application".
(2) Select "Tools"-"Options"-"Environment"-"files", rewrite "Compiler Executable to "usr/local/bin/ppcx64".
(3) Select "Project" and then "Project Option", click "Config and Target",click "Select another LCL widgetset (macro LCLWidgetType)", click "Set " LCLWidgetType"" and then click "Value "cocoa"".
(4) Select "Run" menu and then click "Build".
(5) Select "Package" menu, select "Open Loaded packages" and then compile the followngs.
SynEdit
Printer4Lazarus
(6) Quit Lazarus.
Specifications
Language Specifications are in accordance with the Graphics module, the modules module, and the individual character input module of ISO Full BASIC , while statements related to PROCESS and TIMEOUT in SEIZE statments are not available.
Restrictions
On the following cases, GOTO statements and IF-THEN-line_number statements can not be executed.
branches from inside to outside of when-body (i.e. inside of WHEN~USE)
branches from inside to outside of a DO block that contains a protection block that contains a EXIT DO.
branches from inside to outside of a FOR block that contains a protection block that contains a EXIT FOR.
If a routine (or the main program) has a when-in block that has an exception-handler containing a GOSUB~RETURN subroutine, the routine can not have a GOSUB~RETURN subroutine that is not contained in any protection block.
Parameters of PROGRAM or CHAIN statements should be simple variables (Arrays not allowed).
Maximum length declaration for string variables is ignored. (no cut off done.)
Incompatibilities with Decimal BASIC
Character Encoding
The character encoding is UTF-8.
This is a problem when non-ASCII characters such as © , µ , ° , ± , Ä or Æ are used.
ORD-functions and CHR$-functions are defined under Unicode.
File I/O assumes the character encoding is UTF-8.
Executing a line like
SET #n: CODING "SYSTEM"
just after the execution of the OPEN-statement enables files of system default encoding to be read or written.
Even in such a case, the internal encoding remains to be UTF-8.
PRINT USING-statements and USING$-functions need the formatting characters as many as the byte length of the string.
If you want to manipulate byte files, you can change the internal character encoding to byte encoding by adding
a line
OPTION CHARACTER BYTE
into each program unit, or change the setting of "Unit of string manipulation" to "byte" in the Option Compatibility menu.
In such a case, no ANSI encoded non-ASCII characters can be displayed on the screen.
UTF-8 encoding slows some string manipulation such as
s$(m:n)
.
If you use only ASCII 7-bit characters, consider to change the "Unit of string manipulation" to "byte" in the Option Compatibility menu.
Program Encoding
Programs shall be encoded to the system default encoding on saving and decoded on loading.
That is, program files have compatibility with Decimal BASIC.
If you want programs to be saved and loaded remaining the character encoding UTF-8, change the Editor Option setting in the Option menu.
CHAIN statements
A CHAIN statement launches a file of extension ".BAS" with file association. The destination programs shall not be compiled.
No CHAIN or EXECUTE statement can have array parameters.
BREAK
Any BREAK statement will do, but it only breaks the program.
GOSUB
When GOSUB statements are used, each line must has a line number.
Bugs which Decimal BASIC has
Decimal BASIC has a fault that an internal procedure of the mainprogram can be invoked from an external procedure, but BASICAcc does not allow such a program.
Known Faults
DRAW MODE NOTXOR (MASK, MERGE, XOR),which are Decimal BASIC original enhancement, do not work properly.
On Mac, they are neglected. On Windows and Linux, then won't work until a PLOT LINES is executed.
The decimal 1000 digit mode and the rational arithmetic mode, which Decimal BASIC has, are also not avaialable.
The Microsoft BASIC compatible mode is not available.
Also Metafiles, OLE, ActiveX and CallBack functions are not available.
About System
The executable file is generated as 'NoName.exe' in the 'output' folder. This can be renamed and used for the destination of a CHAIN statement.
Copyright
This software is free software published under GPL.
If you noticed any bugs, report at
Decimal BASIC Open Source Project Open Discussion Forum
Copyright 2018 SHIRAISHI Kazuo