Expert: Alex Barry - 5/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Alex.
I am fairly new to FREEBASIC and have not written many programmes. I had version 4.6 and updated to version 4.7. Now only the very simple programmes work. Is there any way to make them run in version 4.7.
PS They are written using -s gui.
Thanks
Bill

ANSWER: Hi, Bill,

I'm not sure what versions you are using.  Right now, the compiler version is 0.20beta ...so I'm not sure where you are getting 4.6 and 4.7 (perhaps you are using a different basic dialect?)

But, to answer your question, I'll need some more information.  What operating system are you using?  How was freebasic installed (with the given installer from sourceforge, did you compile from source, install.sh [linux])?  And, what programs are you trying to compile?

As a suggestion, this is what I'd do - first, completely get rid of FreeBASIC (uninstall, delete the folder it installed it)
Redownload the latest compiler version:
http://freebasic.net/index.php/download

Install it, then try compiling.  If you are still getting problems, you may have to compile with -dialect fblite or -dialect qb

If that doesn't help you out, just toss another question to me, and I'll be happy to help you out.

-Alex

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Alex
Sorry about the confusion.
It was the fbide that was 0.4.7. and FREEBASIC .17. I am running it on Windows XP.Idid as you suggested and downloaded version 2. It included fbide .4.6 which is what I had originally. However I still have the problem of only the simplest of programmes work, ie those without subs and functions. I have tried -lang deprecated and it helps with some programmes but some of the #include files will not run.
Is it just a case of rewriting or is there a way round it.
Thanks for your help
Bill


Answer
Hey, Bill,

Okay, that makes quite a bit more sense (with the version being fbide).

So, if the programs aren't working, it could be multiple problems.  First, are these programs originally form QBasic, or an older version of Freebasic?  What sort of include's does it use?  What programs are you compiling (just hello world examples, programs using gosub/goto, or how are they setup)?  What sort of compile errors are you getting?

If you wish, you can email the programs to me and I can try compiling them (I'm using fbc v0.20b).  My address is: alex [D.OT] barry [A@T] gmail [DO.T] com

Also, one more thing you could try is:  navigate to your freebasic install folder - there should be a program called "start_shell.exe" - open that, and navigate (cd "drive:\path\to\the\programs") to the program, and manually compile (fbc yourprogram.bas [options]) and see what happens.

Hope that points you in the right direction,
-Alex