🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec23.040418.11296@netcom.com>, wolvy@netcom.com (Wolverine) writes:
> I have been using Qbasic 4.5 for many years (and basics before it).
> I had written a pretty good descript.ion editor for 4dos and was in
> the process of revising it for the 120 limit of descriptions.  
> But, there has been no way that I have found out to obtain a 132
> column mode in Qbasic 4.5.  I can only assume that there might be
> a library or something out there that can do this.  If you can help
> me, please email me at wolvy@netcom.com or post here.
> Any help would be most appreciative.
> p.s.  I have been using QB45 for a long time and could offer my
> assistance to anyone needing it. (I've delt with ALOT of quirks
> in dealing with various problems related to get power out of a
> minutely powerfull language (sarcastically spoken :) ).

The reason for his is that 132 column mode is much hardware dependent.
Different Video Boards have different commands to change to this mode. Without
the right Video Hardware, you may not even be able to use 132 column mode.

As far as Qbasic is concerned, if your variable is 132 characters wide, you can
put 132 characters in it, regardless of the screen width, but to get the screen
width to 132 columns, you'll have to write something to tell the video board to
go into 132 column mode. In my system, I can use a dos command "display 132 on"
to change video modes. This calls "display.com" to change the setup.

From Qbasic, I would issue the command "shell display 132 on" from the program
to cause the video to switch to 132 column mode. Similarly "shell display 132
off", would switch the hardware back to 80 column mode.

The construction of the call to "shell" in Qbasic, would be dependent on your
particular hardware. It's usually a combination of both the Video Board and
the monitor in order for 132 columns to work. Some monitors don't support the
scan rate and fonts necessary to do 132, even tho the Video board may support
it.

Check the book on your video board to see if it supports 132. If so, it should
tell you how to do it from the command line. Try it. If it works, then you
should be able to use "shell ....." to do it from a Qbasic program.

   John Rice        K9IJ     |  "Did I say that ?" I must have, but It was
                             |   MY opinion only, no one else's...Especially
                             |   Not my Employer's....
   rice@ttd.teradyne.com     |   Purveyor of Miracles,Magic and Sleight-of-hand