Microsoft KB Archive/43308

= Differences among QuickBasic Versions 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 4.50 =

Article ID: 43308

Article Last Modified on 11/21/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft QuickBasic 2.0
 * Microsoft QuickBasic 3.0
 * Microsoft QuickBasic 4.0
 * Microsoft QuickBasic 4.5 for MS-DOS

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This article was previously published under Q43308



SUMMARY
This article describes differences among Microsoft QuickBasic Versions 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, and 4.50. (2.01 can be grouped with 2.00, and 4.00b can be grouped with 4.00 in the comparisons below.)



FEATURE
                                                      QuickBasic Version Development Environment        2.00       3.00       4.00       4.50 ---

Assembly-language listings     No         No         Yes        Yes during separate compilation (compiler /A option)

Error listings during          No         Yes        Yes        Yes separate compilation

Microsoft CodeView support     No         No         Yes        Yes

Hercules graphics card support No         No         Yes        Yes

Immediate mode execution       No         No         Yes        Yes

Insert/overtype modes          No         Yes        Yes        Yes

Instant Watches for variables  No         No         No         Yes and expressions

Multiple modules in memory     No         No         Yes        Yes

Multifile/multiwindow editing  No         No         Yes        Yes

On-line QuickBasic Advisor     No         No         No         Yes

On-line help                   No         No         Yes        Yes

ProKey, SideKick, and          No         Yes        Yes        Yes SuperKey compatibility

Selectable right mouse button  No         No         No         Yes function

Set default search paths       No         No         No         Yes

Syntax checking on entry       No         No         Yes        Yes

WordStar-style keyboard        No         No         Yes        Yes interface

QuickBasic Version 2.00      3.00       4.00       4.50 Language Features -

BINARY file Input/Output       No         No         Yes        Yes

Block IF/THEN/ELSE             Yes        Yes        Yes        Yes

DEF FN                         Yes        Yes        Yes        Yes

Definable lower array-bounds   No         No         Yes        Yes

Fixed-length strings           No         No         Yes        Yes

FUNCTION procedures            No         No         Yes        Yes

Long (32-bit) integers         No         No         Yes        Yes

Recursive procedures           No         No         Yes        Yes

User-defined variable types    No         No         Yes        Yes

QuickBasic Versions 2.00      3.00       4.00       4.50 Math Support

IEEE format, math coprocessor  No         Yes        Yes        Yes support

8087/80287 support             No         Yes        Yes        Yes

8087/80287 emulation           No         Yes        Yes        Yes

QuickBasic Versions 2.00      3.00       4.00       4.50 Memory Model and Linking

Build quick libraries from     No         No         Yes        Yes environment

Compatibility with other       MASM only  MASM only  Yes        Yes languages

Huge arrays                    No         No         Yes        Yes

Quick library support or       User       User       Quick      Quick user library support           Library    Library    Library    Library

FEATURES NEW TO QuickBasic 4.50
In QuickBasic 4.50, you can access on-line help for QuickBasic's keywords, commands, and menus, and on-line help for general topics and your own variables. Examples shown on the help screens can be copied and pasted directly into your own program, reducing development time.

In the 4.50 editor, you can set the function of the right mouse button with the Right Mouse command from the Options menu. Use the function that best suits your needs.

For faster debugging, QuickBasic 4.50 offers an Instant Watch command for immediately identifying the value of a variable or the condition (true or false) of an expression.

Version 4.50 also lets you set default search paths to specific types of files. This lets you organize your files by type and keep them in separate directories. QuickBasic searches the correct directory after you set the new default search path. You can set default paths for executable, include, library, and help files.

Additional query words: QuickBas

Keywords: KB43308

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