Hi all!

I am just getting started learning the Pick Basic language. I have downloaded the Programming Guide from jes.com as well as the Universe DB from IBM. My question has several parts to it.

1) What is the best configuration or setup environmentally wise, I am running on XP pro, to have for testing and creating programs?
2) Where do I find the editor to create programs?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

--
WILLIE RIVERS

Hi Will and welcome to the club.

As Cliff pointed out there is a line editor available and is the
stalwart of most ancient "Pickies". Many multi-value databases also have
a screen type editor available these days too. In the case of D3 this is
the "Update Processor" or U-editor.

A little known trick is that you can create a key map for your edit
keys, then call your keymap then use the U editor using edit keys that
make better sense to you.

DEFINE-UP {terminal keymap}
The verb to launch the key map process. Not all terminal types can have
a corresponding keymap. However you can create a keymap using an
arbitrary name and use it when you wish. For example WillVT100. The
DEFINE-UP tool is interactive and quite easy to understand.

SET-IMAP {terminal keymap}
The verb to use a defined key map

U {filename} {itemname}
The screen editor

If you don't know already a "file" in multi-value databases actually
comprises of two or more files. The file dictionary and the file data
section. In the case of programs the source code will normally live in
the data section and the run-time code (or some kind of place holder)
will live in the file dictionary. It is possible to delete the data
section of your program file and instead use a file pointer (defined in
the file dictionary) that points to a directory in the operating system.
Thus you could use your preferred Windows editor to maintain your source
code, though of course you still need to compile and catalog your
programs in a D3 telnet session. Since I mostly work with Java and
D3/UniVision these days then I use Eclipse for my Java and multi-value
BASIC code.

Let's say that you create a Windows directory C:\d3source. In this you
can create directories that represent your multi-value accounts. In this
directory you can create more directories that represent your program
files. For example:

C:\d3source\will\willbp

Now back in D3/Windows create your account "WILL" and in that account
create your program file "WILLBP":
CREATE-FILE WILLBP 1 1

Next delete the data section of your program file:
DELETE-FILE DATA WILLBP

Then use your preferred D3 editor to create an item in the program file
dictionary that "points" to the Windows directories in which you wish
you place your source code. The item will have the same ID (name) as the
program file and will look something like this:

<1> QS
<2>
<3>NT:C:/d3source/will/willbp

Note that the slashes are the wrong way?

Now you have a program file in D3 in which source code can be edited in
both D3 and Windows.

Hope this helps.




John Bend






Will wrote:

Goo'day,

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 10:24:11 +0100, John Bend <spam (AT) itstuff (DOT) net>
wrote:

All well and good, but....

The OP *did* mention UniVerse, and is thereby spared the indignities
of UP......

Regards,

Bruce Nichol
Talon Computer Services
ALBURY NSW Australia

http://www.taloncs.com.au

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is....

Ho hum!

:-)

Must make a point of reading these postings with my new glasses on.

John.

John Bend wrote:

Mine are crap-coloured, as you may have guessed. ;^)

Luke