Tag Archives: Statement

Quick Start to Migration

Posted on by vivaclipper

Chapter I – Text to text conversion

In Clipper world, “migration” means “convert a DOS based Clipper program to Windows”. This is a dream of every Clipper – DOS programmer.

 Before all, we need clarify some terms:

May be found multiple ways for convert a DOS based Clipper program to Windows. In general, DOS programs are runs in “text” mode and Windows program runs in “Graphic” mode; and this is what meant by term “migration”.

Converting a text mode program to directly GUI (Graphical User Interface) is a painful job. First, we need to find a Compiler with GUI support, or a GUI library usable with a specific compiler. If we have more than one opportunity ( yes, it is so ) we need make a choice between them.

For make a right selection we need learn, understand specialties of each option and differences between them.

Believe me, this is an endless way 😦

Instead, let’s begin with simpler thing: convert a DOS text mode program to Windows text mode program.

Question: Without GUI, what meaning will be to migrate from DOS to Windows?

Answer: Good question and like all good question, answer isn’t easy.

First, modern OSs moves away day to day from DOS conditions; memory problems, screen problems, codepage problems, etc… By the time, building / running 16 bit executable becomes more difficult day to day.

Whereas Harbour already is a 32 / 64 bit compiler.

Second, all DOS Compilers for Clipper are commercial and registration required products; furthermore they are almost out of sold for this days; what compiler you could use?

And third, Harbour is best free compiler and the best way to use a free GUI tool for xBase language.

So, beginning with using Harbour in text mode is the best start point, I think.

First step is downloading and install HMG or Harbour. If you didn’t past this step yet please refer previous articles in this section or “Links” page of this blog.

The easiest way for using Harbour compiler is calling hbmk2, the wonderful project maker for Harbour compiler.

Depending your installation, hbmk2 may be in different locations; such as C:\Harbour\bin or c:\hmg\harbour\bin or anything else.

Hereafter I will assume that your hbmk2 is in C:\hmg\Harbour\bin. If your installation is different, please modify above examples.

Second step is assign an empty folder (directory) for work / test affairs; say C:\test.

And the third step is copying your Clipper program(s) to this folder.

But don’t rush; we have some precautions:

– Better way is starting with a single-program project; if you haven’t written a new one. Don’t uses for now projects have multiple program file.

 – Your program may have some “national” characters and these characters may be differently shown between DOS and Windows. If so, you may want fix manually these differences via a Windows based text editor. Or use a program if you have one. Harbour has a clever tool (HB_OEMTOANSI() function) is usable for this purpose.

 – In Clipper it’s possible a program file without module (procedure / function) definition. If you have such file(s), enclose your code with PROCEDURE — RETURN statement pair.

– Every Harbour project must have one and only one MAIN module (procedure / function). The first procedure / function in your single program file will be considered as MAIN module of your project. (In HMG, name of this module must be “main” also).

– Almost all Clipper commands, statement, functions, pseudo functions, manifest constants etc are usable almost in the same ways with Clipper. May be exist some very few and very rare differences, and of course solving methods for its.

For compile process we will use command box (DOS / console window) of Windows. You can open a console window, with the menu Start -> Run -> cmd or selecting it in the “Command Prompt” from the Start Menu \ All Programs.

 – “Command / console window” size may not appropriate for easy use. You may

      – use a MODE ( DOS ) command :

         MODE CON LINES=54 COLS=148

       or

   – adding a SetMode() statement at the beginning of MAIN module of your project. For example:

       SetMode( 25,  80 )  // 25 line 80 column same as standard 
                           // DOS screen ( but not full screen ! )
       SetMode( 48, 128 )  // 48 line 128 column, may be more readable

Now, we are ready to begin: Enter this command in console window :

 C:\hmg\harbour\bin hbmk2 <mainPrgName>

You don’t need any SET command (such as PATH etc) before this command; hbmk2 will find all necessary paths / files.

For running executable after compile, add a -run switch to the command line :

 C:\hmg\harbour\bin hbmk2 <mainPrgName> -run

Of course, you need supply name of your main .prg file in place of <mainPrgName>.

Note that you don’t need a separate “linking” step; hbmk2 will do everything for you.

You may use this

 C:\hmg\harbour\bin hbmk2 <mainPrgName>

command via a batch ( .bat ) command file (such as “build.bat”) too. In this way you can apply compiling process without console window; run .bat file by double click in the Windows Explorer. In this case you may need add a PAUSE command at end of .bat file.

That’s all.

You know, a program file may contains more than one module (procedure / function). So you may develop your project by adding new modules to your single program file.

In this step you don’t need trying extra features, extensions of Harbour. Before that adventure your primary need is to convert existing project Clipper to Harbour.

When you reach a level of multiple-program file project:

– Basic rules are the same: the first module in the your program file is MAIN module of your project.

If your .prg files contains:

  SET PROCEDURE TO <procedure_File_Name>

 and / or

   #include <procedure_File_Name>

 you may or may not continue using these statement.

 – The shortest way for compiling a multiple-file project is use a .hbp ( Harbour Projet ) file. This is a text file and its simplest form is a file contains list of your .prg files. For example:

myprog01.prg
myprog02.prg
myprog03.prg
myprog04.prg

and the compile command is the same :

  C:\hmg\harbour\bin hbmk2 <mainProjectFileName>

In this case you don’t need to use SET PROC… and #include … statement and this is the better way.

Because hbmk2 applies “incremental” compiling, that is compiles only modified files.

Under normal circumstances, any module in any program file is callable in anywhere in the project. If you have some modules that exclusive to this program file, you may use STATIC keyword at the beginning of PROCEDURE / FUNCTION statement. For example:

STATIC FUNCTION OpenTable()

With this syntax you will prevent calling this module outside of this .prg file and the possibility of using this module name into other .prg files.

Example :

Take “A typical Harbour Program” in the “Harbour Sample” page.

As seen at .pdf file by given link, this sample program borrowed from official reference guide of a Clipper compiler. That is, in fact this is a Clipper program and it will may compile with Harbour and run without any modification.

Let’s try.

– Copy and paste this sample and save in your PC with a name say “typical.prg”.

– Comment out the line for now.

 #include "Database.prg" // Contains generic database functions

– Call hbmk2:

 C:\hmg\harbour\bin hbmk2 typical -run

 Note: While working / playing on programs, you may encounter some error messages like:

  Error F0029  Can't open #include file xxx
  Error E0002  Redefinition of procedure or function xxx
  Error: Referenced, missing, but unknown function(s): xxx
  undefined reference to HB_FUN_xxx

 Please don’t panic !

    “Error” is salt and pepper of programming play ! 😉

 The worst situation isn’t getting error, but is unable to stay !

   The “HB_FUN_xxx” may be seen weird at first meet. The “HB_FUN_” is a prefix given by system ( compiler ) to your function; so you need search erroneous point into tour program files without this prefix.

Now, let’s continue to our “typical” program:

If you compile the program with commented out #include … line, possibly it will work, by opening main menu:

Typical_1

But what’s that?

When selected a menu item (except “Quit”) we can’t see other than an empty screen!

Again, don’t panic!

This situation too is not very rare !

If you use vertical scroll bar of command / console window, you will notice that your screen is considerably much longer than seen !

To avoid this conflict, ( as stated above ) we need use a SetMode() function call at top of our Main() procedure ( but AFTER LOCAL statement ! ) :

  SetMode( 24, 79 )

 And now everything is OK.

Typical_2

In fact, not really everything, we have a few “fine adjustment”.

Cut and paste the section after “// Database.prg” to a separate “Database.prg” file, un-comment the “#include …” line and then re-compile.

In this case we have a “multiple prg” project. As stated earlier, better way is using a .hbp file instead of “#include …” statements.

Now comment out ( or delete now ) the #include line.

Build a new text file with name “typical.hbp” and with this content :

Typical.prg
DataBase.prg

And recall hbmk2 without any modification :

C:\hmg\harbour\bin hbmk2 typical -run

That’s all !

Congratulations !

Now you have a multiple-prg project  !

C5 Flow Control Commands, Statements and Funtions

Posted on by vivaclipper

Commands :

CALL* :

Execute a C or Assembler procedure

CALL <idProcedure> [WITH <exp list>]

CANCEL* :

Terminate program processing

CANCEL* | QUIT

DO* :

Call a procedure

DO <idProcedure> [WITH <argument list>]

QUIT : 

Terminate program processing

QUIT | CANCEL*

RUN :

Execute a DOS command or program

RUN | !* <xcCommandLine>

SET KEY :

Assign a procedure invocation to a key

SET KEY <nInkeyCode> TO [<idProcedure>]

SET PROCEDURE *:

Compile procedures/functions into the current .OBJ file

SET PROCEDURE TO [<idProgramFile>[.<ext>]]

WAIT* :

Suspend program processing until a key is pressed

WAIT [<expPrompt>] [TO <idVar>]

Statements :

ANNOUNCE :

Declare a module identifier

ANNOUNCE <idModule>

 BEGIN SEQUENCE :

Define a sequence of statements for a BREAK

BEGIN SEQUENCE
       <statements>...
    [BREAK [<exp>]]
       <statements>...
    [RECOVER [USING <idVar>]]
       <statements>...
END [SEQUENCE]

DO CASE :

Execute one of several alternative blocks of statements

DO CASE
   CASE <lCondition1>
       <statements>...
   [CASE <lCondition2>]
       <statements>...
   [OTHERWISE]
       <statements>...
END[CASE]

DO WHILE :

Execute a loop while a condition is true (.T.)

[DO] WHILE <lCondition>
    <statements>...
    [EXIT]
    <statements>...
    [LOOP]
    <statements>...
END[DO]

EXIT PROCEDURE :

Declare an exit procedure

EXIT PROCEDURE <idProcedure>
    [FIELD <idField list> [IN <idAlias>]]
    [LOCAL <identifier> [[:= <initializer>]]]
    [MEMVAR <identifer list>]
    .
    . <executable statements>
    .
[RETURN]

EXTERNAL* :

Declare a list of procedure or user-defined function names

EXTERNAL <idProcedure list>

FOR :

Execute a block of statements a specified number of times

FOR <idCounter> := <nStart> TO <nEnd> [STEP <nIncrement>]
    <statements>...
    [EXIT]
    <statements>...
    [LOOP]
NEXT

FUNCTION :

Declare a user-defined function name and formal parameters

[STATIC] FUNCTION <idFunction>[(<idParam list>)]
    [LOCAL <identifier> [[:= <initializer>], ... ]]
    [STATIC <identifier> [[:= <initializer>], ... ]]
    [FIELD <identifier list> [IN <idAlias>]]
    [MEMVAR <identifier list>]
    .
    . <executable statements>
    .
RETURN <exp>

IF :

Execute one of several alternative blocks of statements

IF <lCondition1>
    <statements>...
[ELSEIF <lCondition2>]
    <statements>...
[ELSE]
    <statements>...
END[IF]

INIT PROCEDURE :

Declare an initialization procedure

INIT PROCEDURE <idProcedure> [(<idParam list>)]
    [FIELD <idField list> [IN <idAlias>]]
    [LOCAL <identifier> [[:= <initializer>]]]
    [MEMVAR <identifer list>]
    .
    . <executable statements>
    .
[RETURN]

NOTE :

Place a single-line comment in a program file

NOTE This is a comment line

PARAMETERS :

Create private parameter variables

PARAMETERS <idPrivate list>

PROCEDURE :

Declare a procedure name and formal parameters

[STATIC] PROCEDURE <idProcedure> [(<idParam list>)]
    [FIELD <idField list> [IN <idAlias>]
    [LOCAL <identifier> [[:= <initializer>], ... ]]
    [MEMVAR <identifier list>]
    [STATIC <identifier> [[:= <initializer>], ... ]]
    .
    . <executable statements>
    .
[RETURN]

REQUEST :

Declare a module request list

REQUEST <idModule list>

RETURN :

Terminate a procedure, user-defined function or program

RETURN [<exp>]


Functions :


BREAK() :


Branch out of a BEGIN SEQUENCE…END construct


BREAK(<exp>) --> NIL


EVAL() :


Evaluate a code block


EVAL(<bBlock>, [<BlockArg list>]) --> LastBlockValue


IF() :


Return the result of an expression based on a condition


[I]IF(<lCondition>, <expTrue>, <expFalse>) --> Value


PCOUNT() :


Determine the position of the last actual parameter passed


PCOUNT() --> nLastArgumentPos


SETKEY() :


Assign an action block to a key


SETKEY(<nInkeyCode>, [<bAction>]) --> bCurrentAction


SETCANCEL() :


Toggle Alt-C and Ctrl-Break as program termination keys


SETCANCEL([<lToggle>]) --> lCurrentSetting


WORD()* :


Convert CALL command numeric parameters from double to int


WORD(<nNumber>) --> NIL



        
    
			

	
	



		
			


	

		
Language Terms


		

		Posted on  by vivaclipper		

	


		

		
Branching :


Changing the sequence of execution in a program. Execution normally proceeds in sequence from the top of a function or procedure to the bottom. When control is transferred to a statement that is not in sequence, execution is said to have branched.


Comment :


Text in a source program that is ignored by the compiler. Usually used to make descriptive comments about the surrounding source code.


Control Structure :


Any program structure that alters the flow of program control. In Clipper language, these include:


. BEGIN SEQUENCE...END


. DO WHILE...ENDDO


. DO CASE...ENDCASE


. FOR...NEXT


. IF...ENDIF


Keyword :


A word that has a special meaning to a compiler or other utility program. Commands, directives, or options are often recognized by examining supplied text to see if it contains keywords.


Metasymbol :


Descriptive symbols used in syntax to represent information that must be supplied as part of a source code statement. A metasymbol is constructed using two information components: a data type prefix and a logical descriptor.


Sequence :


In Clipper language, a series of statements enclosed in a BEGIN SEQUENCE control structure.


See Also: Algorithm, Iteration, Selection


Statement :


In Clipper language, the basic unit of source code. A statement is normally a single line of text. Multiple statements can be placed on the same line by separating them with semicolons. A statement may be continued to another line by placing a semicolon at the end of the line to be continued. If the text of a statement matches a command definition (defined with a preprocessor directive), it is translated into the form specified by the command definition.


See Also : Command


Syntax :


The rules that dictate the form of statements or commands as defined by the implementors of the language. Also, a complete description of the forms that a statement or command can take.