Welcome to PowerBASIC 3.2 for DOS ================================= Thanks for taking the PowerBASIC 3.2 test drive! We're pleased you decided to take a closer look at the world's best DOS Basic! This is the compiler awarded EDITOR'S CHOICE from PC Magazine, READER'S CHOICE award from BASIC PRO Magazine, and numerous other testimonials as well. This special evaluation version will introduce you to many of the unique new features found in PowerBASIC. Use it to create, compile, execute, and debug programs and see the difference for yourself! If you've never used PowerBASIC, you're in for a wonderful surprise. If you have used previous versions, you'll discover a whole new level of functionality never before available in Basic: A Built-in Assembler; Pointer variables (both code and data); Unsigned byte, word, and dword variables; Currency variables with user-defined precision; Bit operations along with implied bit arrays; Unions; and much more. Simply put, we believe that PowerBASIC 3.2 is the most robust development language available. Of the many new features in PowerBASIC 3.2, there are a few that we just can't resist pointing out. Features that will truly enhance your programming efforts: Instant TSRs! Yes, you can actually create a TSR instantly. Never before has it been so easy to create a POPUP program! With PowerBASIC 3.2, it takes just five lines of code to create a working TSR. Even better, a 600K TSR can "pop down" to occupy just 4K of memory when it's not in use. Your POPUP programs will use EMS or even virtual memory on disk to store the remaining memory image. You can use any stimulus to activate a TSR, even a message from a foreground program. And with PowerBASIC, two-way communication between multiple TSRs is no longer a dream, it's reality. Built-in Assembler! For the first time, you can write Assembler code and intermix it line-by-line with your PowerBASIC code! Reference PowerBASIC variables, labels, and procedures directly by name, and even debug at the CPU register level in the expanded environment. Opcodes like MOV AX, ABCD% are now supported directly. Of course, you can still link industry-standard .OBJ's as well as libraries, if that is your preference. New Data Types! Unsigned integers (byte/word/dword), fixed length strings, even both user-defined TYPES and UNIONS. These complement our 64-bit integers, extended floats, currency variables with user-defined precision, BCD floats, and flex strings. Code and Data Pointers! True pointer variables for the first time in any Basic! Data pointers allow you to access any location in memory as any type of data you require. Code pointers allow you to call a Sub, Function, or Subroutine without the need to know the name. Memory like an elephant! Memory problems are a thing of the past! Use EMS, XMS, even virtual memory on disk, to ensure that you can compile any size real mode program. Plus, with PowerBASIC's new standalone debugger, you can debug much larger programs as well. Communications Options! Full support for COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, even using any of the non-standard IRQ lines and port addresses. Communication speeds up to 115200 Baud. Control DTR after the port is closed. Even mask errors, or flush data when one occurs. Supports 16550 UART FIFO's to eliminate data errors. Now, PowerBASIC communications are under your absolute control! The only way to show you every single PowerBASIC feature would be to give you our Reference Guide. (PowerBASIC comes with a Reference Guide and a User's Guide -- close to 750 pages of printed documentation). In it, you'll find even more new features like: Unlimited Dynamic String Space, Huge Arrays (greater than 64K), Absolute Arrays (at a specific memory location), Bit operations (shift, rotate, test, set, reset, and toggle), Smart Linking of OBJ's, UNITS, and PB Libraries, Optional variable declaration, Conditional compilation ($IF/$ELSE/$ENDIF), ARRAY SORT/SCAN/INSERT/DELETE, and Local multi-level error trapping. We've even added EXIT FAR to allow multi-level exit from nested Subs and Functions (beats the LOMGJMP in C any day). This demo version of PowerBASIC 3.2 may be used for up to 30 days to allow you to decide whether you wish to purchase the full product. While all of the language features are fully functional, the ability to Load, Block Read, or Include a source file must be restricted. There is no limit to the size of source text, but it must be typed each time you wish to use this demo compiler. This will allow you to exhaustively test every feature of the compiler, while allowing an incentive to purchase PowerBASIC, which is, of course, a commercial product. Any source code you create with this demo may be saved for later use when you purchase the full version of PowerBASIC 3.2. PowerBASIC 3.2 Requirements =========================== * IBM-PC or Compatible * MSDOS (or compatible) version 3.3 or later * 640k of RAM * 3.5 inch floppy disk (for installation) * Two megabytes of free hard disk space (for complete installation) PowerBASIC 3.2 is $149 (S&H $6 US/$28 Intl). Upgrade pricing is available from PowerBASIC 2.x, 3.0 and 3.1. Competitive upgrade pricing is available from TurboBasic, QuickBasic, PDS, and VB/DOS. TRYPB3 Package ============== The TRYPB3 package is provided to allow you to evaluate the PowerBASIC 3.2 Compiler and Development Environment. The package consists of the following four files: README - This file. ORDER.TXT - Order form to help you place your order today. 100WAYS.TXT - "100 Ways PowerBASIC 3.2 Beats QuickBasic". A slightly irreverent view of PowerBASIC's unique features as compared to competing compilers. ARTICLE.TXT - A reprint of the PowerBASIC 3.2 review which appeared in the March, 1993 issue of Basic Code Cache (formerly known as QB News). TRYPB3.EXE - PowerBASIC 3.2 Evaluation Compiler. All language features are fully functional, but the ability to Load, Block Read, or Include a source file must be restricted. There is no limit to the size of source text, but it must be typed each time you wish to use it. Source files may be saved for later use with the full version of PowerBASIC 3.2. TRYPB3.HLP - The PowerBASIC 3.2 Help File. Context-sensitive help is available at any time by pressing F1. Control-F1 allows automatic lookup of the word at the current cursor position. The TRYPB3 package may be freely distributed as long as it is not altered in any way. How to place an order ===================== You can upgrade by phone, fax, or mail, but do it today! Fill out the enclosed order form and Fax, Email or Mail it to: Fax: 408-659-8008 Email: sales@powerbasic.com or 75300,1742 (Compuserve) Write: PowerBASIC, Inc. 316 Mid Valley Center Carmel, CA 93923 Or call us directly at: 800-780-7707 toll free from the U.S. or Canada 408-659-8000 from outside the U.S.