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How To Use
Future Lib In Your
Programs
Important
:
To
view this page correctly you require Papyrus font (You can download it here
and add it to your c:\windows\fonts \ directory). Also I dont accept any
liability/responsibility for any damage this page may cause you directly or
indirectly.
Ok so you want to use Future Library in your program?
Its installation and usage is really simple!
Things that you require:
1. FL35.zip file (you can download it here
from my site)
2.Qb45 or Qb71 depending on which compiler you
want to use.
That's all!
Steps to follow:
First Step:
You need to locate your qbasic directory is and find out
whether all the files are in the same directory. Some of the Zip files that you
download from the internet contain all the files like EXEs,
LIBs,
QLBs
in the same directory while some are in different directories like all my LIB
files are under the directory c:\bc7\lib\.
But my friend's LIB files are under the directory e:\qb71\.
Second Step:
Unzip FL35.zip to a temporary folder like
C:\Temp
Third Step:
Execute the flbuild.exe
and
you will see a screen in which there are only 2 menus, a file
menu and a setup menu
Fourth Step:
·
First
thing that you need to do is open the setup menu and click on the program
option.
·
Here
you need to set the compiler path and the library path for either qb4.5/7.1
which ever you want to use.
·
If you want to build
the library for qb 7.1then only enter the paths in the text boxes provided for
qb7.1. Same rule applies for when you want to build the library for qb4.5.
What is the compiler path?
Compiler path is basically where you have got the lib.exe
and link.exe files under your QB directory. Locate any one of these
files and you will know what is your compiler path.
What is the library path?
Library path is location where you have got the brt71efr.lib,
qbxqlb.lib
and
qbx.lib
files
under your QB directory. Locate any one of these files and you will know what is
your library path.
Set these paths accordingly. In my case they were:
·
Compiler Path:
c:\bc7\binb\
·
Library Path:
c:\bc7\lib\
After setting these paths click on OK button.
Fifth Step:
Now we have to determine the components you want in the
library. For example I don't use the sound routines of Future Library so I
simply don't include them.
You will ask - What is the use of removing those routines?
Well my answer would be the library size would
reduce and when you compile your program into an EXE
it would too be smaller in size.
To determine the components we want to include in the library
click on the setup menu and
then click on the library option and click on the components that you
want to include in the library.
Note:
The option SVGA
Library
contains sub functions which you can choose to
remove. You can see them by clicking the '>>' button
besides it (Which is next to the 'i'
button).
Once you do that click on OK button at the bottom.
Sixth Step:
Ok! Now we are ready to build the library!
All you need to do is click on the 'Build
qbasic 7.1 library' or
'Build
qbasic 4.5 library' which
ever you are building.
Errors you may get while building the Future Library:
·
Any
errors you get will be related only to the paths that you have set.
·
If incase
you get an error like "lib.exe
not found" or
"link.exe not found" then it means that you have set the
compiler path incorrectly.
·
If incase
you get an error like "brt71efr.lib not found" or "qbxqlb.lib
not found" or "qbx.lib not found"
then
it means that you have set the library path incorrectly.
Seveth Step:
So you have successfully built the library you need to copy
the following files to your QB directory. You can find these files in the
temporary directory which we created to unzip fl35.zip:
For qbasic 7.1(pds) compiler:
1. Future71.lib
2. Future71.qlb
3. Future.bi
For qbasic 4.5 compiler:
1. Future45.lib
2. Future45.qlb
3. Future.bi
Its important that you should not forget to copy
any of these files! All three are very very important!
Eighth Step:
·
Now we
have to actually use these three files. So now open the ms-dos
prompt in
windows.
·
Change
your current working directory to your QB's directory and key in the following
commands:
c: <enter>
cd bc7 <enter>
For qbasic 7.1:
qbx/ah/lc:\bc7\future71.qlb/es <enter>
For qbasic 4.5:
qb/ah/lc:\bc7\future45.qlb <enter>
Note:
·
The
/es switch is very important for qbasic 7.1!
·
Also for both the
compilers you must give the path where you have copied the files
(future45/71.lib, future45/71.qlb, future.bi)
·
In my
case the path is c:\bc7\ it may vary for you.
·
Also you cannot use
the library built for qbasic 4.5 in qbasic 7.1 and vice versa.
In qbasic's ide you need to include the future.bi
file like this:
'$include: 'future.bi'
Note:
You need to sometimes include the path where the file is
located like this (for example):
'$include: 'c:\bc7\future.bi'
Please send in your suggestions/comments to:
You can also email me if you require any help in
using future library. Put the subject as "Future Library: Help"