User`s manual

Chapter 8 255
IBASIC Controller
Method #3. Developing Programs Using Word Processor on a PC (Least Preferred)
Method #3. Developing Programs Using Word
Processor on a PC
(Least Preferred)
The third method of IBASIC program development is to write the
program using a word processor on a PC, save it as an ASCII file, and
then download it into the Test Set through the serial port. The benefit
of this method is that it can be done on the PC without connecting to a
Test Set until download and no BASIC language compiler/interpreter is
needed. The primary drawback is that no syntax checking occurs until
the downloaded program is run on the Test Set. A second drawback is
that, especially for longer programs (>100 lines), it is very
time-consuming to transfer the code into the Test Set.
Configuring a Word Processor
The word processor on which the IBASIC code is developed must be
able to save the file in ASCII format and have an ASCII file transfer
utility. This is necessary because word processors use a variety of
escape codes to mark all the special display formats such as bold face,
font size, indented text, and the like. When a word processor file is
stored in ASCII format, all escape codes are stripped off. The ASCII file
transfer utility is used to transfer the file to the Test Set.
NOTE The GET command can be used on external BASIC language controllers
to load ASCII files containing IBASIC programs developed on word
processors. Once loaded, the steps for downloading described in
“Method #1. Program Development on an External BASIC Language
Computer” on page 243 can be used to transfer the program to the Test
Set.