PCFormat Forum Archive

Do not laugh!

I have this model that I will be using for my project... It was written in VBasic, I think, but it says that it is a Quick Basic program. This model was written in 1989 (I kid you not) and is over 1000 lines long (printing it takes 20 pages).
So, I need help in trying to first understand this language and secondly to rewrite the model into a language that I understand, namely FORTRAN.

Any help would be appreciated be it on the programming language itself or on getting a program that will compile and run this model as it stands just so that I can see how the output looks.

This is for my masters, albeit I don't need to use the model now as the research proposal must be handed in first, but this project will be spanning over the next 2 years.

Thanks in advanced...
KK

It would help to see a bit of the code in question. Been a while since I did QBasic .....

Tribble.... Google Quick Basic

it is not QBasic

I know that but they were both Dos based basic languages - yes there are differences

While QBASIC is shareware, QuickBasic is commercial software. Compared to QuickBasic, QBASIC is limited as it lacks a few functions. QBASIC can only handle programs of a limited size, it lacks support for separate QuickLibrary modules other than the standard QB.QLB, and it is a program interpreter only. (It can execute raw source code, but it cannot be used to produce executable files directly.)

If it helps - I played with Quick Basic too - just not as much.

Not that I can help her either - I am just curious as to what the code does. That much I could work out. I know nothing about Fortran though - other than it exists.

Depending on what the model does we might try handing KK a C# manual or two

If she is very lucky we will ask her to redo the model in Malbolge

as soon as i get the model electronically i will post a piece of it...

@RRF: the model calculates the dry matter production of grass...
and no way am i learning that language...
i will rewrite the model in Fortran and C#... but that's it!

KatrynKat wrote: i will rewrite the model in Fortran and C#... but that's it!

I was going to ask why you don't rewrite it in a modern language. Matlab?

Bladerunner wrote:http://www.qbcafe.net/en/qbasic-downloa ... mpiler.htm

when trying to run it, it brings up an error that the version of windows or whatever doesn't agree with it...

but thanks anyway...

i don't know Matlab...
and would prefer to work with a language that i have a basic knowledge of, not a new language...

KK you might want to start reading....
http://www.csharp-station.com/Tutorial.aspx

KatrynKat wrote:

Bladerunner wrote:http://www.qbcafe.net/en/qbasic-downloa ... mpiler.htm

when trying to run it, it brings up an error that the version of windows or whatever doesn't agree with it...

but thanks anyway...

i don't know Matlab...
and would prefer to work with a language that i have a basic knowledge of, not a new language...

Run it in dosbox.

KatrynKat wrote:i don't know Matlab...
and would prefer to work with a language that i have a basic knowledge of, not a new language...

What's wrong with learning a new language? To quote a friend of mine: "A programmer with only one language at his disposal is like a builder with only one tool. You need both a hammer and a screwdriver to do most things worth doing."

Ron2K wrote:To quote a friend of mine: "A programmer with only one language at his disposal is like a builder with only one tool. You need both a hammer and a screwdriver to do most things worth doing."

As I told KK in a PM, a language like Matlab is perfect for the job. It's multiplatform and easy to understand. It's a simple script instead of an application. Fortran or BASIC is outdated and C# is overkill and restricts her application to Windows and .NET.

You have 2 years to do it; you said you'd be taking a course in Matlab sometime, so why not?

Ron2K wrote:

KatrynKat wrote:i don't know Matlab...
and would prefer to work with a language that i have a basic knowledge of, not a new language...

What's wrong with learning a new language? To quote a friend of mine: "A programmer with only one language at his disposal is like a builder with only one tool. You need both a hammer and a screwdriver to do most things worth doing."

But C/C++ is both the hammer and a screwdriver all rolled into one...

KatrynKat wrote: Any help would be appreciated be it on the programming language itself or on getting a program that will compile and run this model as it stands just so that I can see how the output looks.

Also try these:
http://www.qbcafe.net/en/qbasic-downloa ... mpiler.htm

err.... dosbox?

Ron2K wrote:What's wrong with learning a new language?

i'm not a programmer...
it's not my livelihood...
so, me knowing Fortran, C# and VB means that i can get into so many overseas jobs... and that's it.

@Blade: you might think that Fortran is outdated, but it is the language of many many atmospheric scientists all over the world... me knowing it means that i have a better chance at getting a job... the big companies look for people with the skills in Fortran and C# or VB...
so leave Fortran...

i will learn Matlab when the time comes, but not now...
for now i have to try to understand this model in order to be able to rewrite into a language that i understand...

KatrynKat wrote: @Blade: you might think that Fortran is outdated, but it is the language of many many atmospheric scientists all over the world...

Fortran is fairly dated. Its persistent use in a few disciplines, one of which happens to be yours, does not mean it is the right tool for THIS specific job.

Bladerunner wrote:

KatrynKat wrote: @Blade: you might think that Fortran is outdated, but it is the language of many many atmospheric scientists all over the world...

Fortran is fairly dated. Its persistent use in a few disciplines, one of which happens to be yours, does not mean it is the right tool for THIS specific job.

If it helps you get a job it is the right tool for the job

Also they develop in very specific environments and they don't have needs of cross platform capabilities.