CompuServe Messages

help type AmigaBASIC gets little attention these days, since it went out with the 1.3 system… But let me try a few possible friendliness rules: (hung together on the spur of the moment) 1. Always use the prompt string option with INPUT, so the user has some idea what you're asking for. 2. Always use LINE INPUT rather than INPUT. This gives the user more freedom as to what he/she can type in (e.g., commas don't mess things up so badly). 3. Have a 'default' in mind in case you receive something from the user which is either incomprehensible or 'nothing'. In fact, pressing RETURN can be a good 'help' response on the part of the user. Take advantage of it. Thus: LINE INPUT "YOUR AGE, PLEASE: ";AGE$ AG=VAL(AGE$) IF AG < 2 THEN AG = 29 PRINT "(… I'll assume 29)" ENDIF 4. Try to plan so that a user input goof will result in the best "default" action, similar to that shown above. Don't try to read files unless you have checked that they exist; don't write files with names that exist unless you double check this with the user. 5. Don't assume 80 column screens; some users are still at 60. 6. Do use WINDOW and SCREEN to pretty up your display. They look good, and can often "set off" a certain part of the program so that the user can better understand what operation is currently active. 7. If you have time, try your program on naive users; watch, but don't say a word. When the user does a dumb thing (as you see it) say NOTHING. Fix the program that it behaves in a civilized way to whatever dumb things were done. –Jim post type 20 delete change