
This file describes Liberty BASIC 1.0a!  Registered Users of Liberty BASIC
will enjoy the powerful programming language described below.

  Version 1.0a features that users of Liberty BASIC 0.9 will appreciate:

    Greater stability ;

    Random access files are supported.  This is easier than Microsoft's
    random file I/O, doing more while demanding less from you ;

    Does not choke on variable names that start with reserved words ;

    The compiler is faster ;

    A new distribution mechanism provides a way to share your Liberty
    BASIC programs with no runtime charges ;

    BASIC programs can be "tokenized".  Tokenized Liberty BASIC files
    compile 40% faster than straight text files ;

    Debugging is less work.  Cleaner user interface ;

    All window types now know how to trap the close event ;

    The graphics window can now read the mouse.  A drawing program is
    included ;

    Bitmapped buttons (buttons with pictures) can now be added, and
    so can pull-down menus ;

    Spreadsheet performance has been improved ;

    Two new window types allow you to define your own dialog boxes ;

    A new array sort command lets you sort both single and double
    dimensioned arrays.  You can sort just part of an array, or the
    whole thing.  Double dimensioned arrays can be sorted by any
    column - all the rows are sorted by that column, automatically.



BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!!
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Registered users will receive a free evaluation copy of BASIC Training
(copyright Cascoly Software).

A complete introduction to Basic, starting with the simplest elements and 
working up to advanced concepts.

BASIC TRAINING is shareware.  It's a complete introduction to the elements of
Basic.  The table of contents includes: 
      Simple Controls                 Looping, Color & Sound 
      Arrays & DATA                   GOSUBs and Functions 
      Files                           Simple Graphics

This interactive tutorial comes complete with numerous examples that you
can run and modify.

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BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!!



Liberty BASIC is the first Shareware Windows BASIC that lets you write
real Windows programs, not just character mode programs in a Windows
window!

With Liberty BASIC, you don't need to know anything about how Microsoft
Windows works, so writing programs in this popular environment is now
within the reach of absolutely anyone who has only a rudimentary
knowledge of BASIC.

Liberty BASIC has easy to use, built in window objects.  There is a window
object for graphics, one for text, and one is a spreadsheet for performing
data entry.  There are also two window types for building dialog boxes.

Text labeled and now BITMAPPED buttons can be added to these windows as
desired, and pull down menus can also be added.  Many sample button
bitmaps included, and you can create your own with Windows Paint!
NEW!! Listboxes and comboboxes, and other dialog box objects can now
be added to your windows!

The color graphics window does turtle graphics and will draw lines,
boxes, circles, ellipses, pie slices and text in any font/size.  Control
over both foreground and background colors is provided.  Any of these
figures can be filled or unfilled.  Adding mouse control to Liberty BASIC
programs is easy,and an example drawing application is included!  Graphics
can be drawn in segments, which can be individually manipulated.

The text window is great for freeform data entry.  A Rolodex application
is included as an illustration of its use.

The spreadsheet is great for forms and tabular entry.  A graphing program
illustrates how useful it is.

User defined dialog boxes are supported.  

Several kinds of simple pop-up dialog boxes are provided for input, 
notification, confirmation, and file selection.

A powerful visual debugger is included.  This powerful tool makes learning
to program easy and fun by letting you watch each line execute and see
each variable change value as your program runs.  Novices and experienced
programmers alike will especially appreciate this facility.

Here is a list of the supported commands for the registered version.

  ABS()   ACS()   ASN()   ATN()   ASC()   BEEP   BUTTON   BMPBUTTON
  CHECKBOX   CHR$()   CLOSE   CLS   COLOR   COMBOBOX   CONFIRM   COS()
  DATE$()   DIM   END   EOF()   EXP()   FIELD   FILEDIALOG   FOR...NEXT 
  GET   GETTRIM   GOSUB...RETURN   GOTO   GROUPBOX   IF...THEN...ELSE
  INPUT$()   INPUT   INPUT #   INSTR()   INT()   LEFT$()   LEN()   LET
  LISTBOX   LOF()   LOG()   LPRINT   MENU   MID$()   NOTICE   OPEN
  PRINT   PRINT #   PROMPT   PUT   REM   RETURN   RIGHT$()   RND()
  STOP   SIN()   STATICTEXT   SORT   STR$()   TAN()   TEXTBOX   TIME$()
  TRACE   TRIM$()   USING()   VAL()   WHILE...WEND   WORD$()

Here is a list of the supported graphics commands:

  COLOR   GOTO   PLACE   UP   DOWN   GO   LINE   FILL   FLUSH   SIZE
  CLS   FONT   NORTH   TURN   POSXY   PRINT   CIRCLE   HOME   TRAPCLOSE
  CIRCLEFILLED   ELLIPSE   ELLIPSEFILLED   BOX   BOXFILLED   PIE
  PIEFILLED   BACKCOLOR   SEGMENT   DELSEGMENT   REDRAW   LEFTBUTTONDOWN
  LEFTBUTTONUP   LEFTBUTTONMOVE   MOUSEMOVE   RIGHTBUTTONDOWN
  RIGHTBUTTONUP   RIGHTBUTTONMOVE   LEFTDOUBLECLICK   RIGHTDOUBLECLICK
  WHEN   DISCARD

Here is a list of the spreadsheet commands:

  INDIRECT  MANUAL   CELL   FORMAT   RESULT?   FORMULA?   SELECT   USER
  FLUSH   SAVE   LOAD   MODIFIED?   TRAPCLOSE

Here is a list of the text window commands:

  CLS   FONT   LINES   LINE   ORIGIN?    ORIGIN   SELECTION?   SELECTALL
  COPY   CUT   PASTE   MODIFIED?   TRAPCLOSE

Sample programs illustrate how to use the above commands.  Included are
a drawing program, a calculator program, a rolodex application, 
a graphing application, an analog clock program, the game "Tower of
Hanoi", and more.


Language features:

  Lines numbers are supported but not required and can be replaced by
    meaningful alphanumeric labels ;
  Variable names can be as long as needed and all characters are
    significant ;
  Strings do not have the usual 256 character size limitation and are
    limited only by available memory ;
  Arrays may be single or double dimensioned and may be as large as
    available memory ;
  Liberty BASIC is very similar to traditional Microsoft BASIC in syntax.
    Anyone familiar with BASIC will feel right at home    


Is there feature you need that isn't mentioned here?  Don't let it stop
you from becoming a Liberty BASIC programmer.  Call us and we'll do our
best to add it in!

Shoptalk Systems
P.O. Box 1062
Framingham, MA  01701

508-872-5315


Compuserve 71231, 1532

Now Liberty BASIC can be registered on Compuserve's Shareware Registration
service!  This makes it easy to pay the registration fee of $35.  Just
type GO SWREG to register, and use Liberty BASIC's ID code 120.  The
$35 will be added to your Compuserve billing, and Shoptalk Systems will
send you your registered copy. 


BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Registered users will receive a free evaluation copy of BASIC Training
(copyright Cascoly Software).

A complete introduction to Basic, starting with the simplest elements and 
working up to advanced concepts.

BASIC TRAINING is shareware.  It's a complete introduction to the elements of
Basic.  The table of contents includes: 
      Simple Controls                 Looping, Color & Sound 
      Arrays & DATA                   GOSUBs and Functions 
      Files                           Simple Graphics

This interactive tutorial comes complete with numerous examples that you
can run and modify.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!! BONUS!!!
