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Techtips

How to convert to PxPLUS

There are different ways to convert your 'Business Basic' software. Once you've installed PxPLUS , you find 4 specific directories under \pvx\lib\ that are necessary to convert from another BASIC.
These are :

Thoroughbred directory :	_conv.tbd
Mai OpenBasic directory :	_conv.ob
BBx / PRO5 directory :	_conv.bbx
MicroShare Basic directory :	_conv.msb

In the HELP-files, you can read all about the older conversion programs. But, because there are recent developments, which are not documented, I'd like to explain these new tools.

GUI_CV
This program converts BBx programs and files, without the need of a BBx (or PRO5) executable.
It has a fully graphical interface.
The next items can be turned on or off :

testconversion

write in log file :

name of program or file.
a program statement that contains $0A$.
a file containing non-ASCII characters.
a filerecord containing non-ASCII characters.
warnings.

append to log file or not.

variable length records or not.

files with a maximum number of records or not.

convert string files or not.

field separator is $0A$ or $8A$.

OEM to ANSI conversion in programs.

OEM to ANSI conversion in files.

CV_NOBBX
This is a non-graphical conversion program. The interface is the same as the
standard CV program. Major advantage : You don't need a BBx executable !

CONVDATA.BBX
In directory *TOOLS, there is a new tool called convdata.bbx.
Besides DIRECT, SORT and MKEYED files, it converts also INDEXED files.
No BBx executable needed !

READ BBx files
Since version 4.20, you have the possibility to read BBx files from within PxPLUS . To write to them is not possible.
Your PxPLUS must be activated with a special 'package key' : 20010.

LOADBBX
This is a 'console mode' command to load and convert a BBx program into memory. From then on, you can EDIT, LIST and SAVE it, just like any other PxPLUS program.
You can find this 'command' in the *cmd directory.

Syntax: LOADBBX str1{,RAW}    (pay attention to the 'space' just after LOADBBX)

   'str1'     (path+)name of a BBx program file.
   'RAW'     don't convert verbs/functions to PxPLUS format.
pay attention : user_lex settings still apply.

BBx, PRO5, and VPRO5 are registered trademarks of Basis International.
ProvideX is a registered trademark of Sage Software Canada Ltd.