AppBasic Tutorial

Automatically ceasing program execution

A useful feature of AppBasic applications is that they automatically cease execution when a Quit_Quit event (&82A91) occurs. This event can be attributed in the design of resfiles so applications can be made to stop without the need for any code being written.

Make a copy of !MinApp, deleting its !RunImage file
MinApp can be found the Examples directory which is opened by Adjust-selecting AppBasic's iconbar icon.

Add an AppBasic !RunImage directory
The !RunImage directory should contain a !Run file (of type Obey) containing the command

Run AppBasic:Manager

At this stage !MinApp will run, placing its icon on the iconbar. However the application cannot be quit from the Quit iconbar menu-entry only via the task manager's display.

Edit the resfile so that selecting the “Quit” menu-entry generates the Quit_Quit event

1) Open MinApp's resfile display
Resfile displays are opened by double clicking the file (or dragging the file onto ResEd's iconbar icon)

2) View the menu template for IbarMenu
Menu templates are viewed by double-clicking their icon in the resfile display

Double-click the Quit entry to open its menu-entry dialogue box.
dbox/gif

In the Click action section of the dbox, select the Deliver event radio button labelled Other and type &82A91 into the writable icon. (When this menu entry is selected the Quit_Quit event will be generated).

An easy way to enter event codes into writable icons

The Quit_Quit event can be inserted into writeable icons by placing the caret in the icon and selecting the green pencil-icon in its entry-page in AppBasic's StrongHelp manual.

Save the resfile - the application will now work exactly as the original and can be compressed to a single !RunImage file.

Notes: !MinApp's original C !RunImage file is 4,383 bytes long. The compressed !RunImage file produced by the above method is c. 550 bytes and will run in a wimpslot of 8K.

Worked solution