This workshop will attempt to get you up to speed on the basics of the BASIC programming language in the fastest and most efficient way possible. The free version of Microsoft QuickBASIC v1.1 will be our development tool. If you have a Mac you will have to use the DOS emulator. Even though BASIC has come and gone (and come again), it remains a powerful tool that can create programs QUICKLY, EASILY and will still run on virtually ANY PC of the past and present! BASIC is an excellent language to ease you into programming yet still has the power to create entertaining educational games.

If you would like to use this program at home, create a folder on the desktop, CLICK HERE to download the basiczip.exe file, select your folder. Open the file when the download is complete and it will expand into 2 separate files (QBASIC.EXE & QBASIC.HLP). You can delete basiczip.exe if you like. To start QuickBasic just click on the QBASIC.EXE file and click OK. After you have started the QuickBasic program you should familiarize yourself with the menus so that you can SAVE, LOAD, RUN and get HELP. Use the mouse to click on FILE to access SAVE & LOAD features (or use the keyboard <Alt-F>). When you SAVE use a file name that is 8 characters or less long and choose the TEXT format so that you have the option later to use other editors (e.g. NOTEPAD, WORD, etc). Once you have typed in a program you can click on RUN - START or <shift-F5> to check it out. Let's get started!
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LIST OF 10 COMMON BASIC COMMANDS :________________________
CLS
Clears the screen blank. A good way to start.

PRINT "HELLO, ";A$
Prints whatever is between the quotes to the screen, numbers, variables (A$), etc. The semi-colon causes A$ to be printed right after whatever is in the quotes.

INPUT "Whatever question you like" ; A$
Combined PRINT and INPUT statement. Variable holds a number (e.g. A) or characters (e.g. A$)

A$ = UCASE$(A$)
If you INPUT A$ then follow with this command, all characters will become UPPERCASE. Helpful when you are not sure how the USER will type their response... (e.g. NO...No...no will all become NO)

IF ... THEN ... OR ... AND ... ELSE ... END IF
These powerful logic commands allows you to perform a task IF certain conditions are met.
e.g. IF N=5 THEN PRINT"Hello"
or IF A$="FRED" THEN GOTO here2

{LABEL}:
Place a word followed by a colon anywhere in your program so that you can GOTO that location if desired. {LABEL} can be any 8 letter word or number that isn't a command

GOTO {LABEL}
Branch directly to wherever the {label} is placed (no colon here)

GOSUB {LABEL} ... RETURN
If you have a section of your program that is frequently repeated you can write it in the form of a subroutine. Start the section with a {LABEL}: and end it with a RETURN. When you wish to perform the repetitive routine just call it with GOSUB {LABEL} (no colon). Once the routine has completed it will RETURN back to the point of the program right after the point it was called.

END
End of the program

BEEP
Causes the computer to beep if it has a simple PC speaker
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The General Quizzer Program Format__________________________________
Type the following program in the QBasic Editor EXACTLY and save the file (using FILE - SAVE AS), naming it with your initials + WS2.BAS (e.g. SAJWS2.BAS). Hereafter you can just select FILE - SAVE. To RUN press <Shift + F5>. If your program locks up you may have to <Ctrl + Break> or <Ctrl + C> to get back to the editor mode. As you type, the editor will catch some of your mistakes as you make them and attempt to warn you.

CLS
INPUT "WHAT IS YOUR NAME" ; N$
CLS
PRINT "The scientific method is a logical approach to solving a problem"
PRINT "The steps of the scientific method are:"
PRINT "a) Stating the problem"
PRINT "b) Gathering data"
PRINT "c) Forming a hypothesis"
PRINT "d) Testing the hypothesis"
PRINT "e) Conclusion"
INPUT "Press ENTER to begin your quiz";A$
CLS

PRINT "What comes after Forming a hypothesis?"
PRINT "A) Stating the problem B) Gathering data C) Conclusion"
GOSUB ANSWER
IF A$="C" then
   GOSUB CORRECT
   ELSE GOSUB WRONG
END IF

PRINT "What comes before Gathering data?"
PRINT "A) Stating the problem B) Forming a hypothesis C) Conclusion"
GOSUB ANSWER
IF A$="A" then
   GOSUB CORRECT
   ELSE GOSUB WRONG
END IF

PRINT"Thanks, ";N$;"... for taking this quiz!!!"
BEEP:BEEP:BEEP
END

ANSWER:
INPUT A$
A$ = UCASE$(A$)
RETURN

CORRECT:
BEEP
PRINT "Correct...";N$;"!!!"
PRINT
RETURN

WRONG:
BEEP : BEEP
PRINT "Wrong...";N$;"!!!"
PRINT
RETURN
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The CHALLENGE !______________________________________________
Change the questions and answers to quiz the user on another science topic.
FILE - SAVE and show (or email) the instructor your completed program for grading.