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Geek Culture / "Esc" key for alienware entries

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Ermes
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 14:17
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hi everybody, i would like to know how many of you have to restart your computer while playing DB retrocompo games 'cause the one who make the game has disabled the "Esc" key, and there isn't any "quit" option.

Please keep the "esc" key active, so we can quit your game when we wish to do it.

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Van B
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 15:04
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hi everybody, i would like to know how many of you have to restart your computer after playing DB retrocompo games 'cause the one who make the game had'nt made a nice clean exit routine.



It's a tricky one, I suggest making 'Esc' a pause button, then giving the option to exit completely from there. It is a very good idea to step through the objects, sounds, images etc and delete the media before exiting - this helps keep the memory clean and reduces long-use crashes.

Plus Rich likes nice professional menus etc.


Van-B

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 15:17
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Doesn't Esc clean out all the garbage then? Why not? I'm pretty sure that it does in VB.


Pincho.
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Shadow Robert
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 15:26
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Quote: "hi everybody, i would like to know how many of you have to restart your computer while playing DB retrocompo games 'cause the one who make the game has disabled the "Esc" key, and there isn't any "quit" option."


you know that Alt-F4 quits the program currently in focus on all windows operating systems right down to 3.0 right?

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Jess T
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 15:28
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@Ermes:
Yuo dont have to restart...
If Esc doesnt work and you cant get out of the game...
Hold Ctrl+Alt+Del and that'll bring up the Windows Task Manager. From there, on the screen there should be a list of programs that are running. One should say DarkBasic. Just select it and click End Task.
That will shutdown DarkBasic completely so you can go back to windows desktop...

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Ermes
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 16:58
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yes, ctrl+alt+canc dont work in fullscreen mode.
My post was an advice, maybe only me have this problem, just for know.
thanks boys.

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ReD_eYe
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Posted: 15th Oct 2003 22:29
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use alt+ctrl+delete then alt+tab and you will bring up the task manager while running a full screen program.


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Jess T
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Posted: 16th Oct 2003 14:38
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Or as Raven said, Alt+F4 works nicely for closing the current window...

Ctrl+Alt+Del does work fullscreen.

I use it all the time when DB freezes on me...

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Ermes
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Posted: 16th Oct 2003 15:05
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ah, thanks.

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Shadow Robert
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Posted: 16th Oct 2003 15:10
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also you can make an anchor application like notepad or internet explorer... open it before you start the game, then press Ctrl-Tab to switch applications and close that way

there are tonnes of ways to kill apps without rebooting

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Van B
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Posted: 16th Oct 2003 17:23
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Hehe, or we can just spend ten minutes making our programmes close nicely....


Van-B

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BatVink
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Posted: 16th Oct 2003 22:45
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Would you rather tell someone how to Alt+F4, CTRL+ALT+DEL, Shift-TAB, Finger twist...or add a touch of professionalism to your game and make an exit option?

BatVink (formerly StevieVee)
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KNau
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Posted: 17th Oct 2003 00:05
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Exactly, I think the point being made was that no one should have to use CTRL-ALT-DEL or ALT-F4 to exit a game. If a programmer is going to disable the escape key then they should make sure they give the user some other way to exit the program, otherwise leave the escape key alone.

http://www.canceriannewmedia.com
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Jess T
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Posted: 18th Oct 2003 16:28
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Too True...

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heartbone
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Posted: 18th Oct 2003 18:34
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Pincho: Doesn't Esc clean out all the garbage then? Why not? I'm pretty sure that it does in VB.

Good question.

The more you see, the more you know.
The more you know, the more you see.
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CloseToPerfect
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Posted: 19th Oct 2003 07:17
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Pincho, no it doesn't.
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Ermes
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Posted: 19th Oct 2003 20:24
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what said KNau is really true.
Make an escape routine or let esc key alone.

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orv
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Posted: 21st Oct 2003 06:09
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esc key end a VB program?

not in VB6 or older.

if you're running from the IDE, Ctrl-Break will work (most of the time).

otherwise, the program must have code to end it, i.e.:
END

or the last form: UNLOAD ME

something like that.

or

you have to do all the other funky stuff mentioned in the previous posts!


If you aim at nothing you'll hit it every time. 806mhz AMD Athlon Processor. 384MB memory.
Windows XP Home Edition. RADEON 9700 Pro graphics card. - editor.exe=1.0.6.1
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orv
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Posted: 21st Oct 2003 06:13
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you could MAKE a VB program end via the esc key!

set the form's KeyPreview property to TRUE to make sure the form sees the user's keystrokes for sure, then:

the form's KeyPress event could look like:


of course you'd want to do better clean up first (usually).

If you aim at nothing you'll hit it every time. 806mhz AMD Athlon Processor. 384MB memory.
Windows XP Home Edition. RADEON 9700 Pro graphics card. - editor.exe=1.0.6.1
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EgoAnt
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Posted: 21st Oct 2003 22:43
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I've also found that pouring a large bucket of water directly into your computer case has the effect of allowing you to exit from any application. However, there are a few problems occasionally with this method, as it sometimes slows the rebooting of the machine somewhat...
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Ian T
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Posted: 21st Oct 2003 22:59
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It might be standard in XP, but on 98 I can't determine how many programs will work with Alt+Tal and/or Ctrl+Alt+Del until I try it. Most work with the task manager, but many don't... mostly older games.

--Mouse: Famous (Avatarless) Fighting Furball

A very nice %it, indeed.
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the_winch
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Posted: 21st Oct 2003 23:31
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With dbpro in xp disable system keys does nothing. I presume the old games use the same method and it only locks the keys on win9x.

I hate those games that block ctrl+alt+del making me restart everytime the game hangs. Must have lost hours and hours waiting for a reboot for no reason
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