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1) What are the difference between saving as a source and saving as a project

I need some explanation of the project panel as follows.....

PROJECT SUMMARY
2)Project Name-I assume this would be the name of the file when I save as a project?

3) EXE Filename-It defaults to %temp\dbp_program.exe, there is a browse button, would there be a reason to change this?

4) Project Comments-I click on and am able to type in the box, I'm guessing this is sort of a mini diary?

5)To Do List-What's this for?

CONFIGURE EXE SETTINGS
6)Application Window Caption-This is for when the EXE runs in a window?

7)Executable File Settings-Why would I want to select the other options other than NORMAL EXE?

8)Display Settings-Please explain the five options here

SOURCE FILES
9) Sorry, but I'm at a lose with this tab. what is the benefit

NEXT THREE TABS
10)Declared Functions. Labels, Variables-This just seems to show where the mention tabs are in your program and you can double click on them and will go to the appropriate line in the program and highlight it?

NEXT THREE TABS
11)Media, Cursors, Icons-What are these three tabs for?

Please be advised that the manual was very lite on information for the Project Panel and my searches on the forum was a negative. I picked up DBpro the other day and figured I should understand the interface completely before I start to program with it. Thanks in advance for the help.

Vincent D. Brumback

1) Saving as a source file allows you to later use that file in other programs without having to retype it. Basically you could write some movement code and save it as Movement.src, then whenever you need that movement code in any of your games you could just include that source file by using the include button instead of programming it again and again. It's also useful for sending to other people when you make handy functions.

PROJECT SUMMARY
2)This is just a name you see on the taskbar.

3) EXE Filename- This is basically where you want the .exe to be saved. It defaults to the temporary folder until you save the project, from there on it will save in the folder you saved your project.

4) Project Comments - Pretty much, yes.

5)To Do List- A handy way to keep track of things you need to do, you right click it and click add item and you can create a long list of things you need to do. It adds check boxes for keeping track of what you've done, you can even import a list from a text file.

CONFIGURE EXE SETTINGS
6)Application Window Caption - I believe this is some extra text displayed next to the name at the top bar when it's in windowed mode.

7)Executable File Settings-Why would I want to select the other options other than NORMAL EXE?

8)Display Settings - Please explain the five options here

9) This is the tab you add the previously described source files to.

10)Declared Functions. Labels, Variables-This just seems to show where the mention tabs are in your program and you can double click on them and will go to the appropriate line in the program and highlight it?

11)These 3 tabs are basically for organization, you can just put your models in the media for example, and your cursor icon in the Cursors, easier than searching around for them each time for their name and whatnot.

Sorry I couldnt answer everything I'm not on a computer with Dark Basic so I can't check to remember and I barely use the tabs so I may be wrong about a few things aswell.

Further information:

1) The source is your actual program. The project is the settings for the program like screen rez, include files, media etc. When you run or compile the source program, it uses settings from the project panel.

3) It also allows you to create a different exe name to that used by the project. You may change the name of the project before distributing the exe and compiling with a different name just saves you the hassle of renaming it in Windows Explorer after every build...

9) In the old version of DB, you could put collections of functions in a separate file and use #Include "filename.dba" in your program. This file would be included (added to) your program when you ran or compiled it - making the functions in it available to your program. In DBP, you no longer have to use #Include in your program - you simply add the files you want to include to the project panel.

TDK_Man

even further information...

DON'T SAVE YOUR PROJECT FILE OVER YOUR SOURCE FILE!!!!! YOU WILL LOSE YOUR SOURCE!

okay, so i haven't done this in DB yet, but i did this with a c++ program once (pong )

Well if he finally publishes a game and it is large he could pack the .exe into an installer package. Also if he wants to keep his media for himself he could have an exe with attached media.

off-topic:
By the way, when posting code snippets here don't use the source code box. Just use the code snippet tags. Like this: [ code] code here [/code ]

Thanks for everyone's input and effort.



"There are no stupid questions, just a lot if inquisitive idiots"-BRILLANT!

Vincent D. Brumback