Metacommands are program wide commands that start with $.

QBasic/QuickBASIC - Legacy metacommands

Syntax

REM $INCLUDE: ‘QB.BI’ ‘loads a reference file or library

REM $DYNAMIC ‘enables resizing of array dimensions with REDIM

REM $STATIC ‘arrays cannot be resized once dimensioned

Description

• QBasic Metacommands are normally used at the program start and are in effect throughout the program.
• QBasic Metacommands are always prefixed with $ and MUST be commented with an apostrophe or REM.
• $INCLUDE is always followed by a colon and the full text code file name is commented on both sides.
• $DYNAMIC allows larger arrays that are changeable in size at runtime.
• $STATIC makes all arrays unchangeable in size.
• QBasic metacommands should have their own program line because they are commented.

QB64 metacommands

Syntax

$ASSERTS:CONSOLE

$CHECKING{OFF

ON} ‘disables QB64 C++ event and error checking (no spaces)

$COLOR ‘adds named color CONSTantes to a program

$CONSOLE ‘creates a QB64 console window throughout the program

$DEBUG enables debugging features, allowing you to step through your code line by line

$ERROR MESSAGE triggers a compilation error MESSAGE.

$EXEICON:’iconfile.ico’ ‘embeds an .ICO file into the final executable (Windows only)

$IF … $ELSEIF … $ELSE … $END IF ‘precompiler directive

$LET variable = expression

$RESIZE:{ON

OFF

STRETCH

SMOOTH} ‘determines if re-sizing of the program screen by the user is allowed

$SCREENHIDE ‘hides the QB64 program window throughout the program

$SCREENSHOW ‘displays the main QB64 program window

$VERSIONINFO:key=value ‘embeds version info metadata into the final executable (Windows only)

$VIRTUALKEYBOARD:{ON

OFF} ‘DEPRECATED keyword

Description

• $ASSERTS:CONSOLE Enables debug tests with the _ASSERT macro.

• $CHECKING_{OFF

  ON}_ Should only be used with errorless code where every CPU cycle counts! Use ON to re-enable event checking. Event checking can be turned OFF or ON throughout a program.

• $COLOR adds named color CONSTantes to a program.
• $CONSOLE creates a console window which can be turned off later with _CONSOLE OFF.
• $DEBUG enables debugging features, allowing you to step through your code line by line.
• $ERROR MESSAGE triggers a error MESSAGE only during your program compilation.
• $IF … $ELSEIF … $ELSE … $END IF allows selective inclusion of code in the final program.
• $LET variable = expression sets a precompiler variable to a value.

• $RESIZE:{ON

  OFF

  STRETCH

  SMOOTH} allows a user to resize the program window. OFF is default.

• $SCREENHIDE hides the QB64 program window throughout the program until $SCREENSHOW is used.

• $VERSIONINFO:key=value embeds version info metadata into the final executable (Windows only).

• Do not comment out with ‘ or REM QB64-specific metacommands.

See Also

• Statement, Function (explanatory)
• REM
• DIM, REDIM
• ON TIMER(n)