BBC BASIC for Windows
General >> General Board >> Windows API Help
http://bb4w.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&num=1371121574
Windows API Help
Post by Katogoon on Jun 13th, 2013, 11:06am

Hello all,

I have been using the trial trial version of BBC Basic for a couple of weeks now. Before I make the purchase I just want to know how you fount learning WinAPI and what resources you use.

Thank you.
Re: Windows API Help
Post by admin on Jun 13th, 2013, 8:35pm

on Jun 13th, 2013, 11:06am, Guest-Katogoon wrote:
Before I make the purchase I just want to know how you fount learning WinAPI and what resources you use.

There is some relevant information on the BB4W FAQ page, see particularly questions 8 and 9:

http://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/bbcwin/faq.html#q8
http://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/bbcwin/faq.html#q9

Because the way BBC BASIC accesses the Windows API is so similar to the way plain C programs do, I think some people use the many online resources for Win32 programmining in C as a guide.

Richard.
Re: Windows API Help
Post by Katogoon on Jun 13th, 2013, 10:15pm

Dear Richard Russell,

Thank you for your response.

I would just like to point out that the WIN32HLP.EXE is not available for Windows 8.

Is this the official BBC Basic forums?

Thank you.
Re: Windows API Help
Post by admin on Jun 14th, 2013, 08:40am

on Jun 13th, 2013, 10:15pm, Guest-Katogoon wrote:
I would just like to point out that the WIN32HLP.EXE is not available for Windows 8.

Yes it is (I assume you mean WinHlp32.exe which is required to display HLP files like Win32.hlp). You can get it from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=35449

There is potential for confusion from the similar filenames:

WIN32HLP.EXE is the installer for the Win32 API help package.
WINHLP32.EXE is the installer for the HLP file viewer for Windows 8.

You need to install both if you want to use the old Win32 help on Windows 8. I've just done it and it works fine. Of course Win32.hlp is quite out-of-date so for a more complete set of API docs you should download the Platform SDK or search MSDN online.

Richard.
Re: Windows API Help
Post by Ken Down on Jun 14th, 2013, 11:31am

If you're already familiar with the API you shouldn't have any problems. If, like me, you are not, then you will tear your hair out frequently, but most problems can be resolved with enough searching.

I can thoroughly recommend BB4W.