Open Scrn

FreeBASIC

Open Scrn
 
Opens the console directly for input and output as a file

Syntax

Open Scrn [for mode] As [#]filenum As Long

Usage

Open Scrn [for mode] as [#]filenum
or
result = Open Scrn( [for mode[,]] as [#]filenum )

Parameters

mode
Either Input or Output. If omitted, Output is assumed.
filenum
An unused file number.

Return Value

Zero (0) is returned if Open Err completed successfully, otherwise a non-zero value is returned to indicate failure.

Description

This command opens the console for both input and output as a file, allowing to read/write from/to it with normal file commands.

This command may use direct access to the console for speed in some implementations, so it should not be used when the input / output is required to be redirected or piped with OS commands.

The normal console commands, such as Color and Locate, do not work in this mode, because they do not accept a file number.

The [For Input|Output] clause is allowed for compatibility, but is ignored.

filenum is an unused file number.

An unused file number can be found using FreeFile.


Runtime errors:
Open Cons throws one of the following runtime errors:

(1) Illegal function call
    • filenumber was not free at the time. use FreeFile to ensure that filenumber is free.

Example

Dim a As String
Open Scrn For Input  As #1
Print #1,"Please write something and press ENTER"
Line Input #1,a
Print #1, "You wrote";a
Close
Sleep


Differences from QB

  • QB used OPEN "SCRN:" ...

See also