HOC EST OPUS

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH IT?

• Write unique procedures to calculate with numbers or words.

  Learn the fundamentals of computer programming in any language.

  • Read what theEXPERTS say.

• Develop your ability to evaluate and display numerical data.

  Appreciate the power of rapid repetitive decision processing.

  Learn to COUNT on your fingers - up to 1000!!

  Learn to CODE in binary - up to 127!!

WHAT DOES THE COURSE COVER?

• POP NOT OOPs: Procedural (not Object) Oriented Programs

  • GWBASIC (Gone with the Windows Best And Simplest Instruction Code)

• Logical Control thru Flow-charting

  • FLOW CHART SYMBOLS

• Algorithms to Evaluate Statistics, Sort Lists, Parse Chemical Formulas

  • PROGRAM 1:AVGDEV.BAS - Averages
  • PROGRAM 2:LISTSORT.BAS - Sorting
  • PROGRAM 3:ELEMENTS.BAS - Searching
  • PROGRAM 4:COMPOUND.BAS - Formula Weight

• Techniques to Graph in any coordinate system

  • PROGRAM 5:PLOTMENU.BAS - Titration Curves
  • PROGRAM 6:KINETICS.BAS - First Order Reactions

• Methods to Store, Manipulate and Present Data of all kinds

  • PROGRAM 7:LSTSQRP.BAS - Linear Least Squares
  • PROGRAM 8:LSTSQRE.BAS - Parabolic Function
  • PROGRAM 9:LSTSQRF.BAS - Graphing EMF vs. T/K
  • PROGRAM 10:HOVERLAP.BAS - Bond Wavefunctions

One of the Plots from H Orbital Overlap Program: HOVERLAP.BAS

This program is the most advanced in the course. You may download a copy for personal perusal. There are no implied warranties.

We face a newer age of Computer Illiteracy in which the programs are so sophisticated and, where applicable, the computations are made without the user's faintest clue of what assumptions and approximations go into them. THE RULE OUGHT TO BE: IF YOU CANNOT IN PRINCIPLE WRITE IT; YOU SHOULD NOT IN PRACTICE RUN IT.
You can get by in life by using other people's applications:but it is infinitely
more fulfilling to be CREATIVE and develop your own unique ones.

RETURN TO THE EBONY DUNGEON

Rudiments of BASICESE:

• A BASIC program is a list of numbered lines of instructions which manipulates data in order to achieve some desired result.
• The instructions are classified as either Commands, Statements or Functions.
• It takes instructions to make and use a program.
• Commands manipulate program files and occur mostly as EDIT instructions. They are used mostly in IMMEDIATE mode (i.e. without line numbers and executed as soon as the 'ENTER' key is pressed) but under certain situations may be used in a program list (file).
• Statements manipulate data in order to make decisions and thus occur mostly in PROGRAM mode as instructions in the program listing. Practically all the DISPLAY and BRANCH instructions are statements.
• Data which do not change, i.e. are constant, may be employed in the list as their numerical values, e.g. 2, 3.1415, etc.
• Data which may change as they are manipulated, i.e. are variable, must be assigned names: e.g. volume, vol, v, v2, etc. The variable name is always used in the program instructions, e.g. LET VOL= 3.1415*R^2*HT will have the numerical value for a cylinder having a radius value stored under the name R and a height stored under the name HT and computed by the indicated product stored under the name VOL.
• In addition to the usual arithmetic operations (+, -, *, /, and ^) there are additional instructions which OPERATE.
• A particularly important set of operations are the DISPLAY instructions. Note that the instruction PRINT VOL would not print the letters V-O-L but the number whose name is VOL.
• Functions are essentially built-in subroutines which perform data conversions or computations. OPERATE instructions are mostly either statements or functions.
• The most significant factor which distinguishes a computer program from a calculator sequence is that the program can make decisions about the state of the data it is manipulating and alter its order of instuctions by using BRANCH instructions.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• The most striking factor is the speed with which a seemingly endless list of tedious manipulations is accomplished.

SAMPLE PROGRAM:	100 REM Calculate Cylinder Volume CYLVOL.BAS
		110 INPUT "Radius, Height";R,HT
		120 VOL=3.1415*R^2*HT
		130 PRINT "Volume";VOL,"Height";HT,"Radius";R

• Two additional sets of instructions perform Math and String Functions.
• These are the functions which operate on either a numeric variable, the usual math functions, or a literal variable, i.e. a string of alphanumeric characters, called string functions.
• Literal variables are distinguished from numeric variable by the $(read 'STring' not dollar) character appended to their name.
• A literal variable is identified by placing inside double quotes, e.g. X$="VTECHEM", the 'null string' (literal equivalent to a numeric zero) is a pair of double quotes, e.g. INKEY$="".
• These functions all require an operand enclosed in parentheses following the instruction on which to operate. The operand may be an expression, variable or a constant.

FUNCTIONS:

GLOSSARY OF BASIC INSTRUCTIONS

• ABS (opr) FUNCTION Returns the absolute value of the operand. Return
• ASC(var$) FUNCTION Returns the ASCII code of the first character of the literal variable. Return
• ATN (opr) FUNCTION Returns the arctangent, angle in radians, of the operand. Return
• CALL Offset(var1,var2) STATEMENT Calls a machine language subroutine that begins at value of Offset to SEGment Address and passes values of a list of variables to the called routine. Return
• CHR$ (n) FUNCTION Returns the character whose numeric code (0<n<255) is the operand. Return
• CIRCLE (x,y),r,col,[brad,erad,asp] STATEMENT Draws a circle or arc with center at value of x and value of y with value of radius=r. Return
• CLEAR COMMAND Clears all memory used for data by nulling all variables but without erasing current program. Return
• CLS STATEMENT Clears(erases) the video screen and homes the cursor. Return
• CLOSE STATEMENT Closes all open files and devices. Return
• CONT COMMAND Continues program execution after a STOP command. Return
• COS (opr) FUNCTION Returns the cosine of the operand angle given in radians. Return
• DEFtype b-e STATEMENTS Declares variable by the first letter of the variable name as type:INT[eger], SING[le precision), STR[ing], D[ou]BL[e precision]. Return
• DEF SEG = addr STATEMENT Defines the base segment address for the 64 Kbyte memory block accessible by BASIC. If no address supplied then default segment address will be assigned. Return
• DATA list STATEMENT Stores a lists of values to be accessed by a READ statement. Return
• DATE$ STATEMENT/VARIABLE Assigns/evaluates the date string "MMDDYY[YY]" held in memory. Return
• DEF fn name(p,...,q) STATEMENT Defines a user function name = expression employing variable(s) p,...,q as parameters. Return
• DELETE bnum-enum COMMAND Deletes inclusive range of numbered lines in range. Return
• DIM var1(n1),vara(n2,n3) STATEMENT Specifies dimension of subscripts (maximum number) for variable lists and arrays. Return
• END STATEMENT Ends program execution, closes all files, and returns to IMMEDIATE mode. Return
• EOF FUNCTION Checks for an end-of-file condition when reading from a sequential file. Return
• EXP (opr) FUNCTION Returns the value of the natural antilogarithm (power of e) of the operand. Return
• FILES ["filespec"] COMMAND Displays names of all files (or those specified by DOS filespec). Return
• FIX (opr) FUNCTION Returns the integer part of the operand. Return
• FOR var=b TO e [STEP d] ...NEXT var STATEMENT Repeats all commands up to NEXT linenumber over range of variable. Return
• GOSUB ln STATEMENT Branches to a subroutine at linenumber ln, expects to RETURN to statement following command. Return
• GOTO ln STATEMENT Unconditionally transfer program chain of execution to specified linenumber ln. Return
• IF var1 rel var2 THEN ln1 [ELSE ln2] STATEMENT Evaluates logical relation between variables (>, =, <, =>, <=, ><) and branches to linenumber following THEN or proceed to following line unless redirected to linenumber following ELSE. Return
• var$=INKEY$ VARIABLE Reads one character from the keyboard and assigns to literal variable. Return
• var = INP (addr) FUNCTION Assigns one byte value from input port having 10-bit device code address to specified variable. Return
• INT (opr) FUNCTION Returns the (algebraic) largest integer value of the operand. Return
• INPUT var FUNCTION Assigns value entered from keyboard preceding an ENTER key to specified variable. Return
• INPUT #buf, var(s) STATEMENT Reads data from a sequential file buffer and assigns in order read to variable list. Return
• INSTR (X$,Y$) FUNCTION Returns the integer position number of the first occurrence of the string X$ in the string Y$. Return
• KILL "filespec" COMMAND Deletes filename.ext from DOS specified disk directory. Return
• LEFT$ (var$,n) FUNCTION Returns the string of the first (leftend) n characters of literal variable. Return
• LEN (var$) FUNCTION Returns the integer number of characters in the literal variable. Return
• [LET] var = expression STATEMENT Assigns the value of expression to the variable named. Command word is unnecessary. Return
• LINE (x1,y1)-(x2,y2) [,C,B F] STATEMENT Draws a line or box (B)and fills in (F) with color number C between points x1,y1 and x2,y2 at opposite or diagonal corners. Return
• LIST [ln1 - ln2] COMMAND Lists all or part of a program to video screen. Return
• LLIST [ln1 - ln2] COMMAND Lists all or part of a program to the printer. Return
• LOAD "filespec" COMMAND Loads a program from the current or a specified disk. Return
• LOCATE r#,c# STATEMENT Positions the cursor at a specified screen row(1-25) and column(1-80). Return
• LOG (opr) FUNCTION Returns the natural logarithm of the operand. Return
• LPRINT "text"var1,var2 STATEMENT Directs output of text in quotes and values of listed variables to the printer:'semi-colon' prevents new line, 'comma' tabulates by 15 spaces. Return
• LPRINT USING "#string" STATEMENT Same as LPRINT except a quoted number format string limits printed values: e.g. USING "##.##" Return
• MERGE "filespec" COMMAND Combines an ASCII text formatted filespec program with current program with overwriting of common linenumbers. Return
• MID$ (var$,p,n) FUNCTION Returns a string of n characters beginning with at the position p of the literal variable. Return
• NEW COMMAND Deletes current program and erases all variables. Return
• ON var GOSUB ln1,ln2,...,lnn STATEMENT Branches to the subroutine of linenumber in list position equal to integer value of variable. Return
• ON var GOTO ln1,ln2,...,lnn STATEMENT Unconditional branch to the linenumber in list position equal to value of variable. Return
• OPEN "mode(O,A,I)",#num,"filespec" STATEMENT Creates a buffer space identified by # to allow output(new)/append(old)/input to a specified disk file. Return
• OUT (addr, var) STATEMENT Sends a one byte variable value to output port having 10-bit devide code address. Return
• POKE addr, var STATEMENT Writes a one byte variable value to 16 bit memory address offset from the current segment address. Return
• var = PEEK (addr) FUNCTION Assigns a one byte value read from 16 bit memory address offset from segment to the variable specified. Return
• PRINT "text"var1,var2 STATEMENT Directs output of text in quotes and values of listed variables to the screen:'semi-colon' prevents new line, 'comma' tabulates by 15 spaces. Return
• PRINT USING "#string" STATEMENT Same as PRINT except a quoted number format string limits printed values: e.g. USING "##.##" Return
• PRINT #buf, var(s) STATEMENT Writes data to a sequential file buffer in order read from variable list. Return
• PSET (x,y),col STATEMENT Plots a colored point at the specified coordinates (0<x<640,350>y>0 in SCREEN 9). Return
• READ var(s) STATEMENT Reads successive values from DATA statements and assigns to specified variables. Return
• REM STATEMENT Denotes non-executable documentary remarks in a program listing. Return
• RENUM newln,[oldln,] int COMMAND Renumbers program lines starting at old ln using new ln with specified interval and emends internal line number references in program. Return
• RESTORE [ln] STATEMENT Reinitializes to DATA statement at first available program line number or specified line number. Return
• RETURN STATEMENT Redirects program from a subroutine back to the command following the executed GOSUB. Return
• RIGHT$ (var$,n) FUNCTION Returns the string of the last (rightend) n characters of the literal variable. Return
• RUN [ln] COMMAND Initiates program execution at first or specified line number. Return
• SAVE "filespec"[,A] COMMAND Writes the program listing to the current or specified disk in compressed format unless specified ASCII text format as a file name given in filespec with extension .BAS unless otherwise specified. Return
• SCREEN num STATEMENT Sets the screen mode for text and/or graphics according to mode number. Return
• SGN (opr) FUNCTION Returns the unit sign (+1 or -1) of the operand (or 0 if zero). Return
• SPACE$ (n) FUNCTION Returns of string of n blank spaces. Return
• SIN (opr) FUNCTION Returns the sine of the operand angle given in radians. Return
• SQR (opr) FUNCTION Returns the square root of the operand. Return
• STOP STATEMENT Ends program execution and returns to IMMEDIATE mode. Return
• STR$ (var) FUNCTION Returns the literal string of a decimal numeric variable. Return
• STRING$ (n,m) FUNCTION Returns a string of n characters of code m. Return
• SYSTEM COMMAND Exits BASIC and returns to DOS. Return
• TAB (num) FUNCTION Advances the print position to specified column position (1-80). Return
• TAN (opr) FUNCTION Returns the tangent of the operand angle given in radians. Return
• TIME$ STATEMENT/VARIABLE Assigns/evaluates the clock string "HH:MM:SS" Return
• var = TIMER FUNCTION Assigns the seconds value (within 0.05 sec) of counter since either midnight or reset to specified variable. Return
• VAL (var$) FUNCTION Returns the numeric value of the literal variable. Return
• WHILE var rel val ...WEND STATEMENT Repeats all commands in succession up to WEND until relation is no longer true. Return
• WRITE #buf, var(s) STATEMENT Writes the values of the variable list to the specified sequential file buffer. Return Additional INTERFACING Commands:
• DEF SEG = addr STATEMENT Defines the base segment address for the 64 Kbyte memory block accessible by BASIC. If no address supplied then default segment address will be assigned. Return
• var = INP (addr) FUNCTION Assigns one byte value from input port having 10-bit device code address to specified variable. Return
• OUT (addr, var) STATEMENT Sends a one byte variable value to output port having 10-bit devide code address. Return
• POKE addr, var STATEMENT Writes a one byte variable value to 16 bit memory address offset from the current segment address. Return
• var = PEEK (addr) FUNCTION Assigns a one byte value read from 16 bit memory address offset from segment to the variable specified. Return
• var = TIMER FUNCTION Assigns the seconds value (within 0.05 sec) of counter since either midnight or reset to specified variable.

Quotes from the EXPERTS:

• "We wrote the programs in BASIC. Yes, we did! We can already hear people complaining because they would never consider touching this outdated, inefficient, and unstructured language which is known to prevent writing good programs. So why did we chose it? First of all, BASIC is a language which should easily be available to all programmers. It comes built-in or free with many computers...Furthermore, we believe that BASIC - or what we used of it - is so simple that even someone not familiar with programming should be able to understand what the programs are doing. Thus, it takes only a small effort to get ready to play with the programs and perhaps try out modifications. Finally, for all you lovers of more aesthetic computer languages, it should be no problem to translate these programs to you favorite dialect and type it on the fly into the machine." Fractals for the Classroom by Peitgen, Jurgens and Saupe, Springer-Verlag, 1994
• "A spreadsheet is typically a poor choice for problems that can be solved with a FOR...NEXT kind of structure. It takes longer to create all the cells in the spreadsheet than to write a BASIC or Pascal program to solve such a problem." from "Solving Problems with Math Tools" by J. R. Hines, Engineering Tools, Feb. 1988
• "This book uses BASIC exclusively, and perhaps deserves some explanation. BASIC has an odious reputation among computer experts, often because they are familiar only with mainframe BASIC; partly it is pure snobbery. Microcomputer BASIC has many fine features and is, in some respects, superior to the 'better' languages. It is a powerful language for scientific computations..." Physical Chemistry on a Microcomputer by J. H. Noggle, Little, Brown & Co., 1985
• EDITOR'S NOTE: The italics in the above quotes are mine! Pef