The BasiEgaXorz
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I can't get the program to start! It tells me some activex is broken or whatever

A: Sometimes your os may require you to register the editor activex file manually before running the program. To do this, go into your Start menu -> Run, and run REGSVR32.EXE <Insert BasiegaXorz Path here>\cmcs21.ocx. For example, on my machine, I would run: REGSVR32.EXE c:\basiegaxorz019\cmcs21.ocx.

If you don't want to do this, Tom Maniero has released an installer for BasiEgaXorz, so ocx registering is done for you, and may fix other problems, like not having the correct snasm68k.exe assembler version. You can get the installer at bex_suite_019.exe for version 0.19 of the compiler.

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Q: The compiler tells me that i'm missing snasm68k.exe! I don't know where to get his! help k thnx!

A: Snasm68k.exe is now available from Eidolon's Inn. Find snasm68k in File Management -> Genesis Dev.

Note: You need to get the appropriate version of snasm68k.exe to work on your machine. Version 2.02d is a larger executable, and will work with windows 98 and up, but won't work for 95. Version 2.01ex will work for windows 95 and 98, but not XP.

Alternatively, If you don't want to do this, Tom Maniero has released an installer for BasiEgaXorz with the correct snasm68k versions for your machine. You can get the installer at bex_suite_019.exe for version 0.19 of the compiler.

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Q: When compiling a program, I get a major error, and a log that give me my 486 registers etc etc

A: The snasm68k.exe version of the assembler you have may not be compatible with your OS. For a brief rundown, version 2.01ex of the assembler is for Windows 95, and 98 machine, and version 2.02d is for Windows 2000 and up. To get the correct versions, visit Eidolon's Inn and find snasm68k in File Management -> Genesis Dev.

Alternatively, If you don't want to do this, Tom Maniero has released an installer for BasiEgaXorz with the correct snasm68k versions for your machine. You can get the installer at bex_suite_019.exe for version 0.19 of the compiler.

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Q: Okay, the example programs work for me, but when I try to make my own program, I get major errors

A: Rules of thumb you should abid by:
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Q: I'm using an 80386 cpu with windows 3.11, will BasiEgaXorz work for me? I can also install Windows 95, will this help?

A: Nope, BasiEgaXorz will not work on windows 3.11, or Windows 95. Older versions prior to v0.08 will work with Windows 95, but the compiler has evolved so much that these versions can't do beans.

I dunno about a 386 processor and installing Windows 98. Just go tell your boss to get you a new computer ;D.

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Q: On real hardware, reading the joypad gets all fuxored up. I've followed the examples, so is this a bug?

A: You should have no problems when using 3 button joypads, except getting garbage values for bits 8 and up (these are the buttons for X, Y, Z, Mode). Using joypads with 6 buttons can be problematic for the BasiEgaXorz coder. 6 button joypads need to be "reset", and the only way to do this is to not keep polling the joypad without a delay. To fix this, either insert a SLEEP command to act as a delay (SLEEP 1 will do) after checking the joypad, use loops that act as a delay, or restrict reading the joypad to only in verticle blank.

Also, doing this:
	while 1
		if joypad().0 then goto up
		if joypad().1 then goto down
		if joypad().2 then goto left
		if joypad().3 then goto right
	wend
			
is bad because you keep polling the joypad without using a delay. Inserting a delay between each IF statement is bad also, so what to do? It'd be best if you store the joypad in a variable, and then check the variable for keypresses (this solves 99% of all problems). For example, good code:
	dim JoyPadTemp as integer
	while 1
		JoyPadTemp=joypad()
		if JoyPadTemp.0 then goto up
		if JoyPadTemp.1 then goto down
		if JoyPadTemp.2 then goto left
		if JoyPadTemp.3 then goto right
		sleep 1
	wend
			
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Q: When I declare an array, and by mistake, access it by doing myvar=12, shouldn't it give an error?

A: Accessing an array without using the parenthesis, or specifying an element will still work, and this was on purpose, and was very easy to implement. Without specifying an element, you are accessing element 0 of the array. This is a very fast way to access element 0 without having to resort to PRINT myarray(0) since it takes out all the overhead.

This may be sloppy programming, but get use to the sloppy ways of BasiEgaXorz =P

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Q: Hey, will BasiEgaXorz ever become open source?

A: No. The compiler+IDE was first made in visual basic, and the source is so sloppy that it'd be a disgrace to open source =P. My excuses x.x

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Q: Xorz... WHAT THE HECK IS A XORZ?

A: A xorz is Scottish that means "clogged toilet".

Some have tried to pick apart the name BasiEgaXorz, and tried to determine where it has originated from. Some found out that Basi is the first 4 letters in BASIC, and Ega is the last 3 letters of SEGA. The Xorz part is trickier, and i'm not giving out that secret yet =P, but it does have to do with the way it is pronounced.

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Q: I wanna make something more than a "Hello World!" program

A: Sure! Try the tutorials at http://devster.monkeeh.com/sega/basiegaxorz/tutorials

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Q: I don't see my question here, how can I get a question added to this FAQ?

A: Try visiting the forums at http://devster.proboards22.com and post your question as a guest in the BasiEgaXorz help forum. I answer most questions myself whenever i'm bored, and there are many other users that can answer your question for you too.

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