[Simh] off-topic basic translator

[Kevin Handy]

It won't help you. If you look at the section "U*ntranslatable Language
Features*" it specifically mentions that MAP, COMMON, and FIELD, and MAT
statements are not habdled.

On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 2:19 PM, Tom Morris <tfmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> If you want to target Python, you might look at using something like vb2py
> as a starting point.
> http://vb2py.sourceforge.net/
>
> Tom
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 3:34 PM, Dan Gahlinger <dgahling at hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I was thinking of this one:
>> http://h71000.www7.hp.com/commercial/basic/t12/t12_pro.html
>> so definitely there was one, it's discontinued though.
>>
>> I don't know what to do with MAP or MAT statements, otherwise I could do
>> most of it myself.
>>
>> C or C++ is not an ideal language, I was thinking of easier translations,
>> like say to freepascal or python, as they are most "basic like" in looks.
>> Strings as you say can be tough, but that's why pascal or even python is
>> good,
>> strings are just strings.
>> basic was great for string manipulation because you could do literally
>> anything.
>>
>> I was kind of hoping someone might have a copy of the HP/compaq product
>> listed above
>> I certainly don't want to buy it (though its discontinued so I can't)
>> just to translate a dozen programs
>> that I wrote myself back in the 80's.
>>
>> Update: it looks like I might be able to do it myself using this
>> reference document:
>>
>> http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/dec/vax/lang/basic/AA-HY15B-TE_VAX_BASIC_User_Manual_Feb90.pdf
>>
>> Dan.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2015 12:29:01 -0600
>> Subject: Re: [Simh] off-topic basic translator
>> From: khandy21yo at gmail.com
>> To: dgahling at hotmail.com
>> CC: simh at trailing-edge.com
>>
>>
>> I don't think DEC ever did a translator, only compilers.
>>
>> There used to be a company that sold one, but is definately wasn't free.
>> Cannot remember their name.
>>
>> I wrote a heafty part of a VaxBasic to C++ translater, but never handled
>> MAP's or their like very well. It is useful to do a preliminary conversion,
>> but then needs a lot of editing for most programs. Things like programd
>> from "101 Basic Computer Games" mostly work without any problems. Nut it's
>> been a while since I did anything with it.
>>
>> Problems with the yranslations are mostly vaused by the way Basic handles
>> variables, especially strings. C++ hastwo types of string (char* and
>> std::string), but Basic has several different types mixed together. MAPs
>> want a fixed length fixed position string which may overlap other strings.
>> Normal nasic strings are variable length and variable position. FIELD
>> statements can change a string from one type to another. It gets quite
>> complicated without writing the DEC string library, which is quite complex.
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 9:52 AM, Dan Gahlinger <dgahling at hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Does anyone have or know where I can get a copy of the Vax Basic
>> translator?
>> Especially for VMS or windows or something?
>>
>> I'd like to convert my old Vax Basic programs to something usable on
>> modern systems,
>> but while Vax Basic is simple enough there are a few things I have
>> trouble with,
>> such as MAP statements, records, etc.
>>
>> I've tried looking on the HP/etc sites and it seems it's been
>> discontinued,
>>
>> does anyone have a copy I can use, or know where I can get one?
>>
>> I don't want to pay for a product, as this is just hobbyist use for
>> personal programs I wrote
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> Dan.
>>
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