SDLIDE_for_BB4W updated

[Richard Russell]

I've updated SDLIDE_for_BB4W to the latest versions of SDLIDE (1.41b) and BB4W (6.16a).

For anybody who doesn't already know, SDLIDE_for_BB4W is a hybrid of the BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 IDE and the BBC BASIC for Windows runtime engine. It allows you to develop, debug and run BB4W programs but using the BBCSDL IDE, meaning that you do not need to be familiar with two different IDEs in order to program in both versions of BBC BASIC.

It also provides some of the benefits that the BBCSDL IDE offers over the BB4W IDE, such as running programs in a separate process so they cannot crash the IDE, an alphabetically-sorted list of functions and procedures, breakpoints etc.

SDLIDE_for_BB4W is completely free and imposes no memory limits, but in order to be able to 'compile' your programs to standalone Windows executables you do need to have the full version of BBC BASIC for Windows also installed.

[Leo]

I've upgraded SDLIDE_for_BB4W to the new version (SDL 1.41b) but it doesn't run for me.
I can load a source file but when I click anywhere on the code window I get an error box that says..
Line 0
Internal error 51
OK (button)

...on clicking Ok, the IDE terminates.

I've verified that the old version (1.39a) works fine and I've reverted to that for now.
Is this likely to be a problem with my setup?

[Richard Russell]

Internal error 51

Error 51 is 'No such system call' which suggests that a DLL which it is expecting to be loaded isn't for some reason.

What version of Windows are you running? I've only tested it here on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

I assume you've done all the usual things such as restarting Windows, downloading a fresh copy of SDLIDE_for_BB4W.exe in case your download was corrupted etc.

If no cause becomes apparent I may have to make you a debug build (for example with line numbers) so that more diagnostic information can be acquired.

[RNBW]

Richard

I'm having a problem with it and not having a problem with it.

If I run the program from the Downloads folder it works fine.

If I move it to the C: folder or the c:\ProgramFiles(x86) folder it comes up with a message that it can't find SDLIDE.bmp.

I don't know why there is the problem because it is a single file and doesn't appear to have any obvious dependencies.

I've never had the problem before. I'm using Windows 11 Home.

I've also tried it on my Macbook Air 3, where I am running Windows 11 Professional under Parallels. It won't run at all from the Downloads folder (it comes up with a "Number too big" error. In the C:\ or C:\Programs(x86) folder it again says it can't find SDLIDE.bmp. Of course this computer is ARM based and that could have something to do with it, although BB4W works perfectly well.

[Richard Russell]

If I move it to the C: folder or the c:\ProgramFiles(x86) folder it comes up with a message that it can't find SDLIDE.bmp.

That's likely to be the old issue that if installing it in a protected (not normally writable) location, which both those are, you must run it once as administrator. This is true of all 'compiled' BB4W or BBCSDL programs that have resources, and always has been.

So navigate to SDLIDE_for_BB4W.exe in whichever directory you want to keep it, right-click on it and select 'Run as administrator' from the menu. Having done that once, it should not require doing it again.

Installers do this automatically, but with a 'compiled' BB4W or BBCSDL program you must do it manually (or simply install it somewhere 'unprotected', here it's in C:\utils\).

I've never had the problem before.

You've been lucky then, it's always been the case (20 years plus).

I've also tried it on my Macbook Air 3, where I am running Windows 11 Professional under Parallels. It won't run at all from the Downloads folder (it comes up with a "Number too big" error.

Compatibility with Parallels is a very low priority for me! If it's something you're particularly concerned about, debug it yourself and let me know what I have to change.

[Leo]

Hi Richard,
Some notes about my failure...

1. If I don't load a source file or type something I can click all I want in the edit window - no failure.
If I type anything at all in the edit window any mouse click will cause failure (Error 51)
2. When I start up with an empty source window I can play around with menu items as I wish - no failure.
3. If I load a source file via the menu, I can run it successfully via the menu.
3. The failure seems to require either a source file loaded OR typing something in the source window.
When there's source in the main window any click in the source window causes the failure.
4. I've downloaded SDLIDE_for_BB4W 3 times and compared them all. Content is identical.
5. I'm running Windows 10 version 22H2 (OS build19045.5608)

[Richard Russell]

Some notes about my failure...

Thank you for the additional detail. I will investigate.

[Richard Russell]

Some notes about my failure...

OK, I found the problem (I think). It all stems from my recently-renewed Code Signing Certificate now being in the form of a hardware dongle, which I therefore cannot install in multiple PCs. This forced me to build SDLIDE_for_BB4W.exe on a different machine from the one I previously used, and it has the wrong version of a library!

And the reason it isn't affecting everybody is that the library concerned is SCRIPT.BBC which is only used in Unicode mode.

[Richard Russell]

OK, I found the problem (I think).

I have replaced the file at Groups.io, with hopefully the correct SCRIPT.BBC library included this time.

It has of necessity been built on the same PC, as it's now the only one with the Code Signing Certificate dongle. That does unfortunately mean that my confidence in it is less than it might be (it's not easy, or quick, to compare all the BB4W libraries on one PC with those on another).

I suppose having a more 'secure' Code Signing Certificate is a necessity in these trying times but, as seems so often to be the case with security measures, convenience has suffered as a result.

[RNBW]

Richard
I've downloaded your updated file and I'm pleased to say it works without a problem on my Asus Zenbook.

I did the same on my Macbook Air M3 (Arm) running on Parallels and I think we can safely say it doesn't work under Parallels. However, BB4W does run successfully under Parallels, using its own IDE.