how do u install the IDE

[Experientia_docet]

I downloaded the files and extracted them , I thought there would be an installer of something simple to get the ZBasic IDE running.
I have two folders Scintilla and SciTE and theree ate batch files in them.

I havent a clue how to install the IDE

[kranenborg]

As I have experienced the installation procedure (as a newcomer eagerly awaiting the arrival of the USB to RS232 converter in order to start the exploration) there is nothing fancy that needs to be done: it works just by downloading the zbasic-setup_2-8-0.exe installer file (see the "Downloads" section for the ZBasic IDE v2.8.0) and then executing it. It installs the IDE and the corresponding documentation as well as shortcuts to the IDE. In case you did not get the shortcuts you can run the IDE directly also (I think) from the ZBasicIDE.exe file in the C:\Program Files\ZBasic\IDE directory (and create shortcuts from there). From within the IDE you can then configure your setup (in particular the "Serial Port Options" and the "Device Options" in the main Options menu need to be tailored to your configuration). There is also an uninstaller file so you could try to do the installation again.

For IDE configuration and program compilation for my first project I found the following link very useful: http://www.zbasic.net/forum/about946.html in which Don has described what to do to set up a project for running "Hello World". After you have compiled it successfully I would recommend to experiment a bit with the IDE (because there are several checkboxes) with things like including other basic files in an existing project for example (which is done from within the IDE via Projects -> Properties)

I would strongly advise to study in detail all of the Application Notes as well as the other Forum contribs since I feel that the ZBasic platform requires a certain "maturity" to be able to applied properly. I am very pleasantly surpised by the power of the library functions but have reserved a lot of time to digest it all since this is a true multitasking environment in which you have to manage your resources like memory and timers well (which is much simper in smaller single-task implementations)

Hope this helps,
/Jurjen

[Experientia_docet]

Thankyou.