Projects > MasmBasic & the RichMasm IDE
MasmBasic
jj2007:
BASIC is the Best Approach to Simple and Intelligent Coding. MasmBasic is a library that allows to use BASIC syntax in assembler, i.e. it is not a "separate" language but rather a library of macros and routines, fully compatible with the latest Masm32 SDK (version 11), MASM (version 6.15 or higher) and UAsm, and thoroughly tested on Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10.
While MasmBasic is pretty stable (and pretty fast - typically twice as fast as C), it is still Assembler, therefore the usual disclaimers apply - do not use for military purposes, in hospitals and anywhere else where buggy applications could cause damage. You have been warned :cool:
To install the library, double-click SetupMasmBasic.exe in the attached archive (see step-by-step instructions).
Note that some AntiVirus programmes don't like it - see Latest batch of unsound AV scanners for reasons.
For an overview of the over 500 powerful available functions, see \Masm32\MasmBasic\MbGuide.rtf (after extracting the archive, of course) or see the (incomplete) MasmBasic Quick Reference online. See also A guide to the RichMasm editor.
3 March 2023: Updated archive attached below, now with Json$(), RichMasm support for the Masm64 SDK, SetWatch, StackWalk, StringBuild, FastMath, Say "Hello World", ArrayIndex(array, match), _Local x$="Hello World", better UTF-8 support, MemState for finding leaks, MapView control, Math symbols in RichMasm, PrintRtf, dual 32/64-bit examples in File/New Masm source menu, and a 64-bit version of the deb macro. Older changes: For_ each x$ in My$(), improved Switch_; GetFiles returns UTF8 now; WebCam, GetProcessArray(), new GSL lib, Choose, fast MemSet, Instr_() and Sinus() added, GuiTextBox improved. Data and Read , float counters are valid in For_ ... Next, and xmm regs are preserved for all MasmBasic commands. Note that simple Windows API calls can trash them on 64-bit versions of Windows.
Latest additions: GuiXX functions, Split$, Join$, Filter$, commandline to Files$(), GfCallback, true Unicode, also in file I/O; UnzipFile, ArraySet, SetReg64 for 64-bit registry settings, ArrayMerge, Age(), GetRegArrays, unsigned LONGLONG in Str$(), ShEx, xls interface, ArraySet, ArrayPlot, AddWin$, WritePipe, Plugins, IsFolder(), wOpen, FileOpen$/FileSave$, also as Unicode versions, Extract$, Dialogs, COM support (CoInvoke, GuidsEqual(), IUnknown, VARIANT, ...), improved ANSI and Unicode commandline macros CL$()/wCL$(), improved xHelp, Launch$(), Try/Catch/Finally, ...
Installation hints for Windows 8 ... 10 (on Win7 & XP it's simpler):
- click on SetupMasmBasicDayMonthYear.zip below
- depending on your browser and zip application, choose open in xyZip or Save as...
- if it doesn't open in 7-zip or WinZip or whatever, locate the zip file and open it
- once you see SetupMasmBasic.exe, open it (double-click or select and Enter)
- you should see an extraction dialog, and shortly after a box "Windows Protected Your PC - Windows SmartScreen prevented..."
- do NOT click OK; instead, click on the tiny green link "More info"
- you will see Program SetupMasmBasic.exe and "unknown publisher"; click "Run Anyway"
- the screen will darken, and you see a box "Do you want to allow .. changes to your computer?"
- click Yes
- you should see now a big box "MasmBasic - a fast library..." with a EULA; read it, then click "Accept & Install"
** if anything goes wrong, have a look at our AV Software sh*t list subforum, then disable your antivirus for the \Masm32 folder and try again; if that doesn't help, reply to this thread **
jj2007:
In the RichMasm editor, click on File/New Masm source to see a green box with code templates.
Two of them called Gdi+ and maps (in the middle to the right) require a map of Europe. Extract the two files in the attachment to \Masm32\MasmBasic\Res\europe.* to make these templates work.
jj2007:
This snippet (a full-fledged Windows console application :biggrin:) produces the following output:
Введите строку, которую вы хотите найти в папке \Masm32\Include: bitmap
#1 \Masm32\Examples\advanced\wrep\result.asm
#2 LOCAL tbab :TBADDBITMAP
#3 \Masm32\Examples\advanced\wrep\richedit.asm
#4 LOCAL tbab :TBADDBITMAP
#5 \Masm32\Examples\Bill_Cravener\calender\calendar.asm
...
#96 \Masm32\Examples\exampl02\appack\toolbar.asm
#97 LOCAL tbab :TBADDBITMAP
#98 ; The toolbar bitmap
#99 ; You must supply a bitmap for the toolbar that ha
#100 \Masm32\Examples\exampl02\appack\rsrc.rc
ok
As the example shows,
1. MasmBasic is not BASIC: No BASIC dialect understands mov ebx, 400
2. MasmBasic is assembly, i.e. it will flawlessly assemble with Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM, version 6.15 upwards) or, better, with Jwasm
Here is a more complex application. It opens Windows.inc, converts all hexadecimal equates into decimal ones, and writes it back to disk:
--- Code: ---include \masm32\MasmBasic\MasmBasic.inc
Init
call Convert
Exit
Convert proc
LOCAL pos, posAfter, MyTimer, MyCounter
and MyCounter, 0
mov MyTimer, Timer
Recall "\Masm32\include\Windows.inc", L$() ; load an array of strings from file
mov ebx, eax
For_ n=0 To ebx-1
mov pos, Instr_(1, L$(n), "equ", 5) ; start in pos 1, 1=case-insensitive + 4=full word
.if pos
mov esi, Val(Mid$(L$(n), pos+3, 99)) ; get the numeric value of the string behind equ
.if signed edx<0 ; edx returns the number of usable chars; a
neg edx ; negative number indicates a hex$ or bin$ was found
add edx, pos
add edx, 3
mov posAfter, edx
inc MyCounter
Let L$(n)=Left$(L$(n), pos-1)+"EQU "+Str$(esi)+Mid$(L$(n), posAfter)
.endif
.endif
Next
Store "MyWindows.inc", L$() ; write all strings back to file
sub MyTimer, Timer
Print Str$("\nConverting %i hex equates in Windows.inc to decimals", MyCounter), Str$(" took %i ms\n", 0-MyTimer)
ret
Convert endp
end start
--- End code ---
Output:
Converting 7676 hex equates in Windows.inc to decimals took 31 ms
MasmBasic comes with RichMasm. The editor is configured to give context-sensitive help with the F1 key, and to expand many instructions. For example,
opo [space] will expand to Open "O", #1,
mb becomes MsgBox 0, "¨", "Hi", MB_OK
for_ becomes For_ n=0 To ebx-1 ... Next
ism becomes invoke SendMessage,
etc.; more in \masm32\MasmBasic\MbGuide.rtf (in RichMasm: File/MasmBasic Guide)
Last but not least an ultra-short Win32 application ;)
--- Code: ---include \masm32\MasmBasic\MasmBasic.inc
Init
Credits
Exit
end start
--- End code ---
Let me know who is missing :biggrin:
I wrote this library for my own use and pleasure, but since many forum members contributed to it, through good advice and even better algos, I think it is just fair to release it here. Thanks to everybody :icon14:
For the xHelp project, I had to add a few functions - sorry if you tried to assemble xHelp.asc with the June version. Among others, these features have been included:
Launch$
Init
; the line below launches Arc.exe with option v and returns what SdtOut produces:
Let esi=Launch$(ExpandEnv$(Chr$(34, "%ProgramFiles%\FreeArc\bin\Arc.exe", 34, " v Lib32.arc"))) ; see FreeArc
StringToArray esi, FreeArc$() ; translate linear output to an array
For_ ebx=0 To eax-1
PrintLine Str$(ebx), Tb$, FreeArc$(ebx)
Next
Rem args as in Launch above; returns string in eax
Output:
0 FreeArc 0.666 listing archive: Lib32.arc
1 Listing archive: Lib32.arc
2 Date/time Attr Size Packed CRC Filename
3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
4 2000-06-02 16:24:14 ....... 1364 10002 c2249beb Masm32\m32lib\a2dw.asm
5 2004-05-21 07:38:48 ....... 3399 0 50c16759 Masm32\m32lib\a2dw_ex.asm
...
41 2003-12-06 08:43:10 ....... 4843 1097 b83a653e Masm32\m32lib\ascdump.asm
42 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
43 38 files, 77,396 bytes, 11,099 compressed
ExeFromWin$
Let esi="Recent Unread Topics"
Print esi, " was launched by ", ExeFromWin$(WinByTitle(esi)) ; by firefox.exe, of course ;-)
Rem returns full path of executable that created a window
SetGlobals ; declares global variables relative to ebx, syntax as in LOCAL
.data?
whatever dd ?
SetGlobals hMain, hStatic, hEdit
SetGlobals hMenu, hM1, hM2, rc:RECT
SetGlobals msg:MSG, wc:WNDCLASSEX, exeBuffer[MAX_PATH]:BYTE, gBuffer[1024]:BYTE
.code
; no args: set ebx to the right offset; must be used in Init part and all callbacks (WndProc, SubEdit, ...)
SetGlobals
Rem variables return [ebx+x]
Enum ; create a list of IDs
Enum IdMenuNew, IdMenuSave, IdMenuCopy, IdTimer
Enum 20:IdEdit, IdButton1, 30:IdButton2, IdStatic, IdFind, IdFindStatic
Rem - variables return [ebx+x]
- default start is 10, but different start values can be specified
japheth:
There's no license info in the package. Hence MB is freeware only. You should make this fact - and perhaps also what parts of MB are redistributable - clear by some text ( "EULA", license.txt, copyright notice, ... ).
jj2007:
--- Quote from: japheth on September 11, 2012, 04:43:52 PM ---
There's no license info in the package. Hence MB is freeware only. You should make this fact - and perhaps also what parts of MB are redistributable - clear by some text ( "EULA", license.txt, copyright notice, ... ).
--- End quote ---
Valid point, thanks. I though it was covered by point 0 and lines 41ff of \Masm32\RichMasm\ReadMeMasmBasic.txt but maybe it's not explicit enough.
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