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- E! for Windows - Technical Note #018
- ****************************************
- Using the Visual Basic Function Scanner
- ****************************************
-
- There are a few extra steps that you should follow when using the new
- function scanner for Visual Basic.
-
- Installing the scanner is very easy: you just have to copy VBP.SCN to your
- \EW directory. E! will automatically recognize this new scanner.
-
- To benefit from the Function Tagging feature, you have to setup a project
- file containing the list of all the source files involved in your
- project. Use the "Commands" dialog box as described in the documentation
- to setup a command set for .FRM and .BAS files. See below for a
- description of the necessary steps if you are not familiar with this
- feature.
-
- Please read the "Compiler Support" and "Function Tagging" sections in
- EW.WRI anyway.
-
- The default extensions supported by VBP.SCN are .FRM and .BAS. If you want
- additional extensions to be supported, please see the relevant paragraph
- in the "Function Tagging" section of EW.WRI.
-
- BEWARE: E! will not activate the "Scan Project Files" menu unless at
- least one compilation command has been defined. This is a problem with
- Visual Basic because you can obviously not launch compilations from the
- command line. However, you can enter any dummy command in the "Compile
- Command" field. Since you'll never launch it, this will do no harm.
-
- Here are the steps to activate Function Tagging for your VB project:
-
- 1. Create the E! Project File. Usually it will be named EW.PRJ and will
- be stored in your project directory.
-
- 2. Open the "Commands" dialog box from the Compile menu. If the Count
- variable is not set to 0, click on the "Delete" button until all items
- have been removed.
-
- 3. Enter bas;frm in the "File Extensions" field. You can add other
- extensions if you wish.
-
- 4. Enter "foo" in the "Compile Command" field.
-
- 5. Enter the path to your project directory in the "Work Directory"
- field.
-
- 6. Enter "EW.PRJ" in the "Project File" field. Use a full pathname if
- EW.PRJ is not stored in your work directory.
-
- 7. Enter "VB" (or any other 8 character name) in the "Set Name" field.
- Don't forget this. Otherwise you will overwrite the current command set if
- any.
-
- 8. Click Add and then Save. Close the dialog box.
-
- From now, when you will be editing .BAS or .FRM file, the "Scan Project
- Files" menu should be enabled. Select this command to Scan your project
- files. After scanning, double-clicking with the right mouse button on a
- Function or Sub name while the Ctrl key is depressed will trigger a jump
- to the location where that function or procedure has been defined.
-
- You can also use the "Scan" and the "Jump to Definition" buttons if you
- have added them to your toolbar.
-
- If your source files change, E! will warn you when trying to jump to a
- definition that is no longer valid. It is recommended to rescan the
- project at this time.
-
-
- Patrick Philippot, MainSoft sarl, 02-28-95
-