Short alternative to 'declare function'

[Charles Pegge]

I propose the use of '!' as a short alternative to 'declare'

thus:

declare fun(sys a,b,c,d) as sys

! fun(sys a,b,c,d) as sys


This would work for both subs and functions.

It is consistent with the use of '%' and '$' for equates.

Charles

[Peter]

Why not ?

[kryton9]

Code: OxygenBasic

1. declare function AbortDoc lib "gdi32.dll" alias "AbortDoc" (byVal hdc as long) as long
2. ! AbortDoc lib "gdi32.dll" alias "AbortDoc" (byVal hdc as long) as long

So line 2 would be the same line 1?

[Peter]

Hi Kent,

! AbortDoc lib "gdi32.dll"  (sys hdc) as sys 

[kryton9]

That's nice it is quite a bit shorter and easier to read!

[Charles Pegge]

An example of how much contraction is now possible:

(This example requires the Alias)

Declare Function CreateFont        Lib "gdi32.dll" Alias "CreateFontA" (ByVal H As Long, ByVal W As Long, ByVal E As Long, ByVal O As Long, ByVal W As Long, ByVal I As Long, ByVal u As Long, ByVal S As Long, ByVal C As Long, ByVal OP As Long, ByVal CP As Long, ByVal Q As Long, ByVal PAF As Long, ByVal F As String) As sys

--->

! CreateFont Lib "gdi32.dll" Alias "CreateFontA" (long  H,W,E,O,W,I,U,S,C,OP,CP,Q,PAF,string F) As sys

And you can also remove the lib descriptor by placing all the declares for one library in a block

extern lib "gdi32.dll"
! CreateFont  Alias "CreateFontA" (long  H,W,E,O,W,I,U,S,C,OP,CP,Q,PAF,string F) As sys
...
end extern

Charles

[kryton9]

This is fantastic stuff.