Blitz Variable Crash

Hi,

I still use the old Blitz Basic 2D.

I have a minor issue with a variable which I would like someone to explain why it is happening.

Take this...
a=1
a=a+1
print a
the answer is 2

fine - some of the time, yet in some parts of my programme, a+a=11

thus in a loop:
a=1
For n=1 to 100
a=a+1
print a
next

the screen thus becomes...
1
11
111
1111
11111
and so on.

Likewise a=1:b=3:print a+b the answer becomes 13
print b+a the answer becomes 31

I can see what it is doing, but why is it doing it?

Thus, I have had to resort to labels like APPLES=1
BANANAS=2
print Apples+bananas answer is 3

It's not an issue, just an annoying occurance of the editor.

Many thanks

It's because you've defined a and b as strings, not as integers. In B2d, whatever you use the variable as originally is the type it will always be, for as long as the variable's scope lasts.

You've probably got a reference to a$ or b$ somewhere in your code, forgotten about it, and then tried to reuse the same variables as ints. It need not be both of the variables, because if one is a string, Blitz has to convert the other to a string in order to get the result.

Hi,

Many thanks for that.

Hmmmm ... now that I think about it, I may have read some data off as a$.

I'll check my code - writing a super cool new game :)

All the best dude