[net.micro.pc] WAIT Command for PC-DOS and BASIC

nevius@fluke.UUCP (this space for rent) (10/02/84)

It should be so simple. . .

I need some way to create the equivalent of the WAIT nnn, or PAUSE nnn,
statements that are found in many BASIC's (where nnn is some number of
milliseconds).  But I can't seem to find any satisfactory way with MS-DOS and
the standard issue Microsoft BASIC.  The alternative of using a FOR/NEXT is
not particulary attractive because of the ammount of time I would like to wait
(~300-500 msec) and the fact I want to compile the BASIC program.  I would
really like some code that works well both in Interpreted and Compiled BASIC
and if I make a FOR/NEXT loop long enough for the Compiled version, I'll be
old and gray before the Interpreted version hacks its way through.

I am aware of a WAIT command in the language, but it test I/O lines for bits
being set.  In theory I should be able to get to some sort of clock and count
the tics. But, I have searched in vain through big blue's hardware manual with
no luck.

Help!!!

Thanks,

John Nevius

decvax!uw-beaver!fluke!nevius

seaburg@uiucdcs.UUCP (10/06/84)

Why not continue reading the time until the difference from the start
time is what you want?  That's GOT to be easy.

gunsch@uiucdcs.UUCP (10/06/84)

If you are using basica there is a play statement which has
a pause option.  I have never tried it (I never use basic)
but, as advertised, this should work for short pauses and
be independent of the code's execution speed.