>>>>
>>>>The point here is that it must be compiled each time it is run.
>>>
>>>Hey George,
>>>
>>>I know you said you are done, so don't shoot me! :)
>>
>>Aw, shucks!:-)
>>
>>>I don't think that is a true statement about all interpreters. I have had the privilege (and I use that term quite loosely <g>) to work with business basic over the years (specifically, bbx3, bbx4, pro5, and years ago, Basic2C). BBx programs are stored in what is considered to be a compiled format (I dunno if it is considered to be p-code). As a matter of fact, when you list a program inside of the environment, according to the docs, the lister (as they call it) converts the code back into a human readable format. Also, when you type a line of code into the language, it compiles the line into memory immediately.
>>>
>>>Just about anyone I know would consider bbx (business basic) to be an interpreter.
>>>
>>>And I'm *not* making the argument that VFP is interpreted. I would agree with something you had said previously in the thread...VFP falls somewhere in between.
>>
>>As I said before, Steve, it's a matter of how one defines such things. I have my definitions, others can have theirs. There's validity in what I said, and the same can be said for the others. I don't have any problem with that. When I read the original post from Craig, I applied my definition. That's all there is to it.
>>
>
>So, you are saying that by your definition, business basic is not an interpreter (assuming I gave you the correct facts <g>).

Yes. FWIW, let me refine things a bit for clarity sake. Here are the steps involved with a interpreter and a native compiler.

Interpreter

1. Source code goes through the lexical scanner to produce a symbol table and token file.
2. The symbol table and token file then goes through syntax analysis. If the analysis reveals any errors, an error message result and the process stops. If no errors are found, p-code is produced.
3. The p-code then under goes semantic analysis and if any errors result the process stops.
4. If no errors result, the p-code is the interpreted and executed.

Native Compiler

1. Source code goes through the lexical scanner to produce a symbol table and token file.
2. The symbol table and token file then goes through syntax analysis. If the analysis reveals any errors, an error message result and the process stops. If no errors are found, p-code is produced.
3. The p-code then under goes semantic analysis and if any errors result the process stops.
4. The p-code then goes to the emitter where machine code is generated.

You'll note that the only difference here is step 4. If I understand your description correctly, steps 1-3 under Interpreter have already take place. This is what BASICA (and some other versions of BASIC) did.

Now before I get jumped for the phrase "...the p-code is the interpreted and executed", I'll pose the question, "Is VFP a p-code interpreter?" The answer is, yes. That does not mean, however, that it is an "interpreter" since steps 1-3 are not executed at runtime.

>>
>>>BTW, I forgot to tell you my sound card hunt came up empty handed. I hope you have those issues resolved.
>>
>>Thanks for asking. Yes, I did (but not as easily or cheaply as I would've liked). Last Saturday, I purchased both a ISA sound card and modem. The sound card went in just fine. When I installed (physically) the modem, no problem. When I tried to load the modem's drivers...problem. The CD was bad, which meant that I had to have the modem returned to the store (25 miles away) and exchanged.
>>
>
>What a beating!
>
>> There have been a lot of storms around here and, apparently, there have been a number of modems "bite the dust", so the pickings were pretty slim. Total cost for both items was around $100 or about twice what I expected. And I still can't get the modem to use the sound card!:-( I expect I'll figure that problem out in time.
>>
>
>Are you doing voice stuff over the modem? Or are you just trying to use the sound card because your modem doesn't have a speaker?

Not yet, but I'd like to. The modem (I think) is currently utilizing the PC speaker and it's hard to hear (yes, I've adjusted its volume control) and therefore hard to tell if its dialing, etc. It's an Actiontec 56K ISA Master Modem. You can see the description at http://www.circuitcity.com. It says in the description that it supports Internet Phone and Voice Mail, so I would assume that it would have to utilize the sound card. I probably just haven't spent enough time setting it up properly. (Maybe if I RTFM, it might help< g >)