>>Pretty much. Consider that with something like FoxBASE, or BASICA, you needed that program to both edit and execute. Granted FoxBASE+ did have a separate pcode compiler that could be used in conjunction with a run-time library, but for the most part (to my knowledge) folks used the full-blown FoxBASE application.
>
>You could write ASCII BASICA code, providing it was compiled and linked to test. Didn't BASICA EDITOR autmatically "encrypt" ascii code when it was loaded into the editor/interpretor?
>
>err.. where did i put that 8088 DOS 2.0 system?

Hey Terry,

< g > And where's my OSS Macro Assembler?:-)

Funny that you should be this but I just happen to have a IBM BASIC manual (from Microsoft) handy. Here's the description:

"Format: SAVE filespec [,A]
        SAVE filespec [,P]
...The A option saves the program is ASCII format. Otherwise, BASIC saves the
file in a compressed binary (tokenized) format. ASCII files take up more space,...

The P option saves the program in an encoded binary format. This is the
protection option..."

There was a DOS BASIC from MS (late 80's) that could produce stand-alone executables. It proceeded QuickBASIC (which could do likewise). I think it was called Microsoft Profession BASIC (or some such) and the version numbers went up to 7.0.