"ELSE PRINT" command

[Shadow]

I'm making a basic DOS RPG, meaning I need to make LOTS of LOOPS. There are so maney of them I can't use the
IF a$ = "<whatever he/she says>" THEN EXIT DO
so I use
IF a$ = "<whatever he/she says>" THEN GOTO p1
But I can't get the ELSE command to work right
Here's what I'm working on (no this is just an example of it):

DO
CLS
PRINT "Hi"
INPUT "", a$
IF a$ = "Hello" THEN GOTO p1
IF a$ = "hello" THEN GOTO p1 ELSE PRINT "You refues to becuse...."
LOOP
p1: PRINT "done"
END
-----
Also tried
-----
DO
CLS
PRINT "Hi"
INPUT "", a$
IF a$ = "Hello" OR a$ = "hello" THEN GOTO p1 ELSE PRINT "You refues to becuse...."
LOOP
p1: PRINT "done"
END
-----
Any Ideas? Thanks! Also, can I use Wildcards (*)? Like
IF a$ = "*hello*" THEN PRINT "...."

[Programmer]

i dont know because it works with qb 4.5

[Elias not at home]

As an experienced Qb user i can make some recomendations for you:

1.- if you are making an RPG in qbasic try to incorporate EMS memory from the begining, because DOS memory is like gold.

2.-Make the text handling routines before the history routines, this way you will have all the time to make the history of the game as you wish.

3.-Try not to use any Gosubs (some times they are very needed, use them only in those cases), try to make SUBS instead.

4.-learn about multiple module programming in QB. this way you can compile bigger programs.

5.-If you need to dim an array dont DIM SHARE it, it makes a bigger EXE and causes the OUT OF MEMORY error when compiling, try to DIM the array in the same SUB were it will be used.

6.-Make a special sub for error handling, because RESUME NEXT its a memory eater when compiling.

7.-Make graphics before starting the programming. this way you will be focused on the programming and you will not be distracted by anything else.

8.- oh, by the way... i suggest not to use Print command, LOL. the font is ugly. try to DRAW or get font to EMS for a better looking font.



Wildcards when looking for certain text in a text string are not needed if you ise INSTR, here's how you use it:

TEXT$ = "This is a line of text."
IF INSTR(TEXT$, "line") > 0 then WORDFOUND


INSTR returns the position were the text is located in the text string, if a zero value is returned the text is not on the string.

i hope this tips help.