B4X Help Tools

B4X Booklets
B4X Help tools
Copyright: © 2020 Anywhere Software Edition 1.8
Last update : 2020.05.15

Table of contents 2 B4X Help tools
1 B4X ..............................................................................................................................................4
2 Help tools .....................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Erel is Teaching Programming.............................................................................................5
2.2 Search function in the forum................................................................................................5
2.3 Ask a question in the forum .................................................................................................8
2.3.1 Before asking a question in the forum .............................................................................8
2.3.2 How to ask a question in the forum .................................................................................8
2.4 B4X Help Viewer...............................................................................................................13
2.5 Help documentation - B4A Object Browser......................................................................18
2.6 B4X Booklets on line.........................................................................................................19
2.6.1 From the IDE .................................................................................................................19
2.6.2 From an Internet browser...............................................................................................20
2.7 Useful links ........................................................................................................................21
2.7.1 B4A ................................................................................................................................21
2.7.2 B4i..................................................................................................................................22
2.7.3 B4J .................................................................................................................................23
2.7.4 B4R ................................................................................................................................24
2.8 Books .................................................................................................................................25

Table of contents 3 B4X Help tools
Main contributors: Klaus Christl (klaus), Erel Uziel (Erel)
To search for a given word or sentence use the Search function in the Edit menu.
All the source code and files needed (layouts, images etc.) of the example projects in this booklet
are included in the SourceCode folder.
For each program there are three folders.
SourceCode
MyFirstProgram
B4A
MyFirstProgram.b4a
B4i
MyFirstProgram.b4i
B4J
MyFirstProgram.b4j
Both programs MyFirstProgram and SecondProgram are almost the same for B4A, B4i and B4J.
Updated for following versions:
B4A version 9.80
B4i version 6.50
B4J version 8.10
B4R version 3.31
B4X Booklets:
B4X Getting Started
B4X Basic Language
B4X IDE Integrated Development Environment
B4X Visual Designer
B4X Help tools
B4X CustomViews
B4X Graphics
B4X XUI B4X User Interface
B4X SQLite Database
B4X JavaObject NativeObject
B4R ExamplePrograms
You can consult these booklets online in this link [B4X] Documentation Booklets.
Be aware that external links don’t work in the online display.

1 B4X 4 B4X Help tools
1 B4X
B4X is a suite of BASIC programming languages for different platforms.
B4X suite supports more platforms than any other tool
ANDROID | IOS | WINDOWS | MAC | LINUX | ARDUINO | RASPBERRY PI | ESP8266 | AND
MORE...
• B4A Android
B4A is a 100% free development tool for Android applications, it includes all the features
needed to quickly develop any type of Android app.
• B4i iOS
B4i is a development tool for native iOS applications.
B4i follows the same concepts as B4A, allowing you to reuse most of the code and build
apps for both Android and iOS.
• B4J Java / Windows / Mac / Linux / Raspberry PI
B4J is a 100% free development tool for desktop, server and IoT solutions.
With B4J you can easily create desktop applications (UI), console programs (non-UI) and
server solutions.
The compiled apps can run on Windows, Mac, Linux and ARM boards (such as Raspberry
Pi).
• B4R Arduino / ESP8266
B4R is a 100% free development tool for native Arduino and ESP8266 programs.
B4R follows the same concepts of the other B4X tools, providing a simple and powerful
development tool.
B4R, B4A, B4J and B4i together make the best development solution for the Internet of
Things (IoT).

2 Help Tools 5 B4X Help tools
2 Help tools
To find answers to many questions about B4X the following tools are very useful.
2.1 Erel is Teaching Programming
Erel has made video tutorials for different subjects
These tutorials can be found in the forum at this link: https://www.b4x.com/etp.html
2.2 Search function in the forum
In the upper left corner you find the
searchbox for the forum. Depending on
the window size it can be on the top right
side.
Enter a question or any keywords and press 'Return'.
The function shows you the posts that match your request.
Example: Enter the keyword ScrollView.
A list of the result is displayed below the menu.
Click on an item to show the thread.

And the result:
Click on the title to show the selected post.

On the left you have a list of forums which you can filter by products.
Example with B4i:

2.3 Ask a question in the forum 8 B4X Help tools
2.3 Ask a question in the forum
If you have looked for an answer to your problem with the search function in the forum and didn’t
find a solution, you can ask a question in the forum.
Below you find a list with several points to take into account when you ask a question.
This is the best way to get rapidly a concrete solution.
The list is a summary of this thread in the forum:
For new(er) members: How to post a question / issue.
The numbering is a bit different from the post in the forum.
2.3.1 Before asking a question in the forum
Assume you're not the first person having that question)
1. Have you already looked in the forum for a solution?
2. Have you installed B4x as described?
3. Have you read relevant tutorials and / or the documentation?
[B4X] Erel Teaches Programming - video tutorials.
B4X Booklets.
2.3.2 How to ask a question in the forum
1. Always start a new thread for your question.
2. Give the title a meaningful sentence.
3. Describe what the problem is (full sentences, not 3 words, not "my car doesn't work - guess
what it is")

4. Please post the code within CODE TAGS and the error message from the Logs as TEXT.
Give the helpers a starting point , a code sample, a stripped out project that we can look at,
analyse and POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION…
Helpers may even provide a fully working solution based on YOUR WORK IN
PROGRESS!
To add code samples use the function :
Either directly in the ToolBox
or in the Insert function
This window is shown, you can copy code from the IDE directly in it.
Add some code, the result is below.

And the result.
You can also add another title than B4X and highlight lines.
And the result.

You can also select another language:
When you post a project, attach it as a zip file.
Generate it from the IDE:
And upload the file .
5. Don't post images of screen captures of Logs or error messages.
Post them as text (see point 3)!
Post only images illustrating the problem.
How to copy Logs, in the Logs Tab, right
click on the corresponding line:
You get a submenu with three options.

6. Assume that there are many experienced users having huge and complex apps.
B4x is working 100%. So if you have an issue it's mostly a programming mistake.
Don't start complex projects without any experience.
7. Many users in the forum love to help, but you need to help them to understand the issue
(see esp. 1 - 3).
8. When someone is trying to help you and asks questions for clarification, don't ignore these
questions because helpers need to understand what exactly your problem is.
9. Please, don't post the same questions in multiple different threads.
After resolving the error or problem, post the solution to share it with other users.
10. When a problem has been solved, and the solution added in the thread, please add [Solved]
to the title.
You can edit the thread title on top of the editing window.
11. When you got help and it was useful, click on Like in the lower right corner of the post.
This shows the helper that you have read the post
and his help was useful.
No need to answer anything else.
12. And of course, have fun!

2.4 B4X Help Viewer 13 B4X Help tools
2.4 B4X Help Viewer
This program shows xml help files. It was originally written by Andrew Graham (agrham) for B4A.
I modified it, with Andrews’ agreement, to show B4A, B4J, B4i and B4R xml help files.
The program can be downloaded from the forum.
When you install B4A, the standard folder would be:
C:Program FilesAnywhere SoftwareB4ALibraries
C:Program Files (x86)Anywhere SoftwareB4A
Similar for the other products.
If you get this message:
That means that B4A was not installed in the default folder.
Click on and select the folder where you saved the B4A program, open the Libraies
folder and select Core.xml.

On top we find:
In the upper left corner a drop down
list shows the different objects
included in the selected library.
Besides the objects list you
find another drop down list
with the
• methods(M)
• events(E)
• properties(P)
• fields(F) constants
for the selected object.
Select the standard library to display.
Select the additional library to display.
Search engine to find the object for a given keyword.
Closes B4AHelp
Launches the forum 'Online Community'.
Launches the Android Developers site.
Launches the iOS developer’s site.
B4A help files.
B4i help files.
B4J help files.
B4R help files.
B4X Library help files.

Standard libraries
Select the library to display and click on (Open).
Once selected the directory is saved for the next start of the program.

Additional libraries.
The same also for the additional libraries.
You must select the path for the additional libraries.
In my case B4XAdditionalLibrariesB4A for B4A .
Once selected the directory is saved for the next start of the program.

Search engine for the selected library.
Example:
Selected library: Core
Enter DrawRect
And the result.
We get the object Canvas and two methods.
Click on an item in the list to show its help.
Click on to leave the search result list.

2.5 B4X Object browser 18 B4X Help tools
2.5 Help documentation - B4A Object Browser
This is also a standalone Windows program showing the help files of libraries.
It has been written by Vader and can be downloaded here.
A pdf documentation on how to use the program is part of the download.

2.5 B4X Booklets on line 19 B4X Help tools
2.6 B4X Booklets on line
The B4X Documentation Booklets are available online!
2.6.1 From the IDE
In IDE Help menu / Online Help, you can directly show the main page of the B4X Documenation
page.
The links below allow you to display directly the selected booklet in the Intrenet browser.
The only drawback in these displays is that external links don’t work, this is a limitation of the tool
converting the pdf files.

2.5 B4X Booklets on line 20 B4X Help tools
2.6.2 From an Internet browser
In this link, you get the B4X Documentation Booklets page in the forum.
Scrolling a bit downwards you will see this:
The blue booklet names are links to display the selected booklet directly in the Internet browser.
The only drawback in these displays is that external links don’t work, this is a limitation of the tool
converting the pdf files.

2.7 Useful links 21 B4X Help tools
2.7 Useful links
2.7.1 B4A
A useful link for layout graphics. Android cheat sheet for graphic designers
Android Developers. Design Develop Distribute
Android Developers searching for any request.
In the upper right corner you find the search field.
Enter View in the field:
Click on the link View | Android Developers.
And you get all the information about Views.

2.7.2 B4i
iOS developers:
https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/overview/themes/
It’s the Apple site with all information about iOS.

2.7.3 B4J
Oracle Overview FavaFX API:
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/javafx/api/toc.htm

2.7.4 B4R
Arduino HomePages:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage

2.8 Books 25 B4X Help tools
2.8 Books
B4A book
Written by Philip Brown under the pseudo Wyken Seagrave.
http://pennypress.co.uk/b4a-book/
MagBook Build your own Android App.
Written by Nigel Whitfield.
http://www.magbooks.com/product/build-your-own-android-app/

2.8 Books 26 B4X Help tools
Elektor Android App development for electronics designers
https://www.elektormagazine.com/news/book-review-android-apps-development-with-basic-for-
android-b4a

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