Open Scrn
Opens the screen directly for input and output, using it as if it were file operations.
Syntax
`
Open Scrn [for mode] As [#]filenumber As Long
`
Usage
`
Open Scrn [for mode] as [#]filenumber
or
result = Open Scrn( [for mode[,]] as [#]filenumber )
`
Parameters
`mode`
Either `Input` or `Output`. If omitted, `Output` is assumed.
`filenumber`
An unused file number.
Return Value
A 32 bit `Long`: a zero (`0`) is returned if `Open Scrn()` completed successfully, otherwise a non-zero value is returned to indicate failure.
Description
This command opens the screen (in text or graphics screen mode) for both input and output as a file, allowing to read/write from/to it with normal file commands.
This command may use direct access to the screen for speed in some implementations, so it should not be used when the input / output is required to be redirected or piped with OS commands.
The normal screen commands, such as `Color` and `Locate`, do not work in this mode, because they do not accept a file number.
The `[For Input|Output]` clause is allowed for compatibility, but is ignored.
`filenumber` is an unused file number.
An unused file number can be found using `FreeFile`.
The error code returned by `Open Scrn` can be checked using `Err` in the next line. The function version of `Open Scrn` returns directly the error code as a 32 bit `Long`.
Runtime errors:
`Open Scrn` throws one of the following runtime errors:
(`1`) Illegal function call

- `filenumber` was not free at the time. use `FreeFile` to ensure that `filenumber` is free.

Example
`
Dim a As String
Open Scrn For Input As #1
Print #1,"Please write something and press ENTER"
Line Input #1,a
Print #1, "You wrote";a
Close
Sleep
`
Differences from QB

- QB used OPEN "SCRN:" ...

See also

- `Open`
- `Open Cons`