Tk UI - Complete Feature Reference¶

This document covers all features available in the Tkinter (Tk) UI, organized by category.

File Operations (8 features)¶

New Program ({{kbd:file_new:tk}})¶

Create a new program. Prompts to save current program if there are unsaved changes. - Menu: File → New - Shortcut: {{kbd:file_new:tk}}

Open/Load File ({{kbd:file_open:tk}})¶

Open a BASIC program from disk using a native file dialog. - Menu: File → Open - Shortcut: {{kbd:file_open:tk}} - Supports .bas and .txt files

Save File ({{kbd:file_save:tk}})¶

Save the current program. If no filename is set, prompts for one (same as Save As). - Menu: File → Save - Shortcut: {{kbd:file_save:tk}}

Save As ({{kbd:file_save_as:tk}})¶

Save the program with a new filename. - Menu: File → Save As - Shortcut: {{kbd:file_save_as:tk}}

Recent Files¶

Access recently opened files from the File menu. - Menu: File → Recent Files - Shows last 10 files opened

Auto-Save¶

Tk UI supports auto-save functionality. Programs are periodically saved to prevent data loss. - Configurable interval - Creates backup files

Delete Lines¶

Delete selected lines or the current line. - Select lines and use Edit → Delete Lines menu - Or select and press Delete/Backspace key

Merge Files¶

Merge another BASIC program into the current one. - Menu: File → Merge - Combines line numbers from both programs

Execution & Control (6 features)¶

Run Program ({{kbd:run_program:tk}} or F5)¶

Execute the current program from the beginning. - Menu: Run → Run Program - Shortcuts: {{kbd:run_program:tk}} or F5 - Output appears in the output pane

Stop/Interrupt¶

Stop a running program immediately. - Menu: Run → Stop - No keyboard shortcut (menu only)

Continue¶

Resume execution after pausing at a breakpoint. - Menu: Run → Continue - Toolbar: "Cont" button - No keyboard shortcut

List Program¶

View the program listing in the editor window. - Menu: Edit → List Program - Refreshes the editor view

Renumber ({{kbd:renumber:tk}})¶

Renumber program lines with specified start and increment. - Menu: Edit → Renumber - Shortcut: {{kbd:renumber:tk}} - Opens dialog for configuration

Auto Line Numbers¶

Automatically insert line numbers when pressing Enter. - Toggle in settings - Configurable start and increment

Debugging (6 features)¶

Breakpoints ({{kbd:toggle_breakpoint:tk}})¶

Set or remove breakpoints by clicking the line number margin or using {{kbd:toggle_breakpoint:tk}}. - Visual indicator: ● symbol - Menu: Run → Toggle Breakpoint - Shortcut: {{kbd:toggle_breakpoint:tk}} - Click line number margin

Step Statement¶

Execute one BASIC statement at a time. - Menu: Run → Step Statement - Toolbar: "Stmt" button - No keyboard shortcut - Pauses after each statement

Step Line (F10)¶

Execute one line at a time. - Menu: Run → Step Line - Shortcut: F10 - Pauses after each line number

Clear All Breakpoints¶

Remove all breakpoints from the program. - Menu: Edit → Clear All Breakpoints - No keyboard shortcut (menu only)

Multi-Statement Debug¶

When stepping by statement, individual statements on multi-statement lines are highlighted separately.

Current Line Highlight¶

The currently executing line is highlighted during program execution. - Background color changes to indicate active line - Auto-scrolls to keep current line visible

Variable Inspection (6 features)¶

Variables Window ({{kbd:toggle_variables:tk}})¶

Open a window showing all program variables and their current values. - Menu: Debug → Variables Window - Shortcut: {{kbd:toggle_variables:tk}} - Shows name, type, and value - Updates in real-time during execution

Edit Variable Value¶

Double-click a variable in the Variables window to edit its value during debugging. - Supports all data types - Type validation - Changes take effect immediately

Variable Filtering¶

Filter the variables display to show only variables matching a search term. - Search box in Variables window - Real-time filtering - Case-insensitive

Variable Sorting¶

Click column headers to sort variables: - By name (alphabetical) - By type - By value - Click again to reverse order

Execution Stack ({{kbd:toggle_stack:tk}})¶

View the call stack showing: - Active GOSUB calls with return lines - FOR loops with current iteration - WHILE loops - Menu: Debug → Execution Stack - Shortcut: {{kbd:toggle_stack:tk}}

Resource Usage¶

Monitor memory usage and variable count in the status bar. - Real-time updates - Shows total variables - Memory consumption

Editor Features (7 features)¶

Line Editing¶

Full text editing with: - Cursor navigation (arrows, Home, End, Page Up/Down) - Selection with mouse or Shift+arrows - Standard text operations

Multi-Line Edit¶

Edit multiple lines simultaneously: - Select multiple lines - Copy/paste blocks of code - Indent/unindent selections

Cut/Copy/Paste ({{kbd:cut:tk}}/{{kbd:copy:tk}}/{{kbd:paste:tk}})¶

Standard clipboard operations with native OS clipboard integration. - Cut: {{kbd:cut:tk}} - Copy: {{kbd:copy:tk}} - Paste: {{kbd:paste:tk}} - Also available via Edit menu and right-click context menu

Find/Replace ({{kbd:find:tk}} / {{kbd:replace:tk}})¶

Powerful search and replace functionality: - Find: {{kbd:find:tk}} - Opens Find dialog with search options (case-sensitive, whole word, regex) - Replace: {{kbd:replace:tk}} - Opens combined Find/Replace dialog with find and replace options - Find Next: F3 to find next occurrence - Features: Visual highlighting of matches, replacement count, search wraps around - Capabilities: Replace single occurrence or all occurrences

Note: Both dialogs support full search functionality. The Replace dialog includes all Find features plus replacement options.

Smart Insert ({{kbd:smart_insert:tk}})¶

Insert a line number at the midpoint between current and next line. - Menu: Edit → Smart Insert - Shortcut: {{kbd:smart_insert:tk}} - Example: Between 10 and 20, inserts 15

Sort Lines¶

Lines are automatically sorted by line number. - Can also manually trigger sort - Maintains program structure - Preserves comments

Syntax Checking¶

Real-time syntax validation as you type: - Errors underlined in red - Hover for error message - Parse check on demand (F7) - Error list in output pane

Help System (4 features)¶

Help Command (F1)¶

Open the main help system. - Shortcut: F1 - Menu: Help → Help Topics - Searchable help browser

Integrated Docs¶

Complete MBASIC language documentation integrated into the UI: - Statement reference - Function reference - Examples and tutorials - Searchable index

Search Help¶

Search across all help documentation: - Full-text search - Keyword search - Results with context - Jump to relevant section

Note: Search function is available via the help browser's search box (no dedicated keyboard shortcut).

Context Help (Shift+F1)¶

Get help for the BASIC keyword at the cursor: - Place cursor on keyword - Press Shift+F1 - Opens relevant help page

Window Layout¶

The Tk UI uses a flexible window layout: - Menu Bar: File, Edit, Run, Debug, Help menus - Toolbar: Quick access to common operations - Editor Pane: Main code editing area with line numbers - Output Pane: Program output and error messages - Variables Window: Detachable variable inspector ({{kbd:toggle_variables:tk}}) - Stack Window: Detachable call stack viewer ({{kbd:toggle_stack:tk}}) - Status Bar: Current file, cursor position, resource usage

All panes can be resized with splitters.

Mouse Support¶

The Tk UI fully supports mouse operations: - Click to position cursor - Double-click to select word - Triple-click to select line - Drag to select text - Click line numbers to toggle breakpoints - Right-click for context menu - Scroll with mouse wheel

Quick Reference¶

Essential Shortcuts¶

Shortcut	Action
{{kbd:file_new:tk}}	New Program
{{kbd:file_open:tk}}	Open File
{{kbd:file_save:tk}}	Save File
{{kbd:run_program:tk}} / F5	Run Program
(menu only)	Stop Program
{{kbd:toggle_breakpoint:tk}}	Toggle Breakpoint
F10	Step Line
(toolbar)	Step Statement
(toolbar)	Continue
{{kbd:toggle_variables:tk}}	Variables Window
{{kbd:toggle_stack:tk}}	Execution Stack
{{kbd:find:tk}}	Find
{{kbd:replace:tk}}	Find & Replace
F1	Help
Shift+F1	Context Help

Visual Indicators¶

● - Breakpoint on line
Red underline - Syntax error
Yellow highlight - Currently executing line
Cyan highlight - Current statement (when stepping)