ExtendedInput "What is your name: ", nam$

Print nam$

ExtendedInput "{F8.2}Enter a number (limited to 8 digits and 2 decimal places): ", num$

Print Val(num$)

ExtendedInput "{UIL05}Enter a five digit pin: ", pin$

Print Val(pin$)

ExtendedInput "{UIL05P}Enter a five digit secret pin: ", secret$

Print Val(secret$)

Print

Print "And so on!"

Print "Note that you can also use arrow keys to edit input, or CTRL-V to paste into the input, or hide the input prompt and answer, or lots of options!"



Sub ExtendedInput (prompt$, result$) 'Over Engineered Input

    'limit VALUES:

    '1 = Unsigned

    '2 = Integer

    '4 = Float

    '8 = Who cares. It's handled via internal variables and we don't need to know a type for it.

    'Uses {} at the start of the prompt to limit possible input

    'P = Password

    'U = Unsigned

    'I = Integer

    'F = Float

    'L## = Length of max ##

    'X##, Y## = LOCATE before printing

    'D = Disable paste option

    'V = Move CTRL-V to AFTER paste

    'H = Hide Input after finished.  (Won't leave prompt, or user input on the screen.)



    PCopy 0, 1

    A = _AutoDisplay: X = Pos(0): Y = CsrLin

    OX = X: OY = Y 'original x and y positions

    CP = 0: OldCP = 0 'Cursor Position

    _KeyClear

    length_limit = -1 'unlimited length input, by default



    If Left$(prompt$, 1) = "{" Then 'possible limiter

        i = InStr(prompt$, "}")

        If i Then 'yep, we have something!

            limiter$ = UCase$(Mid$(prompt$, 2, i - 2))

            If InStr(limiter$, "U") Then limit = limit Or 1 'Unsigned

            If InStr(limiter$, "I") Then 'can't limit to BOTH an integer AND a float

                limit = limit Or 2 'Integer

            ElseIf InStr(limiter$, "F") Then

                limit = limit Or 4 'Float

                float_before_limit = KB_GetValue(limiter$, "F")

                float_after_limit = KB_GetValue(Mid$(limiter$, InStr(limiter$, "F") + 1), ".")

            End If

        End If

        If InStr(limiter$, "P") Then password_protected = -1: limit = limit Or 8 'don't show passwords.

        If InStr(limiter$, "L") Then 'Length Limitation

            limit = limit Or 8

            length_limit = KB_GetValue(limiter$, "L")

        End If

        If InStr(limiter$, "X") Then 'X position on screen

            limit = limit Or 8

            X = KB_GetValue(limiter$, "X")

        End If

        If InStr(limiter$, "Y") Then 'Y position on scren

            limit = limit Or 8

            Y = KB_GetValue(limiter$, "Y")

        End If

        If InStr(limiter$, "D") Then disable_paste = -1: limit = limit Or 8 'disable paste

        If InStr(limiter$, "V") Then cursor_after_paste = -1: limit = limit Or 8 'disable paste

        If InStr(limiter$, "H") Then clean_exit = -1: limit = limit Or 8 'hide after finished

    End If

    If limit <> 0 Then prompt$ = Mid$(prompt$, i + 1)





    Do

        PCopy 1, 0

        If _KeyDown(100307) Or _KeyDown(100308) Then AltDown = -1 Else AltDown = 0

        k = _KeyHit

        If AltDown Then

            Select Case k 'ignore all keypresses except ALT-number presses

                Case -57 To -48: AltWasDown = -1: alt$ = alt$ + Chr$(-k)

            End Select

        Else

            Select Case k 'without alt, add any keypresses to our input

                Case 8

                    oldin$ = in$

                    If CP > 0 Then OldCP = CP: CP = CP - 1

                    in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + Mid$(in$, CP + 2) 'backspace to erase input

                Case 9

                    oldin$ = in$

                    in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + Space$(4) + Mid$(in$, CP + 1) 'four spaces for any TAB entered

                    OldCP = CP

                    CP = CP + 4

                Case 32 To 128

                    If _KeyDown(100305) Or _KeyDown(100306) Then

                        If k = 118 Or k = 86 Then

                            If disable_paste = 0 Then

                                oldin$ = in$

                                temp$ = _Clipboard$

                                in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + temp$ + Mid$(in$, CP + 1) 'ctrl-v paste

                                'CTRL-V leaves cursor in position before the paste, without moving it after.

                                'Feel free to modify that behavior here, if you want it to move to after the paste.

                                If cursor_after_paste Then CP = CP + Len(temp$)

                            End If

                        End If

                        If k = 122 Or k = 90 Then Swap in$, oldin$: Swap OldCP, CP 'ctrl-z undo

                    Else

                        check_input:

                        oldin$ = in$

                        If limit And 1 Then 'unsigned

                            If k = 43 Or k = 45 Then _Continue 'remove signs +/-

                        End If

                        If limit And 2 Then 'integer

                            If k = 45 And CP = 0 Then GoTo good_input 'only allow a - sign for the first digit

                            If k < 48 Or k > 57 Then _Continue 'remove anything non-numeric

                        End If

                        If limit And 4 Then 'float

                            If k = 45 And CP = 0 Then GoTo good_input 'only allow a - sign for the first digit

                            If k = 46 And InStr(in$, ".") = 0 Then GoTo good_input 'only one decimal point

                            If k < 48 Or k > 57 Then _Continue 'remove anything non-numeric

                            If Left$(in$, 1) = "-" Then temp$ = Mid$(in$, 2) Else temp$ = in$

                            If InStr(in$, ".") = 0 Or CP < InStr(in$, ".") Then

                                If Len(temp$) < float_before_limit Or float_before_limit = -1 Then

                                    in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + Chr$(k) + Mid$(in$, CP + 1) 'add input to our string

                                    OldCP = CP

                                    CP = CP + 1

                                End If

                            Else

                                temp$ = Mid$(in$, InStr(in$, ".") + 1)

                                If Len(temp$) < float_after_limit Or float_after_limit = -1 Then

                                    in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + Chr$(k) + Mid$(in$, CP + 1) 'add input to our string

                                    OldCP = CP

                                    CP = CP + 1

                                End If

                            End If

                            _Continue

                        End If

                        good_input:

                        If CP < length_limit Or length_limit < 0 Then

                            in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + Chr$(k) + Mid$(in$, CP + 1) 'add input to our string



                            OldCP = CP

                            CP = CP + 1

                        End If

                    End If

                Case 18176 'Home

                    CP = 0

                Case 20224 'End

                    CP = Len(in$)

                Case 21248 'Delete

                    oldin$ = in$

                    in$ = Left$(in$, CP) + Mid$(in$, CP + 2)

                Case 19200 'Left

                    CP = CP - 1

                    If CP < 0 Then CP = 0

                Case 19712 'Right

                    CP = CP + 1

                    If CP > Len(in$) Then CP = Len(in$)

            End Select

        End If

        alt$ = Right$(alt$, 3)

        If AltWasDown = -1 And AltDown = 0 Then

            v = Val(alt$)

            If v >= 0 And v <= 255 Then

                k = v

                alt$ = "": AltWasDown = 0

                GoTo check_input

            End If

        End If

        blink = (blink + 1) Mod 30

        Locate Y, X

        Print prompt$;

        If password_protected Then

            Print String$(Len(Left$(in$, CP)), "*");

            If blink \ 15 Then Print " "; Else Print "_";

            Print String$(Len(Mid$(in$, CP + 1)), "*")

        Else

            Print Left$(in$, CP);

            If blink \ 15 Then Print " "; Else Print "_";

            Print Mid$(in$, CP + 1)

        End If



        _Display

        _Limit 30

    Loop Until k = 13



    PCopy 1, 0

    Locate OY, OX

    If clean_exit = 0 Then

        Locate Y, X

        If password_protected Then

            Print prompt$; String$(Len(in$), "*")

        Else

            Print prompt$; in$

        End If

    End If

    result$ = in$

    If A Then _AutoDisplay

End Sub





Function KB_GetValue (limiter$, what$)

    jstart = InStr(limiter$, what$): j = 0

    If Mid$(limiter$, InStr(limiter$, what$) + 1, 1) = "-" Then

        KB_GetValue = -1 'unlimited

        Exit Function

    End If



    Do

        j = j + 1

        m$ = Mid$(limiter$, jstart + j, 1)

    Loop Until m$ < "0" Or m$ > "9"

    KB_GetValue = Val(Mid$(limiter$, jstart + 1, j - 1))

End Function

This is basically Windows Only.  You can plug it into your Linux/Mac systems, but it simply defaults back to _KEYHIT and does nothing else for you guys.

This library has been around forever and ever now, and is my *most used* personal library of code.  This is *ESSENTIAL* for me, and I could've sworn it was on the forums here, but somehow it doesn't seem to be.  My apologies for anyone who might've made use of this and missed out on it for that oversight.

So, what *is* this?  It's my handy dandy, super dooper, personal replacement for _KEYHIT.

To illustrate its usefulness, let me just pop out the world's simplest little set of code to run with it.  Grab the library, extract it to your QB64PE folder, and copy/paste/compile/run this little code snippet.

'$Include: 'Keyboard Library.bi'

Do

    k1 = _KeyHit: k = KeyHit

    If k <> 0 Then Print k,

    If k1 <> 0 Then Print k1,

    If k _OrElse k1 Then Print

    _Limit 30

Loop

'$Include: 'Keyboard Library.bm'

Attached Files

  Keyboard Library.7z (Size: 8.16 KB / Downloads: 2)

Had a go at calculating some Perfect Numbers. If I EXIT the FOR NEXT and print the number and the sum of it's factors (which should be equal) it works just fine. (After the first four it might take forever because it is a big number.) But if I print the number and the sum of it's factors just before I EXIT the FOR NEXT as well as after then I get several extra unrelated numbers. The line that causes the issue is commented out, but put it in and things go bad. I would have thought that it made no difference except for printing the numbers twice. What's going on? 

ChDir startdir$ + "perfect numbers/"



Dim number As _Integer64

Dim trial As _Integer64

Dim div_total As _Integer64



number = 4 'start even and add 2 per pass

top:

div_total = 0



For trial = 1 To ((number / 2) + 1)

    If number Mod trial = 0 Then div_total = div_total + trial

    'If div_total = number Then Print number, div_total, "x": Exit For

Next trial



If div_total = number Then Print number, div_total

number = number + 2

GoTo top

Declare Dynamic Library "user32"

    Function DPI& Alias SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext (ByVal dpiContext As _Offset)

End Declare

Const UNAWARE = -1, AWARE = -2, PER_MONITOR_AWARE = -3

Const PER_MONITOR_AWARE_V2 = -4, UNAWARE_GDISCALED = -5



_FullScreen



Dim result As Integer

Print _DesktopWidth, _DesktopHeight

Sleep

Print "Setting DPI Awareness Context..."



_FullScreen _Off 'Note if you use _FULLSCREEN, you should turn it OFF before making any change

_Delay .2 'And give it a delay to make certain that it can make that change



result = DPI(AWARE) 'change to setting you like

Print _DesktopWidth, _DesktopHeight

_FullScreen _Stretch

Sleep

System

an example of a means to have overloaed subroutines or at least subroutines with a varying range of variables. 
it makes use of a modified version of splitstring that someone else developed that allows the variables to be broken down in the subroutine.

'an example of an overloaded subroutine in QB64

'

'more acurately an example of passing a different range of variables to a sub

'and gettign a different range of results based on those arguments

'

'$Dynamic

Screen _NewImage(500, 240, 256)

Dim Shared klr

Locate 1, 1: Print "A dot      (press Any key) "

overload_example "12"

overload_example "100,100"

Sleep

Locate 1, 1: Print "                            "

Locate 1, 1: Print "Amother dot (press Any key) "

overload_example "50,50,14"

Sleep

Locate 1, 1: Print "                            "

Locate 1, 1: Print "A Filled Box (press Any key)"



overload_example "50,50,100,100,10"

Sleep

Locate 1, 1: Print "                            "

Locate 1, 1: Print "Outlined that box "



overload_example "50,50,100,100"

Sleep

Cls

Locate 1, 1: Print "                            "

Locate 1, 1: Print "The code is an example of passing numerical variables "

overload_example "30,30,110,110,2"

For x = 10 To 40 Step 5

    A$ = _Trim$(Str$(70 - x))

    B$ = _Trim$(Str$(x + 70))

    overload_example A$ + "," + A$ + "," + B$ + "," + B$

Next x



End



' overload_example'

'takesa string with a set of arguments delimited by a comma

'if there is one argument the default color is set

'if there are 2 arguments a pixel is drawn in the deafult color with pset

'if there are 3 arguments a pixel is drawn in a temporary color but the default is not changed

'if there are 4 arguments a Box is drawn  the default color

'if there are 5 arguments a Filled Box is drawn  the temporary color



Sub overload_example (argument$)

    Dim argu$(0)

    SplitString argument$, ",", argu$()

    a_count = UBound(argu$)

    Select Case a_count

        Case 1 'set the defined color for follwoign statements

            klr = Val(argu$(1))

        Case 2 'pset in defined color

            x0 = Val(argu$(1))

            y0 = Val(argu$(2))

            PSet (x0, y0), klr

        Case 3 'pset in temporary color

            x0 = Val(argu$(1))

            y0 = Val(argu$(2))

            tklr = Val(argu$(3))

            PSet (x0, y0), tklr

        Case 4 'draw a box in defined color

            x0 = Val(argu$(1))

            y0 = Val(argu$(2))

            x1 = Val(argu$(3))

            y1 = Val(argu$(4))

            Line (x0, y0)-(x1, y1), klr, B

        Case 5 'draw a filled in temporary color

            x0 = Val(argu$(1))

            y0 = Val(argu$(2))

            x1 = Val(argu$(3))

            y1 = Val(argu$(4))

            tklr = Val(argu$(5))

            Line (x0, y0)-(x1, y1), tklr, BF

    End Select

End Sub

Sub SplitString (inputString$, delimiter$, wordArray$())

    'make sure you have dynamic arrays set up

    wordCount% = 0

    startPos% = 1

    Do

        psn% = InStr(startPos%, inputString$, delimiter$) ' Find the next delimiter

        If psn% = 0 Then

            ' No more delimiters found, this is the last word

            word$ = Mid$(inputString$, startPos%)

            If Len(_Trim$(word$)) > 0 Then ' Check for empty word (e.g., multiple spaces)

                wordCount% = wordCount% + 1

                ReDim _Preserve wordArray$(wordCount%)

                wordArray$(wordCount%) = word$

            End If

            Exit Do ' Exit the loop

        Else

            ' Delimiter found, extract the word

            word$ = Mid$(inputString$, startPos%, psn% - startPos%)

            If Len(_Trim$(word$)) > 0 Then ' Check for empty word (e.g., multiple spaces)

                wordCount% = wordCount% + 1

                ReDim _Preserve wordArray$(wordCount%)

                wordArray$(wordCount%) = word$

            End If

            startPos% = psn% + Len(delimiter$) ' Move the starting position past the delimiter

        End If

    Loop

End Sub

This involves using Inform.
I've figured out how to load images generated within the program into picture boxes and edit them but I haven't figured out how to save a picturebox as an image file.

It is possible to have all graphics commands write to a buffer image that is loaded into a picturebox when needed throughout execution of the program, and save that to a file when desired.  But that defeats some of the purpose of using Inform.

Any ideas?

I whipped up an instructional video for QB64. A simple hello world program with random pixels graphics. It's my first attempt in ages and I certainly learned a few things already. Give it a peek if you want to and probably turn up that speaker volume so you can hear me talk as I type. 

https://youtu.be/nHbUsXhzsjQ?si=lusAg8BlST1sIIC4

' QB64 Phoenix Edition Cassette Recorder Simulator with Proper Alpha and Case-Sensitive Variables

DECLARE SUB DrawTapePlayer (LeftReel AS INTEGER, RightReel AS INTEGER, TapeWobble AS INTEGER, TapeType AS INTEGER, Angle AS SINGLE)



' Create high-resolution graphics window

DIM ScreenID AS LONG

ScreenID = _NEWIMAGE(800, 600, 32) ' 800x600 resolution, 32-bit color mode

SCREEN ScreenID

_AUTODISPLAY ' Enables graphics rendering



' Define colors with Alpha Channel (fully opaque)

DIM PlayerColor AS _UNSIGNED LONG

DIM TapeColor AS _UNSIGNED LONG

DIM OxideTapeColor AS _UNSIGNED LONG

DIM RollerColor AS _UNSIGNED LONG



PlayerColor = _RGBA32(50, 50, 50, 255) ' Dark gray for the player casing

TapeColor = _RGBA32(139, 69, 19, 255) ' Standard brown tape

OxideTapeColor = _RGBA32(160, 82, 45, 255) ' Reddish-brown oxide tape

RollerColor = _RGBA32(245, 245, 220, 255) ' Off-white rollers



DIM TapeLength AS INTEGER

DIM SpeedMode AS STRING

DIM TapeType AS INTEGER

DIM LeftReel AS INTEGER

DIM RightReel AS INTEGER

DIM TapeWobble AS INTEGER

DIM KeyPress AS STRING

DIM Angle AS SINGLE



CLS

_PRINTSTRING (50, 50), "Welcome to the QB64 Cassette Recorder Simulator!"

_PRINTSTRING (50, 70), "Press any key to continue..."

DO

    KeyPress = INKEY$

LOOP UNTIL KeyPress <> ""



CLS

_PRINTSTRING (50, 50), "Select Tape Length (10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes): "

DO

    KeyPress = INKEY$

    IF KeyPress >= "0" AND KeyPress <= "9" THEN TapeLength = VAL(KeyPress) * 10

LOOP UNTIL TapeLength > 0



_PRINTSTRING (50, 70), "Select Speed Mode (N: Normal, F: Fast, S: Slow, L: Long Play, E: Extra Long Play): "

DO

    KeyPress = INKEY$

    SELECT CASE KeyPress

        CASE "N": SpeedMode = "Normal"

        CASE "F": SpeedMode = "Fast"

        CASE "S": SpeedMode = "Slow"

        CASE "L": SpeedMode = "Long Play"

        CASE "E": SpeedMode = "Extra Long Play"

    END SELECT

LOOP UNTIL SpeedMode <> ""



_PRINTSTRING (50, 90), "Choose Tape Type (1: Standard Brown, 2: Metal Oxide Red-Brown): "

DO

    KeyPress = INKEY$

    IF KeyPress = "1" THEN TapeType = 1

    IF KeyPress = "2" THEN TapeType = 2

LOOP UNTIL TapeType > 0



CLS

_PRINTSTRING (50, 50), "Loading Tape..."

SLEEP 2



' Initial reel sizes

LeftReel = 80

RightReel = 20

TapeWobble = 0

Angle = 0



FOR i = 1 TO TapeLength * 5

    CLS

    DrawTapePlayer LeftReel, RightReel, TapeWobble, TapeType, Angle

    SLEEP 1

    

    ' Simulate tape winding: left reel shrinks, right reel grows

    IF LeftReel > 20 THEN

        LeftReel = LeftReel - 1

        RightReel = RightReel + 1

    END IF

    

    ' Simulate slight tape wobble

    TapeWobble = INT(RND * 4) - 2 



    ' Increase rotation angle

    Angle = Angle + 5

    IF Angle >= 360 THEN Angle = 0

NEXT



_PRINTSTRING (50, 550), "Playback Complete!"



SUB DrawTapePlayer (LeftReel AS INTEGER, RightReel AS INTEGER, TapeWobble AS INTEGER, TapeType AS INTEGER, Angle AS SINGLE)

    ' Select tape color

    DIM CurrentTapeColor AS _UNSIGNED LONG

    IF TapeType = 1 THEN

        CurrentTapeColor = TapeColor

    ELSE

        CurrentTapeColor = OxideTapeColor

    END IF



    ' ? **Layer Rendering: Back-to-Front**

    

    ' 1️⃣ Draw **player frame (boxy shape)**

    LINE (100, 100)-(700, 500), PlayerColor, BF



    ' 2️⃣ Draw **rollers (off-white)**, dividing player into thirds

    CIRCLE (250, 150), 10, RollerColor

    PAINT (250, 150), RollerColor, RollerColor



    CIRCLE (550, 150), 10, RollerColor

    PAINT (550, 150), RollerColor, RollerColor



    ' 3️⃣ **Convert polar coordinates to rectilinear** for rotation effect

    DIM X1 AS INTEGER, Y1 AS INTEGER, X2 AS INTEGER, Y2 AS INTEGER

    X1 = 300 + COS(Angle * 3.14159 / 180) * LeftReel

    Y1 = 300 + SIN(Angle * 3.14159 / 180) * LeftReel

    X2 = 500 + COS(Angle * 3.14159 / 180) * RightReel

    Y2 = 300 + SIN(Angle * 3.14159 / 180) * RightReel



    ' 4️⃣ Draw **reels (shrinking/growing with playback)**

    CIRCLE (300, 300), LeftReel, CurrentTapeColor

    PAINT (300, 300), CurrentTapeColor, CurrentTapeColor



    CIRCLE (500, 300), RightReel, CurrentTapeColor

    PAINT (500, 300), CurrentTapeColor, CurrentTapeColor



    ' 5️⃣ Draw **animated tape strip moving through rollers**

    LINE (300, 300)-(250, 150 + TapeWobble), CurrentTapeColor

    LINE (250, 150 + TapeWobble)-(550, 150 + TapeWobble), CurrentTapeColor

    LINE (550, 150 + TapeWobble)-(500, 300), CurrentTapeColor



    ' 6️⃣ **Graphical text overlay at the end** (to avoid interference)

    _PRINTSTRING (50, 520), "Left Reel Size: " + LTRIM$(STR$(LeftReel))

    _PRINTSTRING (450, 520), "Right Reel Size: " + LTRIM$(STR$(RightReel))

END SUB

Two "astounding" and very brief videos using Inform and QB64-PE.   Finally decided to buckle down and get a decent demo program together using both.

https://youtu.be/TdpYGPMs-HQ?si=TkzLldejugJM-OZZ

https://youtu.be/-PoMNTGH3ZE?si=VJXQOef8Vn_8mZVx

No sound and really brief but I'm making progress in using Inform.

Hi
thanks to Steve I can post this here because I have a STRING$ function that fills fastly a string with a pattern but I have missed the thread about String concatenation and MID$ way  String concatenation thread.
By the way in a speed test this function is faster than MID$ way!
So I share it here.

Dim As Long Scr

Scr = _NewImage(800, 600, 32)

Screen Scr

_ControlChr Off

_Title "FillString: a new STRING$"

Cls , _RGB32(33, 172, 172)

Locate 2, 1: Print "Starting Test :"

S$ = Chr$(0) + Chr$(255) + Chr$(255) + Chr$(255) ' Substring

Fs$ = "" ' FinalString

Size = 800 * 600 * 4 '1.920.000

Print "Fillstring concatenation with 2*n formula"

t1# = Timer(0.001)

Print FillString(Size, S$, Fs$), Size, Len(Fs$)

t2# = Timer(0.001)

Print " Fillstring with MID$"

Fs$ = "" ' FinalString

t3# = Timer(0.001)

Print FillString2(Size, S$, Fs$), Size, Len(Fs$)

t4# = Timer(0.001)

Print "Fillstring concatenation with n+n formula"

Fs$ = "" ' FinalString

t5# = Timer(0.001)

Print SlowFillString(Size, S$, Fs$), Size, Len(Fs$)

t6# = Timer(0.001)



Locate 10, 1

Print Using " Tempo & #.####  #.####  #.#### "; "String = String + String "; (t2# - t1#); t1#; t2#

Print Using " Tempo & #.####  #.####  #.#### "; "MID$ way "; t4# - t3#; t3#; t4#

Print Using " Tempo & #.####  #.####  #.#### "; "String = String + Pattern "; t6# - t5#; t5#; t6#

End



Function FillString (Size As Long, Bases As String, S As String)

    FillString = 0

    S = Bases

    Do

        S = S + S

    Loop Until Len(S) > Size

    S = Left$(S, Size)

    FillString = -1

End Function



Function FillString2 (Size As Long, Bases As String, S As String)

    FillString2 = 0

    Dim posi As Long

    S = Space$(Size)

    posi = 0

    Do

        Mid$(S, posi, 4) = Bases

        posi = posi + 4

    Loop Until posi > Size

    S = Left$(S, Size)

    FillString2 = -1

End Function



Function SlowFillString (Size As Long, Bases As String, S As String)

    SlowFillString = 0

    Dim As Double Starts, Ends

    Dim Counter As Long

    Starts = Timer(.001)

    Ends = 10#

    Counter = 0

    Do

        Counter = Counter + 1

        S = S + Bases

    Loop Until Len(S) > Size Or (Timer(.001) - Starts >= Ends)

    Print , Counter; " cycles", Len(S); " lenght of string vs max size"; Size

    S = Left$(S, Size)

    SlowFillString = -1

End Function