_FREEFONT

From QB64 Phoenix Edition Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The _FREEFONT statement frees a font handle that was created by _LOADFONT.


Syntax

_FREEFONT (fontHandle&)


Description

  • Unloads fonts that are no longer in use or needed in order to free program memory and resources.
  • You cannot free a font which is in use. Change the font to a QB64 default font size before freeing the handle (see example below).
  • Predefined QB64 font handle numbers can be used before freeing a font:
    • _FONT 8 - default font for SCREEN 1, 2, 7, 8 or 13
    • _FONT 14 - default font for SCREEN 9 or 10
    • _FONT 16 - default font for SCREEN 0 (WIDTH 80, 25 text only), 11 or 12
    • _FONT 9, 15 and 17 are the double width versions of 8, 14 and 16 respectively in text SCREEN 0.
  • If the font handle is invalid (equals -1 or 0), an error will occur. Check handle values before using or freeing them.
  • You cannot free inbuilt/default QB64 fonts nor do they ever need freed.


Examples

Example 1: Previews and creates a file list of valid MONOSPACE TTF fonts by checking the _LOADFONT handle values.

SCREEN 12
path$ = "C:\WINDOWS\Fonts\" 'path to the font folder
SHELL _HIDE "DIR /b " + path$ + "\*.ttf > TTFonts.INF"
style$ = "monospace" 'set style to MONOSPACE
OPEN "TTFonts.INF" FOR INPUT AS #1 'list of TTF fonts only
OPEN "TTFMono.INF" FOR OUTPUT AS #2 'will hold list of valid MONOSPACE fonts

DO UNTIL EOF(1): found = found + 1
    LINE INPUT #1, font$
    f& = _LOADFONT(path$ + font$, 30, style$)
    IF f& > 0 THEN 'check for valid handle values > 0
        OK = OK + 1
        PRINT #2, font$
        _FONT f& 'will create error if handle is invalid!
        PRINT "Hello World!"
        PRINT: PRINT: PRINT font$; f&
        PRINT "Press any key."
        K$ = INPUT$(1)
        _FONT 16 'use QB64 default font to free tested font
        _FREEFONT f& 'returns an error if handle <= 0!
        CLS
    END IF
    PRINT
    IF K$ = CHR$(27) THEN EXIT DO
LOOP
CLOSE
PRINT: PRINT: PRINT "Found"; found; "TTF files,"; OK; "can use Monospace,"
END
Code by Ted Weissgerber
Found 106 TTF files, 13 can use Monospace.

Example 2: Using a _FREEFONT sub-procedure.

fontpath$ = ENVIRON$("SYSTEMROOT") + "\fonts\lucon.ttf"
style$ = "MONOSPACE, ITALIC, BOLD"
fontsize% = 20

_FONT 16
PRINT
PRINT "This is the QB64 default _FONT 16! To change, press any key!"
DO: SLEEP: LOOP UNTIL INKEY$ <> ""

GOSUB ClearFont 'call will not free anything if font& = 0

font& = _LOADFONT(fontpath$, fontsize%, style$)
IF font > 0 THEN _FONT font& 'NEVER try to load a font value less than 1!
PRINT
PRINT "A NEW _FONT style. To change to default, press any key!"
DO: SLEEP: LOOP UNTIL INKEY$ <> ""

GOSUB ClearFont 'call will free a valid font handle from memory

END

ClearFont:
IF font& > 0 THEN
    _FONT 16 'change used font to the QB64 8x16 default font
    _FREEFONT font&
    PRINT: PRINT "The previous font was freed with _FREEFONT!"
ELSE: PRINT: PRINT "_FREEFONT was not used!"
END IF
RETURN


See also



Navigation:
Main Page with Articles and Tutorials
Keyword Reference - Alphabetical
Keyword Reference - By usage