ProgrmmingBlock : How to Use

Basic operation

• Contents of the main screen
  The main screen consists of 3 panes, one left pane and 2 right panes like below.

  The List of blocks	Running Panel
  	Programming area

  The List of blocks	: Blocks that you can use in your program
  Running panel	: You can run your program by the buttons in this panel. Also it shows the status of your program while it's running.
  Programming area	: This is where you create your program. You can move blocks here from the list of blocks.

  
  
• How to program
  To create your own program, move blocks in the list of blocks into the Programming area.
  To move it, you first tap a block and drag it to the Programming area.
  
  You can see the description of each block if you tap a block in the list, or you can see The List of blocks.
  After you place a block in the Programming area, you can edit the contents of the block, such as the number or "R0".
  To edit the block, double-tap the block in the Programming area to make it larger. "Double-tap" means tapping twice quickly.
  If the block becomes larger than other blocks, it is the edit mode. You can edit the field by tapping the field you want to edit.
  Please see the video of operation sample.

• Run
  To run the program you have created, tap the Run button at the top of the screen.
  
  The running order of the blocks (Important)
  • The blocks are run one by one from left to right. While the program is running, it basically runs to the same direction. If there was no block to the direction it is running, it is the end of program.
    It runs the left most block first. If there were more than one block at the left most position, it runs the upper most block among them.
  • But depending on the kind of blocks, the direction can be changed.
    For instance, is the down block. This changes the direction of the program to downward.
    is the Loop block. The Loop block loops the blocks to the right for the specified times. After that, it goes to downward
    


• Tutorial video
  It takes some time, but you can learn the basic operation of ProgrammingBlock step by step.

Additional information

• Variables
  "R0" - "R9" at the top-right of the screen are Variables. You can set a numeric value to a Variable.
  To set a value to a Variable, you have to do it by your program (by blocks).
  When the program started, all the Variables are set to 0.
  
  • To set a value to a Variable
    Use one of calculation blocks. For instance, "Add block" () adds 2 values and set the result to "R0".
    
  • To Use Variables
    In a block that has one or more input field, after you make it editable ( by double-tapping it ) and if you tap the input field, the button appears.
    If you tap this button, the input field changes to "R0" and you can select "R1", "R2", ... "R9" by the pull down list.
    
    
• List of blocks
  Please see the list of blocks you can use in your program.
  
  
• Move or copy blocks
  
  • Selecting a block or blocks
    To move or copy blocks, you first select a block or blocks. If you want to select one block, just tap the block.
    If you want to select multiple blocks, there are 2 methods to do so.
    
    • Method 1 : First tap a block. Then long-tap the other block. (Press a block and take a little time before releasing.).
    • Method 2 : Press an empty place in the programming area where there is no block (the green area) for a while. Then it becomes Rectangle Selection mode. (Some squares appear for a short period.)
      Without releasing, move your finger in the Programming area. A rectangle appears and follows your finger. Place this rectangle over the blocks you want to select and release your finger. Then the blocks will be selected.
      
  • To move the selected blocks, press one of the blocks and without releasing move your finger. Pink color will appear if you can move the blocks there.
  • To copy the selected blocks, Use "Copy" and "Paste" in the main menu. First select the blocks you want to copy. Then tap "Copy" and tap "Paste".
    The pasted position is arbitrary. So, you usually have to move blocks after pasting them.
    
  
  
• Clearing the Drawing area and the Variables
  When you run a program, the Drawing area and Variables are initialized first.
  Initialize means clearing all the lines and shapes of the Drawing area and setting 0 to all the Variables.
  You can also clear the Drawing area by using * block.
  There is not a block for clearing all the Variables, but you can set 0 by * to a Variable.
  (* These block can only be used in the Normal mode. Not available in the Novice mode.)
  
  
• User Block (In the Normal mode only. Not available in the Novice mode)
  This is a bit complicated. So I'll try to explain in detail.
  • What is a User Block?
    When you are creating a program, you may want to use the same sequence of blocks more than once. In that case, you can create a User defined block that contains multiple blocks.
    This is called a "User Block". (It's like a "function" in the general programming language.)
    If you create a User Block, it appears in the list of blocks like other existing blocks, and you can use the User Block in your program.
    
  • How to define a User Block?
    Note that the User Block is not available in the Novice mode. So if you haven't done so, tap "to Normal Mode" in the main menu.
    To create a User block, tap "Create UserBlock" and place blocks that performs the things you want to do in this User Block, and tap "Close UserBlock".
    Then the User Block you have created appears at the bottom of the list of blocks. You can place the User Block in your main program.
    If you want to modify the User Block, double-tap the User Block in the list of Blocks.
  • About the Variables.
    When entering into the User Block, the values of Variables don't change. Then you can change the values in the User Block.
    But when exiting the User Block, the values of Variables are recovered to the values that were when the program entered to the User Block. ProgrammingBlock saves the values of Variables when entering into the User Block and recovers the values when exiting from the User Block.
    This behavior is usually convenient for both the main program and the User Block. Both of them doesn't have to worry so much about how they are used in others.
    But sometimes you may want to return a value from the User Block to the main program. In that case, use block in the User Block. When this block is run somewhere in the User block, ProgrammingBlock will not recover the value of the Variable that is specified in .
  • A User Block in a User Block
    You can use other User block in a User Block. Or you can use the same User Block in the User Block.
    If you use the same User Block in the User Block, it's called a Recursive process. And this is powerful.
    You can see "A sample of Recursive process" in the sample page.
  • Can I reuse a User Block in a different program?
    I am sorry, but no, you can only use the User Block in one program.
    You can't reuse the User Block in another program. Please think it's the limitation of ProgrammingBlock.
    If you think you should be able to use a User Block in multiple programs, it may be a time to graduate from ProgrammingBlock and move to one of the more powerful programming languages, such as C#, Java, etc.
  
  
• Programming Sample
  There are some sample programs here.
  
  

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