Running MASM in an IDE

In the AUL lab

It is possible to use Visual Studio to assemble, lin, run, and debug masm programs.

Do this only once: Start, Programs, Applications, Set up MASM. You will get a message saying that the merge was successful.

Once you have done the above, then you can access Visual Studio from any computer in the AUL and you should see three options under the Tools menu

• Assemble and link MASM programs
• Debug MASM programs
• Execute MASM programs

Working on a program in Visual Studio

• Open an existing ASM file, or create a new text file and save it with the ASM extension.
• To assemble and link, select the Tools menu, and select the Assemble and Link MASM Programs option. When you assemble programs, error messages will appear in the window at the bottom. If you double click an error message, then you will be taken to that line in the program.
• To debug, select the Tools menu, and select the Debugging MASM Programs option. The debugger will open in a DOS window.
• To execute, select the Tools menu, and select the Running MASM Programs option. The executable will open in a DOS window.

In the PC411 lab

To start PWB

• Click Start
• Click Programs
• Click MASM611
• Double-click PWB

It will automatically start in the C:\fpuser\startup directory. Be sure to save your work to the A: drive when you are done, and delete your work from C:\fpuser\startup.

PWB Information

You should periodically save your .ASM file to the A:\ drive. This will prevent the loss of your program in the event that the computer needs to be rebooted. How often you do this is up to you, just ask your elf the question, "How much of my work am I willing to lose?"

• Place a formatted diskette into the A:\ drive
• From the DOS window issue the command
  copy first.asm A:\
  Replace first.asm with the name of your .ASM file.

When you are all done with your editing session, you should save all of your work to the A:\ drive, or you will lose it all. You should also delete the copy of your work from C:\fpuser\startup, as the next user of the system could copy your work. The second command will display the directory of the A:\ drive for your project. Be sure that the time of the .ASM file is correct. Only do the last command when you are sure that the first command worked, or you will lose all of your work. These commands assume that your file was named first.asm.

• copy first.* a:\
• dir a:\first.*
• del first.*

At home

Using PWB

If you have all your environment variables set up properly, then you should be able to create a shortcut to PWB in your bin or binr directory. Configuring MASM 6.11 from your home computer

PWB Information

Using Visual Studio

If you have Visual Studio installed at home, you can configure it to Assemble, Link, Debug and Execute MASM programs. In the following, I will assume the following:

• ML.EXE is located in C:\MASM611\BIN
• CV.EXE is located in C:\MASM611\BINR
• COMMAND.COM is located in C:\WINDOWS

To modify Visual Studio, do the following

• Select the Tools menu
• Select the Customize... option
• Select the Tools tab
• Setting up ML.EXE
  • Scroll to the bottom of the Menu Contents... text area
  • Double click in the dotted rectangle
  • Type Assembling and Linking MASM Programs, press ENTER
  • Click in the Command text box, enter
    C:\MASM611\BIN\ML.EXE
  • Click in the Arguments text box, enter
    /Fl /Zi $(FileDir)\$(FileName)$(FileExt)
be careful, this is case sensitive
  • Click in the Initial Directory text box, enter
    $(FileDir)
  • Check Use Output Window
• Setting up CV.EXE
  • Scroll to the bottom of the Menu Contents... text area
  • Double click in the dotted rectangle
  • Type Debugging MASM Programs, press ENTER
  • Click in the Command text box, enter
    C:\MASM611\BINR\CV.EXE
  • Click in the Arguments text box, enter
    $(FileDir)\$(FileName)
be careful, this is case sensitive
  • Click in the Initial Directory text box, enter
    $(FileDir)
  • Check Close window on exiting
• Setting up COMMAND.COM
  • Scroll to the bottom of the Menu Contents... text area
  • Double click in the dotted rectangle
  • Type Running MASM Programs, press ENTER
  • Click in the Command text box, enter
    C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
  • Click in the Arguments text box, enter
    /C $(FileDir)\$(FileName)
be careful, this is case sensitive
  • Click in the Initial Directory text box, enter
    $(FileDir)
  • Check Close window on exiting

Working on programs in Visual Studio