113 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
113 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown
# Touch Develop Editor
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The Touch Develop editor. #docs #editor #scripts #compile #run #keyboard
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### @parent js/contents
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The Touch Develop editor is where you write and test your code. If you're new to Touch Develop, check out the [Touch Develop editor video](/microbit/getting-started/touchdevelop-editor).
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To create a new Touch Develop script:
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1. Go to the micro:bit website and click **Create Code** (along the top).
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2. Under the Touch Develop editor heading, click **New project**.
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3. Type a name for your script and click **create**.
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An empty script with a [function](/microbit/js/function) called `main` is created.
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## The Editor Menu Bar
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The Touch Develop editor has a bar of options above the code area:
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* `my scripts` takes you back to a list of your scripts (My Scripts). The open script is automatically saved (in the cloud) when you leave the editor.
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* `run` executes your script, showing you the results on the on-screen micro:bit device. See [run scripts in the browser](/microbit/js/simulator) for more about this.
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* `compile` sends your script to an ARM compiler, which creates a file that you can run on your micro:bit. See [run scripts on your micro:bit](/microbit/device/usb) for more info.
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* `undo` undoes changes that you made to your script.
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* `search code...` search for functions in libraries such as the micro:bit library.
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* `script` opens script options, where you can do things like publish and preview. See **script options** below.
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Many of the above buttons aren't much use until you've written some code, so let's move on to the Code Keyboard.
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## Code Keyboard
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The Code Keyboard makes it easy to write code on a touch screen device or by using your mouse. You can also type code using your computer keyboard if you know what function or statement you want (see [Touch Develop documentation](/microbit/js/contents) for a complete list).
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To open the Code Keyboard, click on a line of code:
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An on-screen keyboard appears, with buttons that vary depending on what's selected.
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### Statements
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The first row of the Code Keyboard has Touch Develop [statements](/microbit/js/statements) that you can insert into your code. These buttons are blue and include things like [var](/microbit/reference/variables/var), [if](/microbit/reference/logic/if), [for](/microbit/reference/loops/for) , and [while](/microbit/js/while). Click `more` to see additional statements.
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### The BBC micro:bit, math, and code buttons
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* `micro:bit`: click to see all the [micro:bit functions](/microbit/js/contents); click `more` to scroll left to right. The micro:bit functions are also grouped together behind the following category buttons: `basic`, `control`, `input`, `image`, `led`, and`pins`
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* `code`: click to access functions you've written (see [call a function](/microbit/js/call) for more info)
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* `math`: click to see [math functions](/microbit/js/math); such as `abs` and `round`
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* `bits`: click to see functions for bit-level manipulation of integers
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### Editing code: add, copy, paste, and cut
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In the coding area...
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* **add**: to add a new line, click on a line and then click a **+** to add a new line above or below the current line
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* **copy, paste, cut**: click on a line then click **copy** or **cut**. Then click on a new line, and click **paste**.
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### Block editing
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To copy, cut, or comment out a block of code (more than one line):
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1. Click on a line of code.
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2. Press and hold the `Shift` key, and then press the `Up arrow` or `Down arrow` key on your keyboard (this selects multiple lines).
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3. Choose a block editing option like copy, cut, or [comment out](/microbit/js/comment).
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### Script options
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Click `script` (in the upper-right corner) to open the script options:
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Here you'll find options like...
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* `script properties`: the script name, description, and whether or not the script is a library (more info below)
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* `publish`: share a script with other users by [publishing](/microbit/js/publishing) it
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* `share`: share a link to a published script (see [publish as script](/microbit/js/publishing) for more info)
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* `preview`: preview a documentation script
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* `+` `add new`: add a new [function](/microbit/js/function), [global variable](/microbit/js/data), picture, or library to a script
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* *code*: the functions in your script; click a function to open it in the editor
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* *global vars*: the [global variables](/microbit/js/data) in your script; click a variable to go to that variable
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* *libraries*: the libraries added to your script
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* *art*: picture and video resources added to your script
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### Script properties
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To edit a script's properties, click `script` (in the upper-right corner), and then click the script name or script properties.
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* `name`: the script's name (60 character limit)
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* `description`: a description of what your script does along with #hashtags for search (for example, #game or #maker). Hashtags are especially important if you publish your script (200 character limit).
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* `this script is a library`: click this check box to turn a script into a library
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### Comments
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Comments are notes within your scripts. To learn how to insert comments into your scripts, see [Comments](/microbit/js/comment). You can format your comments using [markdown syntax](/microbit/js/markdown).
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### Share your scripts
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Share your scripts with other people by publishing them. See [publish a script](/microbit/js/publishing) for more info.
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### See also
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[publish a script](/microbit/js/publishing), [Touch Develop documentation](/microbit/js/contents)
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