OVERVIEW: Extending Experiments with Script [23286]

Extending Experiments with Script

E-Basic is E-Prime's standard object-oriented programming language with over 800 commands, which has been customized to better fit the needs of real-time research. PST developed E-Basic to be user-friendly to meet the needs of the research community (SCRIPTING: Why Use E-Basic [22868]).

Two types of written script can be added to an experiment: script in InLine Objects or script placed in the User Script Window (SCRIPTING: Getting Started with Writing Script [22869], SCRIPTING: Steps for Writing E-Prime Script [22880], and SCRIPTING: Communicating with E-Prime Objects [22874]).  When variables are declared on an InLine object, they are only accessible throughout the scope of the Procedure in which they are declared. Thus, InLine script is valuable when examining a single procedure. Conversely, the User Script is accessible in the Experiment Explorer Window. The User Script allows entering the user’s own high-level script. The User Script may be used to declare global variables.

Script can also be implimented in an application called PackageFile Editor (SCRIPTING: PackageFile Editor [22888]). PackageFile Editor allows the creation of reusable blocks of E-Basic script that are added to E-Prime experiments via the PackageCall object.
 

When adding script to an experiment, debugging is one of the most useful tools (SCRIPTING: Debugging [22913]). Debugging helps you check script for any errors.

The following articles discuss programming E-Basic script in a basic, intemediate, and advanced level:

• SCRIPTING: Programming: Basic [25423]

• SCRIPTING: Programming: Intermediate [22905]

• SCRIPTING: Programming: Advanced [22909]