| Navigation: Language Reference > 13 - Built-in Functions >====== POKE (write to memory address) ====== |    |
POKE(address,source)
| POKE | Writes data to a memory address. |
| address | A numeric constant, variable, or expression (evaluated to a LONG) which specifies a memory address. This parameter should always use the ADDRESS procedure, to ensure the correct protected mode address is used. |
| source | The label of a variable. |
The POKE statement writes the contents of the source variable to the memory address at address. POKE writes as many bytes as are in the source variable.
It is easily possible to create a General Protection Fault (GPF) if you POKE to an incorrect address, so great care should be taken when using POKE. There are usually Windows API functions that will do whatever you require of POKE and these should be used in preference to POKE.
Example:
MAddress LONG
Source1 BYTE
Source2 SHORT
Source3 REAL
KeyboardFlag BYTE
CODE
POKE(ADDRESS(MAddress),Source1) !Write 1 byte to the memory location
POKE(ADDRESS(MAddress),Source2) !Write 2 bytes to the memory location
POKE(ADDRESS(MAddress),Source3) !Write 8 bytes to the memory location
KeyboardFlag = BOR(KeyboardFlag,40h) !turn on caps lock
POKE(ADDRESS(00400017h),KeyboardFlag) !and put it back
See Also: