Unlike other programming languages, theThe syntax of VDS is very simplestraightforward.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jm-tech.com/vdstour.html |title=Visual DialogScript - A Quick Tour |website=www.jm-tech.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980125155047/http://www.jm-tech.com/vdstour.html |archive-date=25 January 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Each command occupies one line and has a plain English name that clearly describes its purpose. Variables are typeless and can hold many kinds of information, forsuch example,as numbers or text. Functions are clearly distinguishable with names that start with '[[At sign|@]]', justsimilar liketo a spreadsheet.
The DialogScript language has a simple syntax,notsimilar unliketo the MS-DOS batch language. It is designed for ease of use and efficiency when being interpreted by the run-time engine. There are 10 system variables, %0 to %9, which initially have the script file name in %0 and command line parameters in %1 through %9, just as in a batch file. There are also a further 26 user variables, from %A to %Z. The contents of all variables (including system ones) can be changed once the script is running. There are now also 4032 global variables. These variables begin with %%, a letter, then alphanumerics plus underscores (e.g., %%my_variable_1.) There is no limit on the length of these user-defined variable names.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visual DialogScript Home - Overview |url=http://www.dialogscript.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=129 |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=www.dialogscript.com}}</ref>
==Syntax examples==
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==History==
Julian Moss (1953 – October 24, 2014[1]) of JM-Tech/Tech-Pro Ltd. created Visual DialogScript. In 1998, after version 3.0, Emmanuel Daunizeau of S.A.D.E. Sarl took over the ownership and development of VDS. He modified and improved its syntax. The British company Commercial Research Ltd. currently markets VDS., andthough it is still the property of Emmanuel Daunizeau, who; continues to develop it.
The developers have released several versions of VDS over time.
