F1?

I am deep into coding my first app.
Of course my code does not compile on first try, no problema, but..
Where is "help " file?
Apparently nowhere since "F1"( customary help function key, does not do squat.
OK. I can live with that - how about a hint - besides "Google it "- where are the definitions of the error codes?
I do understand that some compilers are not super smart, but this is rather disappointing - no debugger either.
To put is bluntly - how do I check the library function? Is is really doing what I want?
Is Googling for it the only way?
It seems that most library problems are solved with " use this sample code ..."
Cheers
Vaclav

I do understand that some compilers are not super smart, but this is rather disappointing - no debugger either.

Until you get your code to compile, what use is a debugger?

Where is "help " file?

You're in it.

The code and the compiler are standard C/C++; error messages are exactly as you would expect.

there is a nice reference html file, available under help.
and yes this forum obvious.
one warning is the place where you define variables is difficult.

Arduino: 1.5.4 (Windows XP), Board: "Arduino Uno"

Atlas_Ver3_LCD:18: error: 'Encoder' does not name a type
Atlas_Ver3_LCD:19: error: 'Encoder' does not name a type

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.

OK, explain this ( and only this ) to me.

I got the
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences

after I copied the error - using "Copy error".

Not what I would call helpful, beside where did it copied the error?
I am beginning to see this is going to be fun. Hit and miss.
Cheers
Vaclav

Vaclav:
Of course my code does not compile on first try, no problema, but..
Where is "help " file?

Here:

OK. I can live with that - how about a hint - besides "Google it "- where are the definitions of the error codes?
I do understand that some compilers are not super smart, but this is rather disappointing - no debugger either.
To put is bluntly - how do I check the library function? Is is really doing what I want?

This is incredibly vague. How about posting your code, and then the error message? How on earth are we supposed to help you?

Please use code tags.

Read this before posting a programming question

How to use this forum

Vaclav:
Arduino: 1.5.4 (Windows XP), Board: "Arduino Uno"

Version 1.5.4 is beta. For the Uno I would use 1.0.5.

Not what I would call helpful, beside where did it copied the error?

The Clipboard? Where does stuff usually get copied?

@Vaclav, welcome to the world of FREE (as in money) open source code.

Of course if you wish to pay someone to write all the extensive help information that you have come to expect from non-free Microsoft products ...

If you work with the system you will find a lot of people willing to give their time for free to assist you. And hopefully when you become more experienced you will return the favour for others who are starting out at that time.

...R

Vaclav:
... this is rather disappointing - no debugger either.
To put is bluntly - how do I check the library function? Is is really doing what I want?
Is Googling for it the only way?

First, read the library documentation. Most libraries do what the documentation says.

Second, read the library source yourself:

Third, I don't think debuggers help on imbedded platforms that much. A lot of stuff it timing dependent, and stopping your code at a breakpoint and examining variables simply makes problems go away (or introduces new ones).

Having said that, I believe you can get hardware debuggers for these chips, you need to buy the hardware from Atmel and then use their development platform.