notes:atari:basic
Table of Contents
Atari BASIC
Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| ENTER “H1:PROGRAM.BAS” | Load a BASIC program |
| LIST “H1:PROGRAM.BAS” | Save a BASIC program |
| NEW | Clear the computer's memory by erasing any old instructions |
| DOS | Switch to DOS |
| PRINT FRE(0) | Check how much memory is available |
| BYE | Activate Self Test |
| PRINT#6;“HELLO” | Display characters in the graphics window in a split-screen mode |
Examples of using PRINT:
PRINT "TEXT", TEXT followed by a tab PRINT "TEXT";"ABC" Concatenated strings: TEXTABC PRINT "TEXT":PRINT "ABC" Two instructions in the same line PRINT New line
Input/Output
The Atari disk input/output commands:
- OPEN #num, code, 0, file
- CLOSE #num
- PRINT #num
- INPUT #num
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| num | A reference number between 1 and 7 that is used to refer to the file throughout a program. The reference number is also called IOCB number (Input/Output Control Block). |
| code | An open code is a number that tells the computer if you want to read, write: 4 - read 8 - write; first erase the file and start writing at the beginning 12 - read/write 9 append; add to end of file |
| file | A file specification composed of the device and filename. |
Example:
DIM F$(20) F$="H1:TEST.DAT" OPEN #1,8,0,F$ Open a file TEST.DAT for writing PRINT #1;"HELLO!" Write a string to the file PRINT #1; 123.4 Write a number (as a string) to the file PRINT #1;"THERE IS MORE:"; 987 Write a string and a number (as a string) to the file CLOSE #1 Flush the buffer and close the file OPEN #2,4,0,F$ Open a file TEST.DAT for writing REM Note that we could use #1 again as the file has been closed DIM D$(30):REM Allocate memory for a string we want to read from the file INPUT #2,D$ Read the string to the variable D$ PRINT D$:REM Prints HELLO! INPUT #2,D$:REM Read the next string (which is a number stored as a string) PRINT D$:REM Prints 123.4
More on using disks with Atari BASIC can be found here.
Editor
- ^ - Control key
- ! - Shift key
- Delete a line by typing its number.
- Stop the LIST instruction: Control + 1
- Display a graphical symbol: Control + key
- Switch to graphical symbols mode: Control + Caps
- Insert a space: Control + Insert
- Insert a line above the current line: Shift + Insert
- Delete the current line: Shift + Delete
- Arrows: Control + arrow key
notes/atari/basic.txt · Last modified: 2018/01/10 by leszek
