Color BASIC

Color BASIC

Designed by	Bill Gates [1]
Developer	Microsoft
First appeared	1980;44 years ago (1980)
Stable release	Color BASIC 1.3 (1982) Extended Color BASIC ("ECB") (1984) Disk Extended Color BASIC ("DECB") (1984)
Platform	TRS-80 Color Computer

Color BASIC is the implementation of Microsoft BASIC that is included in the ROM of the Tandy/Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computers manufactured between 1980 and 1991. BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a high level language with simple syntax that makes it easy to write simple programs. Color BASIC is interpreted, that is, decoded as it is run.

Background

Disk Extended Color BASIC 2.1 on a Tandy Color Computer 3

The nucleus of Color BASIC was Microsoft BASIC-69 which Tandy licensed from Microsoft. Color BASIC 1.0 was released with the original 4k TRS-80 Color Computer in 1980. It resides on 8k bytes of ROM, and is responsible for all 'housekeeping' duties on the system. This includes hardware initialization, memory management, interrupt processing, etc. Like most implementations of BASIC, each line of code starts with a line number and consists of one or more statements with variables and operators. 16k of memory is required for the next level of BASIC, Extended Color BASIC. ("ECB") Extended BASIC is required for the floppy disk controller, which then gives you Disk Extended Color BASIC. ("DECB") Emulators of the Color Computers running this interpreter and the others are available for modern computers, some of which require a "snapshot" file of the physical machine. ^[2]

Variables

Color BASIC understands one type of numeric variable and string variables. Variable names in Color BASIC have the first two characters significant. The first character of the variable name must be a letter. The second can be either a letter or number. String variables are indicated by adding a dollar sign ($) after the variable name.

Examples

A=5A$="THIS IS A STRING"K7=10BB$="HELLO!"ZZ=1.54

Numeric variables have only one type, a binary floating point implementation. Each numeric variable uses 5 bytes of memory and can be in the range from -1E+38 up to 1E+37.

Unlike most implementations of Microsoft BASIC, Color BASIC requires the user to reserve space for string variables via the CLEAR statement.

Multidimensional arrays are also supported with both numeric and string variables. In the case of an array, the element address is enclosed with a parenthesis:

A(1)=1A$(1)="BOOKS"

Multiple dimensions are separated by commas

A(1,3)=4A$(2,2)="XYZ123"

Operators and Symbols

Color BASIC provides several operators for both mathematic and, to a lesser extent, string operations.

+ can be used to concatenate strings or for mathematical addition

- is used for subtraction

* is used for multiplication

/ is used for division

Parenthesis ( ) are used to override mathematical order of operation

AND is used for logical 'and' operations

OR is used for logical 'or' operations

NOT is used for logical 'not' operations

For testing, the following operators are used:

= is equal to

> is greater than

< is less than

>= is greater than or equal to (also => is acceptable)

<= is less than or equal to (also =< is acceptable)

<> is not equal to (also >< is acceptable)

Other symbols used in BASIC:

" " indicates string data is a constant (static)

: separates multiple commands on a single program line

A semicolon, when encountered in a PRINT function, will cause the output to remain on the same line

A comma, when encountered in a PRINT function, will tab to the next column

Key

num indicates a numeric expression is required. This can be a fixed number, a variable, or other operation or function that returns a numeric quantity.

str indicates a string expression is required. This can be a static string value (in quotes), a string variable, or other function or expression that returns a string of characters.

device number indicates a device. By default, device 0 (screen and keyboard) is assumed. In Color BASIC, device #-1 (cassette) and #-2 (printer) are available to the programmer.

Edit mode

If you make a mistake typing in a line, you can either retype it from scratch (or DEL it).. or you can EDIT it. When in EDIT mode, you get a reprint of the line, and a second copy that you SPACEbar across chars. You cannot use arrow keys. backspace takes you left, but does not actually erase it in the buffer. 'i' puts you in insert mode. pressing return gets you out of it. 'c' changes one char, 'd' deletes one char. 'x' takes you to end of line, allowing you to e'x'tend it. 'l' redraws the line. 's' searches for the next instance of a character. For the 's', 'c' and 'd' commands you can also enter a number (#) before pressing any of them which will: 's' - search for the # instance of the character, 'c' - allow you to change # of characters, 'd' - delete # amount characters.

Functions

ABS(num)

returns the absolute value of num

ASC(str)

returns the ASCII code of the first character in str

CHR$(num)

returns a single string character with the ASCII code num

EOF(device number)

returns 0 if the file has data, or -1 if at the end of the file

INKEY$

returns a character if a key on the keyboard has been pressed, or null if nothing is pressed

INT(num)

returns the integer portion of num

INSTR(startpos,search str,target str)

searches for the first string, in the target str. startpos is optional.

JOYSTK(num)

returns the position of the joystick axis (0-3) with a value from 0 to 63

LEFT$(str,num)

returns the first ("left") num characters of string str

LEN(str)

returns the length (in characters) of string str

MEM

returns the available free memory in bytes

MID$(str,start num,length num)

returns a sub-string of string str beginning at position start num and length num characters long. Can also reassign by adding ="newvalue"

PEEK(num)

returns the value of the memory location num (0-65535)

POINT(x num,y num)

returns the color of the semigraphics dot at position x numm (0-63) and y num (0-31)

RIGHT$(str,position num)

returns the end ("right") portion of string str beginning at character position num

RND(number)

returns a random number (integer) between 1 and num

SGN(num)

returns the sign of a number num, 1 if positive, -1 if negative, 0 if 0

SIN(num)

returns the sine of num in radians

STR$(num)

returns a string of the number num

USR(num)

calls a machine language subroutine whose address is stored in memory locations 275 and 276. num is passed to the routine, and a return value is assigned when the routine is done

Commands

AUDIO [ON|OFF]

Connects or disconnects cassette audio from the TV sound

CLEAR variable space[,highest memory location]

reserves memory for string variables, and optionally, a machine language program

CLOAD ["name"]

loads BASIC program from cassette. If no name is specified, the next program is loaded

CLOADM ["name"]

loads machine language program from cassette. If no name is specified, the next program is loaded

CLOSE [device number]

closes a device (in Color BASIC this can only be #-1, the cassette)

CLS(num)

clears the screen. An optional color num (0-8) can be specified

CONT

continues a program after pressing BREAK or a STOP statement

CSAVE ["name"]

saves a BASIC program to cassette with optional name

DATA var,var,var...

stores data in a BASIC program for retrieval with the READ command

DIM variable(dimension[,dimension 2,...]

dimensions an array and reserves memory space for it

END

indicates the end of a BASIC program

EXEC

[memory address] executes the machine language program at memory address. If none specified, the execute address of the program loaded off tape is used

INPUT [device number] [{prompt text};] variable [,variable 2, variable n]

Waits for input from device number. If not specified, device 0 (keyboard) is assumed. An optional prompt can be printed on the screen for the input statement

LIST [starting line] - [ending line]

lists line(s) of your program. Either start or end can be omitted, or if both are omitted, the entire program will be listed

LLIST [starting line] - [ending line]

works like LIST, but outputs to the printer

MOTOR [ON|OFF]

turns the cassette motor on or off

NEW

erases contents of memory (program and variable)

ON {num} GOSUB line 1, line 2, ... line n

evaluates expression num and calls the numth subroutine listed

ON (num) GOTO line 1, line 2, ... line n

evaluates expression num and jumps to the numth line listed

OPEN "[I|O]",device number[,"filename"]

opens a device for communication

POKE memory address, data

writes data (0-255) into memory address (0-65535)

PRINT device number,expression

prints data to device specified. If omitted, #0 (screen) is assumed

PRINT @{screen position} expression

works like PRINT, but prints at the location specified (0-511)

READ variable[,variable,...]

reads the next variable(s) from the BASIC program embedded with DATA statements

RENUM NewStart num, OldStart num, Increment num

renumbers each line (optional Oldstart ) (with optional NewStart) of the program : at multiples of (optional num).: If all options are omitted, the list will use 10 for increment. : With a program with 10 lines, with 10 separation. 10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100: renum 100, 40, 2. This will renumber, Starting at line number 40. It will change all line number following and including 40 by 2. lines now 10,20,30,100,102,104,106,108,110, 112

RESET(x,y)

sets the semigraphics pixel at location x (0-63) and y (0-31) to black

RESTORE

resets the READ pointer back to the first DATA statement

RETURN

returns from a subroutine

RUN num

runs the BASIC program, optionally, at the line number specified

SET(x,y,color)

sets the semigraphics pixel at location x (0-63) y (0-31) to color (0-8)

SKIPF ["filename"]

skips over BASIC programs on tape until the program name specified is found

SOUND tone,duration

sounds a tone with frequency (1-255) and duration (1-255)

STOP

causes the program to stop executing

TAB(column)

tabs to the column specified (used with PRINT)

VAL(str)

returns the numeric value of a string that contains a number in string form

Control flow

GOSUB {line number}

calls the subroutine at the line number specified

GOTO {line number}

jumps to the program's line number specified

IF {test} THEN {command(s)} [ELSE {command(s)}]

performs conditional test. If the test is true THEN commands are executed, otherwise (ELSE) other commands are executed. If the no ELSE is specified, and the test is false, the next line of the program will be run

 FOR {num} = {number} TO {number} [STEP {number}] ... NEXT (num)

creates a loop where the numeric variable (num) runs from start number to end number in increments of number (STEP). If step is omitted, 1 is assumed

Error Messages

/0

division by zero

AO

file specified is already open

BS

bad subscript. subscript is out of DIM range

CN

can't continue (see CONT command)

DD

attempt to redimension an array

DN

invalid device number

DS

direct statement error (program has no line numbers)

FC

illegal function call: function contains a value that is out of range

FD

bad file data: attempt to read a number into a string value, etc.

FM

bad file mode, attempt to INPUT data to a file open for OUTPUT, etc.

ID

illegal direct: the specified command can only be run in a program

IE

input past end of file. See EOF

IO

input/output error

LS

long string: strings can only have 255 characters

NF

NEXT without FOR

NO

file not open

OD

out of data: attempt to read beyond the last DATA in the program

OM

out of memory

OS

out of string space: see CLEAR

OV

overflow: the number is out of range

RG

RETURN without GOSUB

SN

syntax error

ST

string operation too complex

TM

type mismatch (A$=3, A="CAT")

UL

attempt to GOTO or GOSUB to a line that doesn't exist

Documented ROM subroutines

There are a few subroutines available for machine language programs in the Color BASIC ROM that are available for general purpose programming.

POLCAT

address [$A000]: polls keyboard for a character

CHROUT

address [$A002]: outputs a character to screen or device

CSRDON

address [$A004]: starts cassette and prepares for reading

BLKIN

address [$A006]: reads a block from cassette

BLKOUT

address [$A008]: writes a block to cassette

JOYIN

address [$A00A]: reads joystick values

References

1. 80-U-S. Interviews Bill Gates of Microsoft, 80-U.S. - Volume IV Number 3 (1981-05)(80-Northwest Publishing)(US), Page 8. Most recently he completed the work on the Radio Shack color computer. He is most excited about the Extended Color Basic package he wrote.
2. MESS

Notes

• Getting Started With Color BASIC, 1980, Tandy Corporation. Publication #8749266
• Color Computer Disk System (Tandy) , 1981, Tandy Corporation. Publication #8749470-BCo
• Getting Started With Extended Color BASIC , 1984, Tandy Corporation. Publication #811013700A
• Color Computer 3 Extended Basic (Tandy) , 1986, Tandy Corporation. Publication #81101910A