Atari 600XL

·15
Now that you are familiar
with your ATARI600XL
Home Computer, let's try
usmg the built-in ATARI
BASIC Programming
Language, a version of
one of the most popular
programming or com-
puter languages. You can
use ATARIBASIC Pro-
oramminc Language for
wntmg computer pro-
grams in any field from
education to business to
the arts. The language is
easy to learn, and can
make your computer a
more effective tool. For
more information about
programming, refer to
the reference card
packed with your com-
puter and to t11eneek In-
side ATARI BASIC, A
Fast, Fun and Friendly
Approach by William
Carris (available from
many Atari retailers and
bookstores).
The computer pro-
grams on the following
page are taken from this
book. They show some of
the remarkable things
your computer can do.
Program One demon-
strates the computer's
color and graphics capa-
bilities. Program Two
dramatically shows how
sound can add an extra
dimension to a program.
Progam Three is BASIC-
ally just for fun.
Since it's built in
ATARIBASIC is av'ailable
for use as soon as you
turn on the computer.
You may override the
language by either hold-
mg down the OPTION
key when you turn on the
computer or by plugging
in a program cartridge.
You may also exit BASIC
by typing the letters BYE
to go to the built-in self
tests, or the letters DOS
to activate the Disk
Operating System (when
you have an optional disk
drive connected to your
system).
If you make a mistake
while typing in a line of
your program, press the
DELETE BACK SPACE
key until you delete the
error, then type the cor-
rection and continue. You
may also go back to an
. error by holding down
the CONTROL key while
pressmg the appropriate
arrow keys. Refer to the
"KEYBOARD WIZAR-
DRY" section in this
guide for more informa-
tion about corrections.
If a program statement
has more characters than
will fit on one line of your
TV screen, the statement
will wraparound to the
next line. Press the
RETURN key only after
typmg the entire program
statement. Type the fol-
lowing BASIC programs
as wntten. Press BREAK
when you want to stop
the program being run.
Press the RETURN
key after you type in or
make a correction to
each complete program
statement (one or more
lines of program instruc-
tions beginning with a
line number). Pressing
RETURN signals the com-
puter that you have fin-
ished typing or editing.
Before you begin each
new program, type NEW
to clear the computer's
memory and then press
RETURN. .
If you don't type the
program exactly as writ-
ten here, after RUN is
typed you will get an Er-
ror Message that looks
like this:
The computer is telling
you that there is a mis-
take in program line
number 10. Return the
cursor to that line and
correct it. You may have
to type LIST or LIST 10to '
display the line on the
screen in order to cor-
rect it.