1
SECTION ONE
INTRODUCTION TO VIC 20
PROGRAMMER’S AID CARTRIDGE
1.1 Introduction
The VIC 20 PROGRAMMER’S AID CARTRIDGE
has been designed to help both new and
experienced BASIC programmers to write, edit
and debug programs quickly and easily. This is
achieved by the AID commands which are
automatically incorporated into the VIC
operating system when the cartridge is inserted.
The cartridge also assigns some of the AID
commands and some BASIC keywords to the
function keys thus giving the programmer his
own shorthand notation during program writing.
This, together with the facility for the programmer
to assign his own functions to these keys, make
PROGRAMMER’S AID an invaluable program-
ming accessory.
This manual does not attempt to teach BASIC
programming on the VIC. If you have no
knowledge of BASIC programming, please
refer to one of the following:
VIC 20 User Manual (supplied with your
computer).
An Introduction to BASIC Parts 1 and 2 by
Andrew Colin (part of the VIC learning series).
1.2 The PROGRAMMER’S AID
Manual
This manual is divided into three parts as
outlined below:
SECTION ONE – INTRODUCTION TO
PROGRAMMER’S AID
This section outlines PROGRAMMER’S AID in
broad terms. It also explains how to load and
start PROGRAMMER’S AID. The conventions
used by this manual in describing the format of
each PROGRAMMER’S AID commands are
also included.
SECTION TWO – THE COMMANDS OF
PROGRAMMER’S AID
In this section, the format of each
PROGRAMMER’S AID is stated, its purpose is
given, its uses explained and an example
shown. The commands are listed in the logical
order in which they might be used when writing
a BASIC program such as the one included in
Section Three of this manual.
SECTION THREE – USING PROGRAMMER’S
AID AS A TOOL
This section illustrates the speed and
efficiency of using PROGRAMMER’S AID when
programming in VIC BASIC. It demonstrates
how some of the cartridge’s attributes were used
to write, edit and debug a simple program.
1.3 Starting PROGRAMMER’S AID
The PROGRAMMER’S AID CARTRIDGE must
always be inserted or removed from the VIC
with the power off. The cartridge is inserted into
the expansion port on your VIC with the label
facing up. (See your VIC 20 User Guide.)
If a VIC 1010 Memory Expansion Board is in
use, this must also be turned off. The VIC 20
PROGRAMMER’S AID CARTRIDGE may be
used with VIC 1212 VIC Machine Code Monitor
and/or VIC 1211A Super Expander Cartridges.
It may also be used with expansion RAM in the
VIC 1010 Memory Expansion Board. Please
note, however, that some operations may
conflict if changing from one cartridge to
another. Therefore it is recommended that the
VIC be turned off to effect a good “switch”.
To begin using PROGRAMMER’S AID type:
SYS 28681 or SYS 7 * 40/ 96 + 9 and press the
RETURN key.
Your VIC will display: –
-- PROGRAMMER’S AID --
READY
All the PROGRAMMER’S AID commands are
now included in the operating system of your
VIC and may be used at any time like any other
BASIC command.
When PROGRAMMER’S AID is started, the
VIC is automatically in PROGRAM mode which
means that the four function keys on the right of
the VIC keyboard have been assigned
programming commands such as GOTO,
CHR$( and GOSUB. (See Section 2.3.1) The
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