CHAPTER
Operoti
ng
the
VIC
20
This
chapter will introduce you to the basic operation of the VIC
20
and some
of
its peripheral devices: the data cassette, the
1540
disk drive, and
the
1515
printer.
It
is
especially important for you to become comfortable
with the VIC's keyboard and display and to become familiar with the
computer's two modes
of
operation: immediate and program modes.
IMMEDIATE
MODE
When you
turn
on the VIC
20
it
is
operating in immediate mode. The
flashing cursor signifies that the computer
is
waiting for instructions and
also shows where the next character you type on the keyboard will appear on
the screen.
In immediate mode, you can use the VIC
20
as you would a calculator.
You enter
statements-instructions to display information, perform a calcu-
lation, or carry out some other function. When you enter a statement and
press the
RETURN
key, the VIC processes, or executes, the statement. First,
though, the VIC checks your entry for
syntax-the
correct combination of
characters in a statement.
If
the syntax
is
correct, the statement executes.
If
it isn't correct, the following message appears:
?SYHTFIX
ERROR
READ
......
•
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