VECTOR 4 USER'S
MANUAL
VECTOR 4 ·CP!M TRANSIENT COMMANDS
TRANSIENT
COMMANDS
Wbat
Is
a
Transient
Command?
Recall
from
the
Introduction to Vector 4
CP/M
that
Transient Commands
are
additional
command
files written
to
support the operating system. A command
file
is
stored
in machine
code,
a
language
that
the computer can
read
and
process very quickly.
You
can tell a command file
from
the
directory
by
the
fact
that
it
has .an extension of
COM.
.
Each
program is
called
in
basically
the
same way: you simply type
the
file
name, any command lines
or
options used
by
the program, and a [RETURN].
If
the
input
doesn't
match a
command
file stored on
that
disk drive,
the
screen
will display your entry followed
by
a question mark.
If
this' happens, make
sure
that
'the entry was typed correctly. If so,
enter
Dm
and make sure that the file you want is on
that
disk
drive.
If
it
isn't,
log
onto the other drive (or check your other diskettes) and keep entering
Dm
until you find the file
you
need.
When
the
CCP finds the
command
file
that
matches your entry, a copy of
the
file is
sent
through the Basic
Input/Output
System (BIOS)
to
the
Transient
Program
Area
(TPA). From,
there,
the
program is
run
and
its
function
is
performed. .
What
The
Transient
Comma"",
Accomplish
Transient
commands
fall
into three categories: utilities, tests, and pt:ogramming
commands.
Utilities
help
with
disk
and
file
management;
tests
and
programming commands
are
used for program development, as well as when you
suspect a problem or
"bug" in either hardware or software and want
to
define
this
problem
further.
Of
the
programming and
test
commands, most
are
used
in advanced
prcigramming
functions, and are explained
in
the optional
Vector
4
Programmer's Guide. They will not be discussed in this manual.
Most
transient commands have two or more
options
to
allow you
to
achieve
the
exact
effect
you desire. In the
Overview
which follows, these options will
be
mentioned; in
the
PROCEDURES
FOR
USING
TRANSIENT
COMMANDS,
the
methods of using each option will
be
described
in
full.
Be
sure
you know
what options
are
available before you enter any transient command.
Rev. A -
09-01-82
7100-0001
IX-1
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