porter@inuxd.UUCP (J Porter) (03/06/84)
========================================================================
For those of you who have been missing out on the lastest free
operating system for your C64, take note. This is probably of
general interest anyways. COMAL is like SIMON'S BASIC only
better (in most respects), and you can't beat the price, because
it's in the public domain. The following is a short description
followed by a complete command summary. Every 64 owner ought
to have this one.
Jeff Porter (inuxd!porter)
AT&T Consumer Products
Indianapolis
=======================================================================
COMAL FOR THE COMMODORE 64
Welcome to COMAL, the language designed to replace BASIC.
This information is as of November 25, 1983 and is subject
to change.
COMAL TODAY newsletter is the source for up to date
information about COMAL, as well as many helpful hints
and tutorial articles. Contributors to this newsletter
include Borge Christensen (founder of COMAL),
UniComal Aps (Authors of all CBM COMAL systems), and Len
Lindsay (author of COMAL HANDBOOK). It is published by
the COMAL Users Group (USA) for $14.95.
The COMAL HANDBOOK is meant to be a complete reference
for all versions of CBM COMAL. This book is published by
Reston Publishing (1-800-336-0338). It retails for about
$18.95 and is available through most large book
stores, such as B. Daltons, or from the COMAL Users Group
(USA).
The CAPTAIN COMAL series of book/disk packages are meant
to be tutorials to modular programming with COMAL. The
first, CAPTAIN COMAL GETS ORGANIZED, is available from the
COMAL Users Group for $19.95 (including book and disk).
CBM COMAL version 0.14 on this disk includes added
graphics, turtle, and sprite commands. Also the keywords
KEY$ and PRINT USING are included. Otherwise COMAL HANDBOOK
first edition can be used as reference for version
0.14. (Whenever the book mentions version 0.12, just
replace it with 0.14). The only difference is in
selecting the output location. Version 0.12 used
SELECT OUTPUT "LP" and SELECT OUTPUT "DS". Version 0.14
uses SELECT OUTPUT "LP:" and SELECT OUTPUT "DS:". The
colon is now required, allowing it to be compatible with
the advanced file handling system employed by the version
2.00 cartridge due for release Spring 1984.
The graphics, sprite, and turtle commands will be
documented by the book COMMODORE 64 GRAPHICS AND SOUND
WITH COMAL to be published by Reston Publishing
Summer 1984. A brief summary of all these added
commands and statements are included in the data file
on this disk called INSTRUCTIONS. Run the program
SEE'INSTRUCTIONS to read about them. It lists all the words
with their correct syntax. [ed: shown below]
There are two ways to store programs on the disk, and two
corresponding ways to retrieve them:
SAVE "NAME" This saves the program currently in the computer
onto disk as a binary file with the name you
specified inside quotes. It can be retrieved via LOAD,
but only with an exact same CBM COMAL version.
LIST "NAME.L" This stores the program currently in the
computer onto disk as an ASCII file with the name you
specified inside quotes (we suggest that you end the
file name with a .L to remind you later that the file is a
LIST file). The file is a bit larger than the same program
stored via SAVE. However, this ASCII file has many
additional uses. It can be retrieved by ANY CBM COMAL
version. It can be merged with another program at a later
time. It can be read by another program using
INPUT FILE statements.
LOAD "NAME" This will erase the current program first,
then will retrieve the program stored on disk with the
name you specified inside quotes. Then to run the
program issue the RUN command.
CHAIN "NAME" This is similar to the LOAD command, but
the program will LOAD and RUN automatically.
ENTER "NAME.L" This will merge the program or program
segment from disk with the one currently in the
computer (remember the suggested .L at the end of the
file name). Line numbers are significant during this
process in version 0.14. If a line is ENTERed with a
same line number as one already existing in the computer,
the previous line is deleted and the new line ENTERed
replaces it. To avoid this problem, simply RENUMber a
program or program segment to high line number before
LISTing it to disk (ie, RENUM 8000). To retrieve a whole
program, issue the NEW command first, then the ENTER
command.
To list the program currently in the computer to the
printer: SELECT OUTPUT "LP:" LIST
To see what is on your disk: CAT
SPECIAL NOTE: Due to a peculiarity in the C64 serial IEEE
to disk and printer you cannot select output to printer
and then do a CAT. But the COMAL USERS GROUP (USA) has
provided you a way to print a disk directory on the printer
bypassing this problem. Try the program called
"PRINT'DIRECTORY".
NOTE ON OLD COMAL 0.12 PROGRAMS Programs written for version
0.12 will run on version 0.14. But LIST them to disk from
version 0.12 and ENTER them into 0.14. The LOAD/SAVE files
are not completly compatible and could lock out your
system.
Do NOT try to LOAD a BASIC program file into COMAL. COMAL
gets upset.
======================================
COMAL Users Group
5501 Groveland Terrace
Madison, WI 53716
(608) 222-4432
Include $2 Shipping/Handling with every order. Or send a
self addressed stamped envelope for more information.
Prices listed are subject to change.
COMAL KEYWORDS: (version 0.14)
// -- allows comments in a program
//[<anything>]
ABS -- gives the absolute value
ABS(<numeric expression>)
AND -- logical AND
<expression> AND <expression>
APPEND -- start at end of seq file
OPEN [FILE] <file#>,<filename>,APPEND
ATN -- arctangent in radians
ATN(<numeric expression>)
AUTO -- automatic line numbering
AUTO [<start line>][,<increment>]
BASIC -- back into BASIC mode
BASIC
CASE -- multiple choice decisions
CASE <control expression> [OF]
CAT -- gives disk directory
CAT [<drive number>]
CHAIN -- load & run program on disk
CHAIN <filename>
CHR$ -- gives that numbers character
CHR$(<numeric expression>)
CLOSE -- closes files
CLOSE [[FILE] <filenum>]
CLOSED -- all proc/func variables local
PROC <procname>[(params)] [CLOSED]
FUNC <funcname>[(params)] [CLOSED]
CON -- continue program execution
CON
COS -- cosine in radians
COS(<numeric expression>)
DATA -- provides data for a READ
DATA <value>[,<value>][,...]
DEL -- deletes lines
DEL <range>
DELETE -- deletes a file from disk
DELETE <filename>
DIM -- allocates string & array space
DIM <string var> OF <max char>
DIM <str array>(<index>) OF <max char>
DIM <array name>(<array index>)
DIV -- division with integer answer
<dividend> DIV <divisor>
DO -- do the following statements
DO <statements>
EDIT -- list lines without indentations
EDIT [<range>]
ELIF -- short for ELSE IF condition
ELIF <expression> [THEN]
ELSE -- IF struc alternative statements
ELSE
END -- halt program execution
END
ENDCASE -- end of CASE structure
ENDCASE
ENDFOR -- end of FOR structure
ENDFOR [<control variable>]
ENDFUNC -- end of function
ENDFUNC [<function name>]
ENDIF -- end of IF structure
ENDIF
ENDPROC -- end of procedure
ENDPROC [<procedure name>]
ENDWHILE -- end of WHILE structure
ENDWHILE
ENTER --merge program segment from disk
ENTER <filename>
EOD -- End Of Data flag
EOD
EOF -- End Of File flag
EOF(<filenum>)
ESC -- stop key pressed flag
ESC
TRAP ESC<type>
EXEC -- execute a procedure
[EXEC] <name>[(<actual param list>)]
EXP -- natural log e to n
EXP(<numeric expression>)
FALSE -- predefined value = 0
FALSE
FILE -- specifies that a file is used
INPUT FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]: <var list>
PRINT FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]: <val list>
READ FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]: <var list>
WRITE FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]: <var list>
OPEN [FILE] <file#>,<filename>[,<type>]
CLOSE [[FILE] <file#>]
FOR -- start of FOR loop structure
FOR <var>=<st> TO <e> [STEP <stp>] [DO]
FUNC -- start of a multiline function
FUNC <name>[(<parm>)] [EXTERNAL <name>]
FUNC <name>[(<parm>)] [CLOSED]
GOTO -- go to line with this name
GOTO <label name>
IF -- start of conditional IF structure
IF <condition> [THEN]
IF <condition> THEN <statement>
IN --locate string1 position in string2
<string1> IN <string2>
INPUT -- input from keyboard or file
INPUT [<prompt>:] <var list>
INPUT FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]:<var list>
INT -nearest integer less than or equal
INT(<numeric expression>)
KEY$ -- scans keyboard (not PET 0.14)
KEY$
LABEL -- assigns label name to line
<label name>:
LEN -- gives the length of string
LEN(<string expression>)
LET -- assign value to variable
:=
LIST -- list program
LIST [<range>] [<filename>]
LOAD -- load a program from disk
LOAD <filename>
LOG -- natural logarithm of n
LOG(<numeric expression>)
MOD -- division remainder (modulo)
<dividend> MOD <divisor>
NEW -- clears program from memory
NEW
NOT -- logical NOT
NOT <condition>
NULL -- does nothing (no op)
NULL
OF -- part of DIM or CASE structure
CASE <expression> [OF]
DIM <stringvar> OF <max char>
DIM <stringarray>(index) OF <max char>
OPEN -- open a file
OPEN [FILE] <file#>,<filename>[,<type>]
OR -- logical OR
<condition> OR <condition>
ORD -- integer representing the char
ORD(<string expression>)
OTHERWISE -- default for CASE
OTHERWISE
OUTPUT -- select output location
SELECT [OUTPUT] <type>
PASS -pass string to disk command chanl
PASS <disk command>
PEEK -- look at memory
PEEK(<memory address>)
POKE -- change memory location
POKE <memory address>,<contents>
PRINT -prints items to scrn/printr/file
PRINT [FILE <filenum>:] [<items>]
PRINT [FILE <fil#>:] USING <fmt>:<vars>
(RANDOM file use:[FILE <fil#>,<rec#>:])
PROC -- start of multiline procedure
PROC <nam>[(<parm>)] [EXTERNAL <name>]
PROC <nam>[(<parm>)] [CLOSED]
RANDOM -- random access disk file
OPEN FILE <fil#>,<name>,RANDOM <recln>
READ -read data from DATA line or file
READ <var list>
READ FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]: <var list>
OPEN [FILE] <filenum>,<filename>,READ
REF -parm var used in reference in proc
REF <var>
RENUM -- renumber program
RENUM [<targetstart>][,<increment>]
REPEAT -- start of REPEAT structure
REPEAT
RESTORE -- reuse DATA with READ
RESTORE
RND -- random number
RND(<num>)
RND(<start num>:<end num>)
RUN -- run program now in memory
RUN
SAVE -- record program on disk
SAVE <filename>
SELECT -- choose output location
SELECT [OUTPUT] <type>
SGN -- -1 if neg, 0 if 0, 1 if pos
SGN(<numeric expression>)
SIN -- gives sine in radians
SIN(<numeric expression>)
SIZE -- memory usage (free memory)
SIZE
SQR -- gives square root
SQR(<numeric expression>)
STATUS$ -- status of disk channel
STATUS$
STEP -incremnt FOR loop var this amount
STEP <numeric expression>
STOP -- halt program execution
STOP
SYS -give control to assembly language
SYS(<memory address>)
TAB -- print spaces up to specified col
TAB(<column number>)
TAN -- gives tangent in radians
TAN(<numeric expression>)
THEN -- part of IF structure
THEN
TO -increment FOR variable start TO end
<start num> TO <end num>
TRAP -- disable stop key
TRAP ESC<type>
TRUE -- predefined value of 1
TRUE
UNIT -- specify unit (device)
OPEN FILE <#>,<n>,UNIT
<dv>[,<sc>][,<tp>]
UNTIL -- end of REPEAT loop
UNTIL <expression>
USING --formatted output (not PET 0.14)
PRINT USING <format>: <var list>
WHEN -- choice in CASE structure
WHEN <list of values>
WHILE -- start of WHILE structure
WHILE <expression> [DO] [<statement>]
WRITE -- write to a file
WRITE FILE <file#>[,<rec#>]: <var list>
OPEN [FILE] <filenum>,<filename>,WRITE
ZONE -- tab increment
ZONE <tab interval>
ZONE
TURTLE GRAPHICS CHART CBM COMAL
----------------------- ---------
TURTLE CONTROL:
Move forward length FORWARD
Move backward length BACK
Home turtle HOME
Turn turtle left LEFT
Turn turtle right RIGHT
Move to a point SETXY
Turn to specific heading SETHEADING
Make turtle visible SHOWTURTLE
Make turtle invisible HIDETURTLE
Pen up off paper PENUP
Pen down on paper PENDOWN
Set pen color PENCOLOR
Number of colors 16
Set size of turtle TURTLESIZE
Plot a point PLOT
Print text in graphics PLOTTEXT
SCREEN AND COLOR CONTROL:
Set screen window FRAME
Clear graphics screen CLEAR
Set to graphics mode SETGRAPHIC
Set to text screen SETTEXT
Set background color BACKGROUND
Set border color BORDER
Fill in an area FILL
Full screen mode FULLSCREEN
Split screen mode SPLITSCREEN
FUNCTION KEYS RESULTS:
F1 TEXT SCREEN
F3 SPLITSCREEN
F5 FULLSCREEN
COMMODORE 64 COMAL COLORS LIST
COL COLOR CHR$ ! COL COLOR CHR$
NUM NAME ! NUM NAME
--- ----- --- ! --- ------- ---
0 BLACK 144 ! 8 ORANGE 129
1 WHITE 5 ! 9 BROWN 149
2 RED 28 ! 10 LT RED 150
3 CYAN 159 ! 11 DK GREY 151
4 PURPL 156 ! 12 MD GREY 152
5 GREEN 30 ! 13 LT GREEN 153
6 BLUE 31 ! 14 LT BLUE 154
7 YELLW 158 ! 15 LT GREY 155
SPRITES (version 0.14)
DATACOLLISION -test collision with data
DATACOLLISION <sprt#>,<reset cols flg?>
DEFINE -set up sprite image for later
DEFINE <sprt definitn#>,<64 byte def$>
HIDESPRITE -- turn off specified sprite
HIDESPRITE <sprite number>
IDENTIFY -- assign a sprite an image
IDENTIFY <sprite number>,<definition #>
(note: sprite 7 is used for the turtle)
PRIORITY -does data priority over sprt
PRIORITY <sprite #>,<data priority?>
SPRITEBACK -set 2 multicolor sprt colrs
SPRITEBACK <color1>,<color2>
SHOWSPRITE -- turn on specified sprite
SHOWSPRITE <sprite number>
SPRITECOLLISION -test sprite collision
SPRITECOLLISION <spr#>,<reset col flg?>
SPRITECOLOR -- set color of sprite
SPRITECOLOR <sprite #>,<color number>
SPRITEPOS -- position sprite at x,y loc
SPRITEPOS <sprt#>,<x coord>,<y coord>
SPRITESIZE -sprite size (expand or not)
SPRITESIZE <spr#>,<y xpand?>,<x xpand?>
HIGH RES and TURTLE graphics COMAL 0.14
BACK -- move turtle backwards
BACK <length>
BACKGROUND -set screen background color
BACKGROUND <color number>
BORDER -- set the screen border color
BORDER <color number>
CLEAR -clear graphics screen (in frame)
CLEARSCREEN
DRAWTO -- draw line from current point
DRAWTO <x coordinate>,<y coordinate>
FILL -- fill in area with current color
FILL <x coordinate>,<y coordinate>
FORWARD -- move turtle forward
FORWARD <length>
FRAME -- set up a screen window
FRAME <x0>,<x1>,<y0>,<y1>
FULLSCREEN -- fullscreen graphics (f5)
FULLSCREEN
HIDETURTLE -- make the turtle invisible
HIDETURTLE
HOME -put turtle in its home position
HOME
LEFT -- turn turtle left
LEFT <degrees>
MOVETO -move to point without line
MOVETO <x coordinate>,<y coordinate>
PENCOLOR -set current turtle pen color
PENCOLOR <color number>
PENDOWN -put pen down-turtle draws line
PENDOWN
PENUP -pick up pen-no turtle lines
PENUP
PLOT -- plot a point in current color
PLOT <x coordinate>,<y coordinate>
PLOTTEXT -print text on graphics screen
PLOTTEXT <x coord>,<y coord>,<text$>
RIGHT -- turn turtle right
RIGHT <degrees>
SETGRAPHIC -- turn on graphics screen
SETGRAPHIC [<type>]
SETHEADING -- set turtle heading
SETHEADING <degree>
SETTEXT -- turn on text screen (f1)
SETTEXT
SETXY -- set turtle x and y coordinates
SETXY <x coordinate>,<y coordinate>
SHOWTURTLE -- make turtle visible
SHOWTURTLE
SPLITSCREEN -2 line text above graphics
SPLITSCREEN
TURTLESIZE -- set turtle size (0 to 10)
TURTLESIZE <size>