Laser 128 User manual

PERSONAL COMPUTER

FIRST EDITION -1987
All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without
express permission, of editorial or pictorial content, in
any manner, is prohibited. No patent liability is
assumed with respect to the use of the information
contained herein . While every precaution has been taken
in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes
no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any
liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of
the information contained herein.
©Copyright 1987 Video Technology Computers Ltd.

The following is applicable to U.S.A. FCC class B
version only
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency
energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in
st rict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions,
may cause interference to radio and television
r ece pti on. It has been type tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B computing device in
accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part
15 of FCC Rules, with the specifications to provide
r easo nable protection against such interference in a
residential installation. However, there is no guara ntee
th at interference will not occur in a p articular
installation . If this equipment do es cause interfer e nce to
r adio or tele visio n re cept ion, which can be determined
by turnin g the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to tr y to correct the int erference by one or
more of th e following measures:
Reorient the receiving antenna
Relocate the co mput er with respect to the rece ive r
Move the computer away from the receiver
Plug the computer into a diff ere nt outlet so that
computer an d receiver are on differ e nt branch c ircuit s.
If necessary, the us er s hould con s ult the deal er or an
experienced radio/television technician for ad ditional
suggest ions. The user may find the followin g booklet
prepared by the Federal Communic a tions Commission
helpful:
"How to Id e ntify and Resolve Radio-TV Interf erence
Problems".
This booklet is available from the U.S. Government
Printing Off ice , Washington , DC 20402, Stock No . 004-
000-00345-4.
Use peripheral cables s upplied by Video Technology.
These cables have special shielding to prohibit RF
interf ere nce.
11

PRECAUTIONS
1. POWER UP PRECAUTION
The computer hardw a re will not lose m emo ry
immediately after th e power is turned off. So the
user s hould wait for a very shor t mo ment to turn
on the computer after the unit has b een powered
down. Other wise the computer will not cold-start
properly.
2. WARNING ON EXPANSION CONNECTOR
The expansion co nn ect or on the le ft side of yo ur
computer is for the interface cards of th e Apple II
series comp uter s. Before you plug or unplu g the
interface card, please **MA:((E SURE YOUR
COMPUTER IS POWERED OFF** . The maximum
current th at can be drawn f rom +5V of t he
expansion co nn ecto r is 500MA.
Warrant~ · of th e computer may be void ed if thi s
rule is not fo ll owed and s ub se quent dam age to the
computer will be the sole re spons ibility of the
owner of the co mpu ter.
3. STATIC DISCHARGE DANGER
Under an extreme ly dry environment, th e re are
al ways chances to damage the co mput er due to
static di scharge. It is highl y des ir ab le that before
you plug or un p lug any peripheral cards to the 50
way card edge connector, you disch arge yourse lf by
touching your fing ers to the metal plate on th e
bottom of the comp uter . You sho ul d never try to
tou ch the pins of the connector w ith yo ur fingers.
4. WARNING ON VIDEO CONNECTOR
The v ideo connector on the rear panel of yo ur
computer is u sed for co nnectin g yo ur compute r to a
video monitor as the di sp lay device only,. You
sho uld ne ver connect s uch connector to th e anten na
in pu t of your TV set directly. Otherwise , th e
warranty of the computer may be voided if this
rule is not followed a nd s ub se quent damage to the
computer and / or your TV se t will be the sole
responsibility of the ow n er of the computer. If you
Ill

want to use your TV set as the display device, you
should connect a TV interface between the
computer and the TV set.
5. SETTING OF 40/80 COLUMN SWITCH
Some software needs this switch to be set to the 80
column position otherwise the program may break
out. Before running your softwa re, please check
that the switch is set to the required position.
6. SETTING OF ALT /ST D SWITCH
There is a keyboard layout switch on the back
panel of the computer. Setting the switch to the
STD position will give characters displayed as
shown on the keytops. Setting the switch to the
ALT position will give the DVORAK keyboard
layout. E.g. typing the key with "R" on it will give a
"P" character.
lV

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL ....... ..... .. ........... ................... .......... . .......... . .......... i
PRECAUTIONS ... ............. .... . .. . ........ ... ... . ..... . .. ..................... iii
PART I
USER'S GUIDE
1. A FIRST LOOK ........ . .. ................... ....... .. ..... . .............. I-1
1.1 FEATURES OF THE LASER 128/
128EX......................... .. . ... ............. .... ................... .. .. .I-2
1.2 THE PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL ...... .I-5
2. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE
LASER 128/128EX ............. .. ... .. ........................... ....... I-7
3. GETTING STARTED ......... .. . .. ....... ....................... .. .I-17
3.1 CONNECTING THE AC ADAPTOR ....... I- 18
3.2 CONNECTING THE VIDEO
MONITOR / TV ........ .. ..... ..................................... I-19
3.3 ST AR TING UP THE COMPUTER
SYSTEM ... ................ .. .. .. ................ .. . .. ..... ... ..... . ....... I- 21
4. THE KEYBOARD . ........... : .. . .............. .. .. ..................... I-25
4.1 TYPEWRITER KEYS .... . .... . .. . .. . .. ... .. . .. . .... ..... ... I- 27
4.2 CURSOR-CONTROL KEYS ..... .. .......... ........ I-30
4.3 COMMAND KEYS ...................................... ..... ..I-30
4.4 THE "CTRL" KEY ............................................. I-33
4.5 FUNCTION KEYS ........ ..................................... I-34
4.6 THE NUMERIC KEYPAD ......... ..... .............. I-36
5. THE VIDEO DISPLAY ............................... ............ I-37
5.1 SELECTING A SUITABLE VIDEO
DISPLAY DEVICE . .. ....... ................ ............. .. .1-38
5.2 VIDEO DISPLAY MODES ..... ..................... I-40
5.2.1 TEXT MODES ........ . ..... .................... I-41
5.2.l.l 40-COLUMN TEXT ... .. .I-41
5.2.1.2 80-COLUMN TEXT ...... I-42
v

TABLE OF CONTENTS
5.2.2 GRAPHICS MODES ..... ................. I-43
5.2.2.1 LOW- RESOLUT I ON
GRAPHICS ........................I-43
5.2.2.2 MEDIUM - RESOLUTION
GRAPHICS ........................I-44
5.2.2.3 HIGH - RESOLUTION
GRAPHICS ..... .. .. . .. . .. ...... . .. I-44
5.2.2.4 DOUBLE-HIGH -
RESOLUTION
GRAPHICS ... . ..... .. ... .. .... .. ..I-45
5.2.3 MIXED GRAPHICS / TEXT
DISPLAY .................. .. .. .... .. ................ I-46
6. INPUT /OUTPUT PORTS ...... .. .... .......................... I-48
6.1 BUILT - IN I/ 0 DEVICES AND
INTERFACES .....................................................1-49
6. 1.1 PORT 0- 40-COLUMN
DISPLAY ....... .... .................................... I-50
6.1.2 PORT 1- PARALLEL / SERIAL
PRINTER .... ... ..... . .... ............................. I-52
6.1.2 .l PARALLEL PR I NTER
COMMANDS .....................I-53
6.1.2.2 SER IAL PRINTER
COMMANDS ............ .. .... .. .I-55
6.1.2.3 PRINTING GRAPHICS
WITH THE
COMPUTER ....................1-59
6. 1.3 PORT 2- SERIAL
COMMUNICATION .. . ...... .... .. .. ...... .. I-60
6.1.4 PORT 3- 80-COLUMN
DISPLAY .......................... .. .............. ..I-64
6. 1 .5 PORT 4- MOUSE ................:........... 1-69
6.1.6 PORT 5- EXPANSION
MEMORY ... ................................ ........ I-70
6.1.7 PORT 6- 5.25" DISK DRIVE .... I- 71
6.1.7.1 ADJUSTING
DRIVE SPEED ............. .. 1-73
6.1.8 PORT 7- 3.5" DISK DRIVE .... .. I-74
6.2 EXPANSION CONNECTOR ....................... 1-74
Vl

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART II
BASIC MANUAL
1. INTRODUCTION .................................. .. . .. . .. ............. 11-1
1.1 TO START BASIC ........... .... ........ .. ....... . ........ 11-2
1.2 THIS MANUAL ...................................... ... . .. . .. 11- 2
1 .3 VARIABLES .. .. . .... .............. ......... .. .................. .. 11-3
1.4 VARIABLE NAMES ........... . ..... . .............. . ..... 11-4
1.5 ARRAY VARIABLES .................................. 11-5
1.6 EXPRESSIONS AND OPERATORS ..... II-6
1.6.1 ARITHMETICAL
OPERATORS ..... ....................... .... ..... 11-6
1.6.2 LOGICAL OPERA TORS . ....... . .... II -7
1.6.3 RELATIONAL OPERA TORS . .. 11-8
1.6.4 FUNCTIONAL OPERATORS .. 11-9
1.7 STRING OPERATIONS ............................ .. II-9
2. SOME BACKGROUND IN BASIC
PROGRAMMING ................................................... ..... 11-12
2.1 LINE FORMAT .......... .....................................II- 12
2.2 CONSTANTS ................... .... .. .. .............. ............ II-13
2.3 USING A PRINTER WITH THE
COMPUTER ................. . ............... ..................... 11-14
2.4 SERIAL PRINTER .. . ......... .. . .. . .. ... . ....... .. ....... 11-14
2.5 PARALLEL PRINTER .......... . ...... . ....... .. ..... 11-16
3. BASIC COMMANDS AND STATEMENTS . ... 11-18
3.1 AMPERSAND COMMAND(&) ......... ....... .11-19
3.2 CALL ... ..................... .. . .. ............ .. ..................... .... .11-20
3.3 CHR$ ......... .................. .. . ....... .. ............................ .. 11 -21
3.4 CLR .............................. .. .... . ....... .. .......................... 11 -22
3.5 COLOR .................................................... .. .. ......... 11-23
3.6 CONT ....................... .. ............... . ... .. ..... ................. 11-25
3.7 DATA ....... . .. ... ........................ .. ..... .. ....... .. ..... .. ...... 11-26
3.8 DEF FN ................... ........... .. ...............................11-27
3.9 DEL ............ .. . .. .. ..................................................... 11-28
3.10 DIM ................................. .. ...... .............. .... .. ........... 11-29
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
3.11 DRAW .............................. .... .................................II-31
3 .1 1.1 DRAWING SHAPES ....................... 11-31
3.11.2 SETTING UP THE SHAPES ..... 11-31
3.11.3 THE SHAPE TABLE ..... .. .............. 11-32
3.11.4 BEFORE USING DRAW,
XDRAW, ROT AND SCALE ..... 11-34
3.11.5 ENTERING A SHAPE
TABLE ......... .. .. ........... .. . .. . ........... .... ..... II-35
3.12 END ....... .......... ........ ..................................... ...... ... II - 37
3.13 FLASH .......... .. ................................... ... . .. ...... ....... II-39
3.14 FOR ... NEXT .......... .. ... . .... ..... ............. .. .. ............. 11 -40
3.15 GET ........................................................................ 11- ·43
3.16 GOSUB ... RETURN ....................... ..... ..... . .. . .. :.11-44
3.17 GOTO ......................... .............. ... ... .................. ... .. II-46
3.18 GR ...................................... .. ............. .. ... .. ........ . ..... II -48
3. 19 HCOLOR ........ .....................................................11-49
3.20 HGR HGR2 ......................................................11-50
3.21 HIMEM: .............. .... ......................... ........... ..... . .. .. 11-51
3.22 HLIN ............... ....... ...... .... ..................................... 11-52
3.23 HOME .... ...... ........ . ....... ........ ................................. 11 -53
3.24 HPLOT . ....... ................. ... ....... ............. ......... ........11-54
3.25 HT AB ............................................................ .. . ..... 11-55
3.26 IF ... GOTO AND IF ... THEN .................... .... 11-56
3.27 IN# ... ..... .. ........... .. ..... ... .... ....... .. . .. ........ ............. ..... 11 -58
3.28 INPUT ................ .. ....... . ........... ... ..... . .............. . .... .II-59
3.29 INVERSE ............................................................II-60
3.30 LEFT$ ........................................ .. .... .. . .. . .. .... . ........ II-61
3.31 LET ............................................. ........ ............ ... .... II-62
3.32 LIST .. . .. . .. . ....... . ...... . ......... . .. .............. ........... .......... 11-63
3.33 LOMEM: .............................. ..... . .......... .. ..... . .. ..... ..11-64
3.34 MID$ ........................... ... .... . .. ... .. . ........... ................ 11-65
3.35 NEW ..................... ....... ............... .. .... ..... ....... .. . .. . .... 11-66
3.36 NORMAL ..... .. ... . .......... . .. . .. . ..... ........................... 11-67
3.37 NOTRACE .... .............. ..... .. .. .... ........ .......... ......... 11-68
3.38 ONERR GOTO .......... ..... .... ................. .... ..... .... 11-69
3.39 ON ... GOSUB AND ON .. . GOTO ......... .. .... .. 11·71
3.40 PDL ............................... .......... ......... .............. .. .... .. 11-73
3.41 PEEK . ... .. .. ..................... .. ........................ ....... .. . .... 11-74
3.42 PLOT .................... .. . .. ............................................ 11-75
3.43 POKE ................ .... . ......... . .. ................. ........ .... . ..... 11-76
3.44 POP . .. .. .... ... .... .......... ...... . .. . .. . ... .............................. 11-77
3.45 PR# .... .. ......... .. ................... .... .. .............. .... ............11·78
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
3.46 PRINT .. . ...... .... ... ...... .. ...... .... .. ...... . ...... .. ...............11-80
3.47 READ ...................... .... ..........................................11-82
3.48 REM ....... . ...... .... .. . .... .. .......................................... .. 11 -83
3.49 RESTORE ... ..... ............................ .. ............... .. .... 11-84
3.50 RESUME ......... ....... .............................. .... .. ...... .... 11-85
3.51 RIGHT$ ............................................ .. .................11-86
3.52 ROT .......... ... ....................................................... .. . 11-87
3.53 RUN .. .... .. ............. .. .................................... .... .......11-88
3.54 SCALE .................................................. .. ..............11-89
3.55 SCRN .... ....................... ... .......................................11-90
3.56 SPC ........................................................ .. ...............II-91
3.57 SPEED ...................................................................11-92
3.58 STOP ......................................................................11-93
3.59 STR$ .. .... . .. ...... .... ............................. ........ .. .... ..... .. .11-94
3.60 TAB ........................... ... .............................. .. . .. ....... 11 -95
3.61 TEXT ............ .. ......................................................11-96
3.62 TRACE .................. .. ............ .. ........ .... .... ... ............ 11 -97
3.63 USR ........................................................................ 11 -98
3.64 VLIN .... .. .................. ... ... ...... ... .... .. .. . .. ................... 11 -99
3.65 VTAB .... .............................................................. .. 11-100
3.66 WAIT ........................ .. ........ .... .......................... .. ... 11 - 101
3.67 XDRA W .............. .... ................ .... .. .. ................. .... 11-103
4. BASIC FUNCTIONS .... .. ..... ....... .. ........ ..... ......... ....... 11-105
4.1 ABS ... ...... .................. .... ....... ................................... 11- 106
4.2 ASC ........................................................................ 11 -107
4.3 ATN ............ ............ ........................ .... .. . ..... .. . .. ...... 11-108
4.4 cos ...... .. ................................................................ 11-109
4.5 EXP ...................... ...... .. ........ .. ...... . .. .... .. ............ . .... 11-1 10
4.6 FRE ... ........ .. .... ... .. .... ..............................................11-111
4.7 INT .. ................ .. ........ ...... ................ ...... .................11-112
4.8 LEN .................. .. ..................... .. ........... .. ................11-113
4.9 LOG .. .... .................... ..... ........................................ 11-1 14
4.10 POS .. ............ .. ... .. . .... ........................ .. .....................11-115
4. 11 RND ................. .. .. .. ........... ...... .... .. .. .... ............. .... .. 11-1 16
4.12 SGN .. ................................... .... .. . ... ................. ...... .. 11-117
4. 13 SIN .. .. .. ........ .. . ....... .............................. .. ..................11-118
4. 14 SQR .............................. .. .. ......... .. .. . .. ......................11-119
4.15 TAN ...... .... . .... .... ................................. .. .................11-120
4.1 6 VAL ............................ ... .. .......... .. .. ............ .... ....... .11-121
IX