Programming the Commodore 64.

629 Pages·1985·47.487 MB·English

by  West, Raeto Collin

Programming
th e
COMMODORE
The Definitive Guide
Raeto Collin West
The encyclopedic reference guide
to the Commodore 64 computer.
A Level Ltd. Publication

Programming
the
COMMODORE
The Definitive Guide
Raeto Collin West
COMPUTE!' Publicationsjnc.®
One of the ABC Publishing Companies
Greensboro, North Carolina
Programming The Commodore 64 by Raeto Collin West
ISBN 0 9507650 2 3
Copyright © April 1985 Level Limited (Computer Publications)
First published April 1985
World rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, transmitted, or copied by any means or in any form, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher,
with the exception of programs, which may be entered, stored, and executed in a computer
system for the owner’s use only.
Published by Level Ltd (Computer Publications), PO Box 438, Hampstead,
London NW3 1BH.
Printed in England by Commercial Colour Press, London E7.
Contents
Foreword ....................................................................................................................vii
1. About This Book .......................................................................................... l
Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3
Programming Your 64 ...................................................................................... 3
Conventional Terms.......................................................................................... 4
Acknowledgments............................................................................................ 6
2. Getting to Know the 64 ......................................................................... 7
The 64's Connectors ........................................................................................ 9
The Keyboard ................................................................................................. 10
Editing BASIC on the 6 4 ................................................................................. 11
3. BASIC Reference Guide ....................................................................... 13
BASIC Syntax ................................................................................................... 15
BASIC Keyword Dictionary ............................................................................. 19
BASIC Error Message Dictionary..................................................................... 69
4. Effective Programming in BASIC ...................................................... 75
How to Become Fluent in BASIC .................................................................. 77
Programs, Systems, and People .................................................................. 77
Program Design .............................................................................................. 79
System Design ................................................................................................. 82
Serious and Less Serious Programming ........................................................ 83
Debugging BASIC Programs ......................................................................... 87
Examples in BASIC .......................................................................................... 88
Making BASIC Run Faster............................................................................. 100
5. Commodore 64 Architecture.......................................................... 103
Introductory Hardware Topics ..................................................................... 105
The 64's Memory Configurations................................................................ 114
Commodore 64 Ports.................................................................................... 118
Programming the Cl A s.................................................................................. 121
Program Recovery and Resetting .............................................................. 129
Commercial Software and Hardware ........................................................ 131
6. Advanced BASIC .................................................................................... 137
How BASIC Is Stored in Memory................................................................... 139
Special Locations and Features of BASIC................................................. 154
Dictionary of Extensions to BASIC .............................................................. 167
7. 6510 Machine Language ................................................................ 201
Introduction to 6510 ML Programming ...................................................... 203
Description of the 6510 Chip....................................................................... 208
6510 ML Techniques .................................................................................... 216
Monitors for the 64 ........................................................................................ 226
Monitor Command Dictionary..................................................................... 229
Assemblers for the 64 .................................................................................. 233
8. ML Methods Specific to the 64 ...................................................... 239
Kernal Routines ............................................................................................ 241
BASIC ROM Routines .................................................................................... 250
Using RAM Under ROM.................................................................................. 256
Modifying BASIC............................................................................................ 262
Vectors........................................................................................................... 266
Interrupts ................................ 269
9. Mixing BASIC with Machine Language .................................... 275
RAM Available for ML Routines .................................................................. 277
Combining BASIC and ML ........................................................................... 278
Relocating ML .............................................................................................. 280
10. Vocabulary of the 6510 Chip ........................................................ 285
The 6510 Instruction Set............................................................................... 288
11. 64 ROM Guide ........................................................................................ 331
64 Memory Map .............................................................. 333
12. Graphics ..................................................................................................... 357
Graphics with BASIC .................................................................................... 359
Graphics with Machine Language ............................................................ 365
The VIC-II Chip .............................................................................................. 375
User-Defined Characters ............................................................................. 383
Bitmapped Graphics .................................................................................... 396
Sprites............................................................................................................. 405
13. Sound ........................................................................................................... 425
Sound Waves: Analysis and Synthesis ........................................................ 427
The SID Chip................................................................................................... 437
Music Theory ................................................................................................ 448
Sound Demonstrations................................................................................. 450
14. Tape Storage .......................................................................................... 463
Loading and Saving BASIC Programs with Tape .................................... 465
Handling Tape Data Files............................................................................. 468
Loading and Saving Machine Language................................................. 470
Tape Hardware Notes ................................................................................. 471
Advanced Tape Programming .................................................................. 474
Copy Protection for Tape ........................................................................... 481
15. Using Disk Storage ............................................................................... 485
Introduction to Disk Storage......................................................................... 487
Basic Disk Commands ................................................................................. 488
Handling Disk Files with BASIC ..................................................................... 494
Summary of Disk Commands and Messages ........................................... 508
Commodore Utility Programs....................................................................... 511
Hardware Notes............................................................................................ 512
Disk Data Storage ........................................................................................ 516
Machine Language Disk Programming..................................................... 526
16. The Control Ports ................................................................................... 531
Joysticks ......................................................................................................... 533
Paddles and Other Analog Devices .......................................................... 535
17. Major Peripherals ................................................................................. 541
Printers ........................................................................................................... 543
Plotters ........................................................................................................... 551
Modems ......................................................................................................... 553
The RS-232 Interface ................................................................................... 557
The Serial Port .............................................................................................. 561
Appendices ..................................................................................................... 563
A. A Beginner's Guide to Typing In Programs .............................................565
B. How to Type In Programs...........................................................................567
C. The Automatic Proofreader
Charles Brannon......................................................................................569
D. Screen Location Table................................................................................572
E. Screen Color Memory Table .....................................................................573
F. Screen Color Codes ..................................................................................574
G. ASCII Codes .................................................................................................575
H. Commodore ASCII Codes .........................................................................576
I. Screen Character Codes .........................................................................580
J. The VIC-II Chip ............................................................................................582
K. The SID Chip.................................................................................................585
L. Device Numbers ........................................................................................586
M. Decimal-Hexadecimal Conversion Table ...............................................587
N. Opcodes in Detail ......................................................................................588
O. Table of 6502/6510 Opcodes ...................................................................590
P. 6502/6510 Quasi-Opcodes .......................................................................591
Q. Converting Commodore 64, VIC-20, and CBM Programs ....................593
R. Supermon 64 596
S. Fast Disk and Tape Loaders.........................................................................603
Index ........................................................................................................................605

Foreword
Programming the Commodore 64 is the definitive guide. It covers virtually every
aspect of the Commodore 64, from simple BASIC commands to complex machine
language techniques. Every explanation is written in depth and with clarity. The re­
sult is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand reference that thoroughly explains the
64's capabilities.
If you program in BASIC, you'll find the detailed, annotated listings of every
BASIC command a tremendous aid. And if you're writing in machine language,
you'll be especially interested in the ROM maps and listings of Kemal routines. No
matter what your experience with the Commodore 64, you'll find the numerous pro­
gram examples both useful and informative.
Beginning with a brief introduction to Commodore BASIC and BASIC program­
ming, this book goes on to discussions of more advanced programming, including
sophisticated machine language techniques. Specialized sound and graphics applica­
tions are included as well. Complete chapters are devoted to disk and tape storage,
and to the selection and use of various peripheral devices.
Author Raeto Collin West, one of the world's foremost authorities on Com­
modore computers, has distilled years of experience into Programming the Commodore
64. You'll discover new information on each page.
This is the first book to thoroughly cover every aspect of 64 programming. It's
certain to become an indispensable work for any Commodore 64 owner.
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