Texas Instruments MINI MEMORY Handbuch Seite 5

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Texas Instruments
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
The manual assumes that you are already experienced in programming with TI BASIC. Statements,
commands, and functions that are the same as in TI BASIC are only discussed briefly. Fora complete
description, see the User's Reference Guide included with yourTl99/4 orTI99/4A Home Computer.
If you intend to use the Mini Memory module for creating your own assembly language programs, it is
assumed that you are experienced in TMS9900 assembly language programming and that you are
familiar with the internal organization of data and file structures used by the Home Computer. For a
complete discussion of these topics, see the Editor/Assembler owner's manual.
The remainder of this manual explains the various features included in the Mini Memory module. The
section entitled »Using the Solid State Software™ Command Module« describes the various options
that are presented on the selection screen when the Mini Memory module is first brought into opera-
tion and explains how to select these options.
The section on »Loading and Saving TI BASIC Files« explains how to use the Mini Memory module for
accessing data files, and the »Loading and Saving TI BASIC Programs« section describes how to use
the module for loading and storing BASIC program files.
The section on »Additional TI BASIC Subprograms« explains the additional subprograms the Mini
Memory module provides to interface with assembly language programs and the computer system.
»Loading Assembly Language Porgrams« describes the procedures for loading assembly language
programs and subprograms, and the »System Utility Routines« section explains the Mini Memory
module's utilities which access CPU ROM and GROM routines.
The »EASY BUG DEBUGGER« section describes the operation of the EASY BUG debugging
program, and the six appendices contain information about the memory organization of the Home
Computer.
INTRODUCTION
LINE-BY-LINE ASSEMBLER
The cassette tape enclosed with the Mini Memory Solid State Cartridge Command Module contains
a line-by-line symbolic assembler and a graphics demonstration program named LINES. The Line-
by~Line Assembler allows you to enterTMS9900 assembly language source code, one line at a time,
directly from the computer keyboard. The LINES demonstration program (operational only on the
Tl99/4A Home Computer) automatically draws colorful lines on the screen.
When the Assembler program is loaded in the Mini Memory module, each source statement you ent-
er is immediately assembled into object code and stored in the memory locations specified by your
source code. Therefore, as soon as you comlpete the entry of your program and store its name and
address in the,Symbol Table, it is ready to be run.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Since code is assembled and stored directly, as you enter each line, be sure that
the memory addresses specified in the program are available. Otherwise, no code will be generated
or stored.
Although the Assembler converts each instruction into machine code as it is entered, some source
code is retained in a nine-page text buffer. You can scroll the screen to review previously entered li-
nes of source code by pressing the up- and down-arrow keys.
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