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Beginning to
Program
Using the Cursor Keys Inside Quotes with the PRINT
Command
When you type the cursor keys inside quotation marks, graphic chair-
acters are shown on the screen to represent the keys. These charac
ters will NOT be printed on the screen when you press RETURN. Try
typing a question mark (?), open quotes (SHIFTed 2 key); then press
either of the down cursor keys 10 times, enter the words "DOWN
HERE", and close the quotes. The line should look like this:
QQQQQQQQQQIHt
WN HERE"
Now press RETURN. The Commodore 128 prints 10 blank lines, and
on the eleventh line, it prints "DOWN HERE". As this example
shows, you can tell the computer to print anywhere on your screen
by using the cursor control keys inside quotation marks.
So far most of the commands we have discussed have been per
formed in DIRECT mode. That is, the command was executed as
soon as the RETURN key was pressed. However, most BASIC com
mands and functions can also be used in programs.
What a Program Is
A program is just a set of numbered BASIC instructions that tells your
computer what you want it to do. These numbered instructions are
referred to as statements or lines.
Line Numbers
The lines of a program are numbered so that the computer knows in
what order you want them executed or RUN. The computer executes
the program lines in numerical order, unless the program instructs
otherwise. You can use any whole number from 0 to 63999 for a line
number. Never use a comma in a line number.
Many of the commands you have learned to use in DIRECT mode
can be easily made into program statements. For example, type this:
10 ? "COMMODORE 128"
31
USING C128 MODE-Getting Started in BASIC
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