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___________________________________ G_e_m __ in_i_U_Se_'_·S_M __ an_U_a_'
LPRINT "A" means the same as
LPRINT CHR$ (65)
The CH R$ fu nction (pronounced "character string") allows you to
transmit special characters and ASCII control codes that are not
directly available through your computer.
The Problem with BASIC
The "basic" problem with BASIC is similar to the problem with the
ASCII code: While there are many program statements that are
standard, there is no standardization of the BASIC language.
The IBM-PC, TRS-80, Atari, and many other computers (as
well as Microsoft BASIC for CP/M) use the statement PRINT to
send information to the screen, and the statement LPRINTto send
information to the printer.
The Atari can also use a variation of the LPRINT statement,
requiring (for example) that a file number (such as # 1) be assigned
to the printer. Therefore, PRINT # 1 sends information to the printer,
and PRINT sends information to the screen.
Other BASIC versions, such as Applesoft and CBASIC for
CP/M, use PRINT to send information both to the screen and to
the printer. Using the PR # 1 statement before PRINT sends
information only to the printer, and using PR #0 sends information
only to the screen. Confused?
The example programs in this manual will use IBM-PC
Microsoft BASIC. For those of you with other computers, we have
included appendices (at the back of this manual) for the Apple II
Plus, Atari, TRS-80, Commodore VIC-20 and C-64, and Osborne
computers. These appendices discuss the modifications
necessary to run the example programs. If your computer is not
included in the appendices, look at the appendix for the system
that seems most similar to your own, and look at the section in
your computer's instruction manual pertaining to printers.
GETTING "ONLINE"
60
You can't learn to swim in an armchair. The only way to use BASIC
is to try it. So, after you've reviewed the chapter on BASIC in your
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