Commodore VIC-20 Programmer's Reference Manual page 27

and begin storing. The VIC cannot check the RECORD key: it can
only sense that the tape is moving, so be sure to press RECORD, if
PLAY was already pressed, no message appears.
When the program has been SAVEd, the VIC will give the
message:
READY.
The VIC has no way of searching for a blank spot on the tape, but
just records wherever it is, erasing any information that may have
been there. However, the VERIFY command can be used to find
the end of the last program.
SAVE can be followed by a program name in quotes or in a string
variable. The VIC will then write the program name before the
program on the tape, which lets the VIC find it more easily.
The program can be SAVEd on a device other than the tape deck
by giving a device number. To do this, put a comma after the
program name, and then the number of the device. The cassette
deck is device number 1, and the disk is number 8. (See examples.)
It is possible to instruct the VIC to SAVE a program so it will not be
moved in memory when LOADed. Using command number 1 after
the device number will do this. This is useful when working with
different memory configurations which may cause VIC memory
locations to shift.
To prevent a user from accidentally trying to read past the last
information on the tape, the VIC can also write an end-of-tape
marker after the program. To do this, follow the device number with
a comma and command number 2. When the VIC finds this marker,
it will stop and show the message DEVICE NOT PRESENT
ERROR.
Command number 3 is a combination of 1 and 2, telling the
program on tape not to relocate and to put an end-of-tape marker
after the program.
SAVE can also be used as a statement within a BASIC program.
When this statement is hit, the program will be SAVEd normally,
with the usual prompts appearing on the screen. The program
resumes normally after the SAVE.
EXAMPLES
SAVE Stores program on tape without name
SAVE "HELLO" Stores on tape with name HELLO
SAVE AS Stores on tape with name in AS
SAVE ■1HELLO",8 Stores on device number 8 (disk drive)
SAVE "HELLO",! ,1 Won't relocate HELLO upon re-LOADing
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