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Retro computing with a touch of modern and the home for all things, retroCombs (aka Steven Combs).

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2 August 2020

Commodore Plus/4 User’s Manual, Chapter 3 - Using Software

by Steven B. Combs, Ph.D.

In this Commodore Plus/4 retroCombs episode, I cover chapter 3 of the Commodore Plus/4 user’s manual. This chapter is dedicated to Using Software and there are several ways to load and save software using; cartridges, datasettes, and diskettes. In this post and the accompanying video, I cover each auxiliary storage device in detail; however, I add a modern spin and instead of the original devices; I use a new 264 diagnostic cartridge, a Tapuino, and a Pi1541.

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Table of Contents

Series Information

This episode is a small part of my larger Commodore Plus/4 series. You can read the entire series and view additional resources at:

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Companion Disk Image

As I progress through the user’s manual, I enter and execute sample programs. The link below is to a .d81 image that contains every program from each episode. Currently, the image is not complete since we still have several chapters to go.

retroCombs User’s Manual Disk Image - UPDATED AS OF: 2020-11-01

I use the following file name convention to make it easy to locate specific programs:

Sample Program Name: 02 RCOMBS SCROLL.PRG

User’s Manual

As part of my Commodore Plus/4 YouTube series, I work through each chapter of the Plus/4 manual. I’ve taken the time to scan each chapter so you can read and follow along. Use the link below to view chapter 3:

Chapter 3 - Using Software

Below are the links for previous chapters covered:

  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter 1 - Unpacking and Setting Up
  3. Chapter 2 - Using the Keyboard and the Screen

YouTube Video: retroCombs: Commodore Plus/4 User’s Manual, Chapter 3 - Using Software

In the video below, I work through Chapter 3 of the user’s manual. I deviate slightly from the manual in topic presentation order to add clarity and I also add a bonus command. Along the way, I also share how to use a cartridge, the Tapuino, and the Pi1541

Below are the links I mention in the video.

  1. PiDRIVE ZERO Raspberry Pi HAT pi1541 1581 Commodore 64 128 Vic-20 Emulator OLED
  2. Pi1541 Setup
  3. Create a Blank .d64 disk image
  4. Tapuino Project
  5. DIAG 264 Cartridge

Key to Keys

Because the Commodore Plus/4 keyboard is so different from modern keyboards, I devised a modern key nomenclature to identify keystroke combinations as shown in the table below:

Key Description Key Description
⇪ Caps Lock F1 Function 1
[C=] Commodore F2 Function 2
⌃ Control F3 Function 3
⎋ Escape F4 Function 4
⌂ Clear/Home F5 Function 5
⌫ Insert Delete F6 Function 6
⏎ Return F7 Function 7
[R/S] Run/Stop F8 Help
⇧ Shift ␣ Space
↑ Cursor Up ↓ Cursor Down
→ Cursor Right ← Cursor Left

Episode Errata

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE FEEDBACK!!! It makes this project more fun and I’m (re)learning much. I will add video corrections or additions below.

  1. I mention how the screen blanks when loading programs from the Tapuino (or Datasette), but wondered how Icicle Works got around this limitation with a loading screen. Chuck Hutchins shared that, at least in the case of Icicle Works, the program loads in two parts. The screen blanks (because the C64 and the Plus/4 must blank the screen to access the I/O - a limitation of the custom video chips) while a fast loader is loaded into memory and then loads the main software in a second compressed audio source.
  2. Chuck also shared that the Plus/4 I/O commands such as DLOAD, SCRATCH, and HEADER are also avaialble on PET Computers with Basic 4.0, the C128 (BASIC 7), and the C65 (BASIC 10).

Introduction

  1. “The family of software available…is growing quickly?” It did? It may have in Europe; however, the U.S. units couldn’t use most of it since they were in PAL format.
  2. Plus/4 can use cartridge, cassette tape, or diskette. Use the cassette or diskette to create and store your own programs.

Built-In Software

The Plus/4 includes four built-in software packages that are covered in their own user’s manual that’s even thicker than computer’s user manual. To load built-in software, press the F1 key (see last episode). To exit this software you have to reset or power on/off the Plus/4.

Cartridges

Cartridges include a variety of personal, education, business and games software. The only cartridge I own is a diagnostic cart from TFW8B.com. Let’s try it:

Cassettes

The Commodore 1531 and tapes are similar to music cassettes. While other computers could use a standard music playing cassette player, the Commodore uses its own “Datasette.” Use the Datasette to SAVE and LOAD programs. I use a Tapuino instead of a Datasette. Let’s use the Tapuino to load and save programs.

Load a program on cassette (or Tapuino)

If the program is a basic program, you can use the LIST command to view and modify the program contents.

Save a program on cassette (or Tapuino)

For both the LOAD and SAVE command, press RS to stop the process. For SAVE, press RS first then press stop on the Datasette.

Diskette

(Commodore 1551 that was a parallel, rather than serial, device that was faster than the 1541. The default format was not backward compatible. It uses a 5¼ inch diskette 💾 to load and save programs. Let’s give it a try:

Load a program on diskette:

NOTE: I believe the DSAVE, DLOAD, and DIRECTORY commands were added with the Commodore 128. The old muscle memory remembers, LOAD "FILENAME",8,1

Headering a diskette

More information on the HEADER command is on page 101 (The Plus/4 Encyclopedia)

Save a programs on diskette

The DIRECTORY command

TIP: Type DIRECTORY "MY*". The Plus/4 will display all files that start with MY.

BONUS: SCRATCH command

The SCRATCH command deletes a program on the diskette.

Modern additions to Chapter 3

In preparation for this episode, I had to assemble the Pi1541. That in itself was a post and a video.

I also delayed this video to create a Tapuino (an Arduino based modern Datasette clone). You can view that process here.

Both of these modern auxiliary storage device replacements allowed me to create this video since both of the Plus/4 specific devices are very difficult to find.

Random Thoughts

  1. The video is longer than I had planned. I thought since chapter 3 was so short in the user’s manual, the video would be short as well; however, I couldn’t help but opine on each command. Some may say “ramble” but I found myself reminiscing about using these devices and commands…
  2. …which leads me to how much I enjoyed putting this video together.
  3. I remain impressed with the Plus/4. Sure, I understand that it is not as capable as C128 or C64; however, the updated basic sure does make this computer easier to use which in turn makes it so much fun.
  4. The Pi1541 and the Tapuino are just “so cool.” I mean, come on! Using a Raspberry Pi and an Arduino to emulate two retro storage devices continues to fascinate me and make this user’s manual project even more geeky.
  5. I’m looking forward to chapter 4. It’s going to help me understand the character tomfoolery I ran into in chapter 2.
  6. I decided, during a run after editing the video, that I’m going to create a disk image that will contain all the programs I create myself or type from the user’s manual. This will require me to come up with a naming convention for each program file…hmmm…any ideas?

Join the Fun

Help make this series better! Post feedback, questions, and ideas. Let me know if you are following along. Let’s make this a community project. For now, Leave your comments and thoughts below or in the comments under the YouTube video.

Thanks for watching and if you are so inclined, please let other Commodore fans know about the series by sharing these videos using #retroCombs.

🕹️ retroCombs, OUT!