Contents |
Description
This BASIC extension was created by A. De Krammer and released by the Dutch company Filosoft in 1987 on tape and disk. All the new instructions look like standard instructions as they are not preceded by CALL, CMD or IPL.
It allows to chain several BASIC programs while keeping the variables, program in more structured mode by using procedures, have windows inside the MSX screen, comes with a screensaver, includes many tools for a better programming/debugging and replaces pokes or routines by new instructions.
Installation
A computer with at least 64kB RAM is required. Delta BASIC comes under the form of a 14kB binary file that can be launched with BLOAD"DELTA.BIN", R from disk or BLOAD"DELTA",R from tape.
The new instructions are installed in RAM, slightly reducing the available free memory (119 bytes). They stay in RAM after a soft reset with DEFUSR=0:X=USR(0).
Instructions (general info)
Delta BASIC
- extends the CLS and LOCATE instructions to the windows system
- extends the ERR and ERROR instructions with 17 new error messages
- modifies CALL MEMINI
- adds 85 new instructions
If you want to use Delta BASIC with a Memory Disk created by CALL MEMINI, there are some limitations and incompatibilities:
- You need to specify the size and only values between 1023 and 16384 will be accepted when creating the Memory Disk with CALL MEMINI
- Delta BASIC is incompatible with the Memory Disk under MSX-BASIC 1.0, 2.1 and the European 2.2 version made by FRS
Instructions (ordered per category)
Clock & Timing
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
PAUSE | MSX1 | Waits for the pressing of any key or that a specified time has passed out |
Data Storage
The DFILES, LDFILES and SETDRIVE instructions can't access the RAMDISK (H:) previously created under Disk Basic 2.0 with CALL RAMDISK or under MSX-DOS2 / Nextor with RAMDISK.
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
AVERIFY | MSX1 (*) | Verifies whether a BASIC file has been successfully saved to cassette with SAVE in ASCII format |
BAUD | MSX1 (*) | Sets the cassette writing speed |
BVERIFY | MSX1 (*) | Verifies whether or not a binary file has been successfully saved to cassette with BSAVE |
DFILES | MSX1 | Lists the contents of the disk in the current default drive |
SETDRIVE | MSX1 | Selects the default disk drive |
TFILES | MSX1 (*) | Lists the contents of the tape in the data recorder |
(*) The Data Recorder support has been removed from the MSX turbo R.
Debugging
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
LISTDATA | MSX1 | Displays all the lines of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM, with using of the DATA instruction |
LISTGO | MSX1 | Displays all the lines of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM, with using of GOSUB, GOTO, etc.. |
LISTLIN | MSX1 | Displays a list with all the linked lines of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LISTPROC | MSX1 | Displays a list with all the procedures of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LISTPSG | MSX1 | Displays a list with the current values of the PSG registers |
LISTSCREEN | MSX1 | Displays the current values of the parameters used for the SCREEN instruction |
LISTSOUND | MSX1 | Displays a list with the current values of the PSG registers used by the SOUND instruction |
LISTTYPE | MSX1 | Displays a list mentioning the type of variable for all the variables currently in RAM |
LISTUSR | MSX1 | Displays a list of all the DEF USR addresses for an executed MSX-BASIC program |
LISTVAR | MSX1 | Displays a list with all the variables already used by a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LISTWINDOW | MSX1 | Displays a list with all the windows of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
Delta BASIC System
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
QUIT | MSX1 | Removes the DELTA Basic extension from the RAM and reboots in standard MSX-BASIC mode |
Display
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
LOWER | MSX1 | Sets characters of a string in small letters mode (lowercase) |
SCREENOFF | MSX1 | Turns off the screen |
SCREENON | MSX1 | Turns on the screen |
SCREENSAVE | MSX1 | Enables/disables the screensaver of Delta BASIC |
UPPER | MSX1 | Sets characters of a string in capital letters mode (uppercase) |
Keyboard
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
CAPSOFF | MSX1 | Turns off the CAPS led and sets the computer in small letters mode (lowercase) |
CAPSON | MSX1 | Turns on the CAPS led and sets the computer in capital letters mode (uppercase) |
GET | MSX1 | Waits for the pressing of a key and stores it in a string variable |
INIFNK | MSX1 | Reinitializes the contents of the function keys and displays them again |
KILLBUF | MSX1 | Clears the keyboard buffer |
PAUSE | MSX1 | Waits for the pressing of any key or that a specified time has passed out |
Printer
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
BIPRINT() | MSX1 | Sets the density level for printing graphics |
BISET() | MSX1 | Sets the number of dots per inch and the length of the bit pattern for printing graphics |
LDFILES | MSX1 | Prints the contents of the disk in the current default drive |
LFIND | MSX1 | Prints part of MSX-BASIC program in RAM, containing a specified text |
LKILLREM | MSX1 | Combines KILLREM effect with printing of the deleted lines starting with REM |
LLISTDATA | MSX1 | Prints all the lines of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM, with using of the DATA instruction |
LLISTGO | MSX1 | Prints all the lines of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM, with using of GOSUB, GOTO, etc.. |
LLISTLIN | MSX1 | Prints a list with all the linked lines of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LLISTPROC | MSX1 | Prints a list with all the procedures of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LLISTPSG | MSX1 | Prints a list with the current values of the PSG registers |
LLISTSCREEN | MSX1 | Prints the current values of the parameters used for the SCREEN instruction |
LLISTSOUND | MSX1 | Prints a list with the current values of the PSG registers used by the SOUND instruction |
LLISTTYPE | MSX1 | Prints a list mentioning the type of variable for all the variables currently in RAM |
LLISTUSR | MSX1 | Prints a list of all the DEF USR addresses for an executed MSX-BASIC program |
LLISTVAR | MSX1 | Prints a list with all the variables already used by a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LLISTWINDOW | MSX1 | Prints a list with all the windows of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LREPLACE | MSX1 | Prints part of MSX-BASIC program In RAM, when replacing a text by a new text |
LSTATUS | MSX1 | Prints the current status of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
LTFILES | MSX1 (*) | Prints the contents of the tape in the data recorder |
POL | MSX1 | Returns the status of the printer |
SCREENDUMP | MSX1 | Prints a hardcopy of the current screen (0, 1, 2 to 4) |
(*) The Data Recorder support has been removed from the MSX turbo R.
Procedures
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
DELETEPROC | MSX1 | Removes a specified procedure from the program currently in RAM |
DEFPROC | MSX1 | Defines the beginning of a procedure |
ENDPROC | MSX1 | Defines the end of a procedure |
MERGEPROC | MSX1 | Merges a specified procedure available on disk to the program currently in RAM |
PROC | MSX1 | Calls a procedure inside your program |
SAVEPROC | MSX1 | Saves to disk a specified procedure that is available in the program currently in RAM |
Programming
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
CODETODATA | MSX1 | Generates a MSX-BASIC program with DATA corresponding to a part of the RAM |
COPLIN | MSX1 | Copies lines of MSX-BASIC program In RAM, in another place of the program |
FIND | MSX1 | Displays part of MSX-BASIC program in RAM, containing a specified text |
KILLREM | MSX1 | Deletes all the REM instructions and their remarks in the MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
MOVLIN | MSX1 | Moves lines of MSX-BASIC program in RAM to another place in the program |
REPLACE | MSX1 | Displays part of MSX-BASIC program In RAM, when replacing a text by a new text |
STATUS | MSX1 | Displays the current status of a MSX-BASIC program in RAM |
UNNEW | MSX1 | Recovers a MSX-BASIC program that you have just erased from the RAM with NEW |
RAM Access
RESTORESCREEN and STORESCREEN are incompatible with a Memory Disk previously created with CALL MEMINI.
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
DPEEK() | MSX1 | Returns the value read from two bytes of the memory (RAM) |
DPOKE | MSX1 | Writes a value to two bytes of the memory (RAM) |
RESTORESCREEN | MSX1 | Restores the screen previously saved in RAM by STORESCREEN |
STORESCREEN | MSX1 | Stores the current screen in RAM |
Sound and Music
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
INIPSG | MSX1 | Initializes the PSG and silences all 3 PSG channels without producing a beep |
Sprites
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
CLEARSPRITES | MSX1 | Clears all the sprites |
Variables Setting & Chaining
These instructions are incompatible with a Memory Disk previously created with CALL MEMINI.
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
CHAIN | MSX1 | Loads a new BASIC program and executes it, with transfer of current variables in RAM |
COMMON() | MSX1 | Passes variables to a chained program |
Windows
These instructions are incompatible with a Memory Disk previously created with CALL MEMINI.
Instruction | Generation | Function |
---|---|---|
FILL | MSX1 | Fills a window with the character corresponding to a specified ASCII value |
ROLLD | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the bottom to produce a scrolling (*) |
ROLLL | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the left to produce a scrolling (*) |
ROLLR | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the right to produce a scrolling (*) |
ROLLU | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the top to produce a scrolling (*) |
WBOX | MSX1 | Draws a window in text mode, according the settings defined with WINDOW |
WINDOW | MSX1 | Defines a window in text mode |
WINPUT | MSX1 | Retrieves data from the keyboard inside a window |
WPRINT | MSX1 | Displays and formats text and numbers in the specified window |
WRAPD | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the bottom to produce a scrolling (**) |
WRAPL | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the left to produce a scrolling (**) |
WRAPR | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the right to produce a scrolling (**) |
WRAPU | MSX1 | Rolls content of specified window to the top to produce a scrolling (**) |
(*) with disappearing effect on the text
(**) without disappearing effect on the text
Instructions (alphabetic order)
Notes:
- The following Delta BASIC instructions are incompatible with a Memory Disk previously created with CALL MEMINI: CHAIN, COMMON(), RESTORESCREEN, STORESCREEN, WINDOW and all other Windows instructions.
- The DFILES, LDFILES and SETDRIVE instructions can't access the RAMDISK (H:) previously created under Disk Basic 2.0 with CALL RAMDISK or under MSX-DOS2 / Nextor with RAMDISK.
Instruction | Generation | Type |
---|---|---|
AVERIFY | MSX1 (*) | Data Storage |
BAUD | MSX1 (*) | Data Storage |
BIPRINT() | MSX1 | Printer |
BISET() | MSX1 | Printer |
BVERIFY | MSX1 (*) | Data Storage |
CAPSOFF | MSX1 | Keyboard |
CAPSON | MSX1 | Keyboard |
CHAIN | MSX1 | Variables Setting & Chaining |
CLEARSPRITES | MSX1 | Sprites |
CODETODATA | MSX1 | Programming |
COMMON() | MSX1 | Variables Setting & Chaining |
COPLIN | MSX1 | Programming |
DELETEPROC | MSX1 | Procedures |
DEFPROC | MSX1 | Procedures |
DFILES | MSX1 | Data Storage |
DPEEK() | MSX1 | RAM Access |
DPOKE | MSX1 | RAM Access |
ENDPROC | MSX1 | Procedures |
FILL | MSX1 | Windows |
FIND | MSX1 | Programming |
GET | MSX1 | Keyboard |
INIFNK | MSX1 | Keyboard |
INIPSG | MSX1 | Sound and Music |
KILLBUF | MSX1 | Keyboard |
KILLREM | MSX1 | Programming |
LDFILES | MSX1 | Printer |
LFIND | MSX1 | Printer |
LISTDATA | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTGO | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTLIN | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTPROC | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTPSG | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTSCREEN | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTSOUND | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTTYPE | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTUSR | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTVAR | MSX1 | Debugging |
LISTWINDOW | MSX1 | Debugging |
LKILLREM | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTDATA | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTGO | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTLIN | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTPROC | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTPSG | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTSCREEN | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTSOUND | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTTYPE | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTUSR | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTVAR | MSX1 | Printer |
LLISTWINDOW | MSX1 | Printer |
LOWER | MSX1 | Display |
LREPLACE | MSX1 | Printer |
LSTATUS | MSX1 | Printer |
LTFILES | MSX1 (*) | Printer |
MERGEPROC | MSX1 | Procedures |
MOVLIN | MSX1 | Programming |
PAUSE | MSX1 | Keyboard / Timing |
POL | MSX1 | Printer |
PROC | MSX1 | Procedures |
QUIT | MSX1 | Delta BASIC System |
REPLACE | MSX1 | Programming |
RESTORESCREEN | MSX1 | RAM Access |
ROLLD | MSX1 | Windows |
ROLLL | MSX1 | Windows |
ROLLR | MSX1 | Windows |
ROLLU | MSX1 | Windows |
SAVEPROC | MSX1 | Procedures |
SCREENDUMP | MSX1 | Printer |
SCREENOFF | MSX1 | Display |
SCREENON | MSX1 | Display |
SCREENSAVE | MSX1 | Display |
SETDRIVE | MSX1 | Data Storage |
STATUS | MSX1 | Programming |
STORESCREEN | MSX1 | RAM Access |
TFILES | MSX1 (*) | Data Storage |
UNNEW | MSX1 | Programming |
UPPER | MSX1 | Display |
WBOX | MSX1 | Windows |
WINDOW | MSX1 | Windows |
WINPUT | MSX1 | Windows |
WPRINT | MSX1 | Windows |
WRAPD | MSX1 | Windows |
WRAPL | MSX1 | Windows |
WRAPR | MSX1 | Windows |
WRAPU | MSX1 | Windows |
(*) Not for MSX turbo R
Compatibility
Delta BASIC is compatible with
- CALL SYSTEM when used to go back to MSX-DOS 2 / Nextor after using of Delta BASIC
- the RAMDISK (H:) previously created under Disk Basic 2.0 with CALL RAMDISK or under MSX-DOS2 / Nextor with RAMDISK but this disk is not acesssible with some Delta BASIC instructions
- versions 2.0, 2.2 by Digital Design, Japanese 2.2 by FRS, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 4.0, 4.1 of the Memory Disk, created with CALL MEMINI, but the maximum size is strongly reduced, and a lot of Delta BASIC instructions can't be used
Delta BASIC is not compatible with
- CALL SYSTEM when used to go back to MSX-DOS 1 after using of Delta BASIC
- version 1.0 of the Memory Disk, available on a few MSX1 Toshiba computers (see CALL MEMINI)
- version 2.1 of the Memory Disk, available especially on MSX2 Philips computers (see CALL MEMINI for complete list)
- FRS European version 2.2 of the Memory Disk
- the Paul te Bokkel RAMDISK, available on MSX MS-DOS Computer Magazine 29 with patch on MSX MS-DOS Computer Magazine 35
- the X-BASIC compiler
- KnightsCommander BASIC
- MT-Debug
- Tasword-MSX2
(this list is not limitative)
Pages in category "Delta BASIC"
The following 90 pages are in this category, out of 90 total.
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