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

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