User`s manual

The device# of the disk is usually 8.
The channel# can be any number from 2 to 15. These refer to a channel
used to communicate with the disk, and channels numbered a and I are reserved
for the operating system to use for LOADing and SAVEing. Channels::: through
14 can be used for data to files, and 15 is the command channel.
The text$ is a string that is PRINTed to the file, as if with a PRINT#
statement. This is handy for sending a single command to the channel.
EXAMPLES OF OPEN STATEMENTS:
~
~
OPEN 15,8, IS DEViCE-#~\
OPEN2,8. 2 C-- ~~
OPENA;B,C,ZL ~
The PRINT# command works exactly like a PRINT statement, except
that the data goes to a device other than the screen, in this case to the disk drive.
When used with a data channel, the PRINT# sends information into a buffer in
the disk drive, which LOADs it onto the diskette. When PRINT# is used with
the command channel, it sends commands to the disk drive.
FORMAT FOR SENDING DISK COMMANDS:
OPEN 15, 8, IS. command$
or
PRINT# IS, command$
NEW
This command is necessary when using a diskette for the first time. The
NEW command erases the entire diskette, it puts timing and block markers on
the diskette and creates the directory and BAM.The NEWcommand can also be
used to clear out the directory of an already.formatted diskette. This is faster
than re-formatting the whole disk.
FORMAT FOR THE NEWCOMMANDTO FORMAT DISK:
PRINT#15, "NEW~~'
or abbreviated as
PRINT#15, "N~:name,id"
FORMAT FOR THE NEW COMMAND TO CLEAR DIRECTORY:
PRINT# 15, "N~:name"
The name goes in the directory as the name of the entire disk. This only
appears when the directory is listed. The ID code is any 2 characters, and they
are placed not only on the directory but on every block throughout the diskette.
15