HOW CAN I RUN ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMS FROM EXTENDED BASIC?
By John Bull.<bulljh@delphi.com>

To run from Extended Basic, an Assembly Language program must bewritten for that purpose or modified.  X/B cannot use files createdby the C (compressed) option of the Assembler. X/B does not handle DEF'sbut the address of utilities must be EQUated.  For instance, a programwritten for the Editor/Assembler loaders might begin:

DEF START
REF STRASG,STRREF

For X/B this should be:

REF START
STRASG EQU >2010
STRREF EQU >2014

The list of EQUates for X/B is on pages 415 and 416 of the Editor/AssemblerManual. Modifying an E/A program to run from X/B is sometimes as simpleas the above. Please note, the E/A manual has a typo. Page 416 should readNUMREF EQU >200C

Two ways you can run an A/L program from X/B: One is to put at thebeginning of your X/B program:

10 CALL INIT
20 CALL LOAD("DSKn.FILENAME") where FILENAME is the file name ofthe A/L program.

Now the program is in memory and can be run with CALL LINK("START"),where START is the entry point as defined in the program.

Another way, more work but often more convenient, is to imbed theA/L program in your X/B program, where it will stay, ready to run, wheneveryou load the X/B program. There are two programs available to do the imbedding:Harry Wilhelm's HML, High Memory Loader and Scott Kaplan's ALSAVE, whichloads into low memory.  HML is easier to use but will not work withvery large X/B programs.

Whatever way you load the A/L program, it remains in memory untilyou do CALL INIT, or BYE and so it is available in other X/B programs thatyou RUN from the first one.

NOTE: Issuing a new from X/B will leave your A/L programin memory.

John Bull
bulljh@delphi.com
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TI-99/3 versus TI-99/4a Comparison

1. 40-key QWERTY keyboard
2. Solid State Software (TM) Command Module for plug-in software
3. Home Computer BASIC (compatible with TI BASIC and ANSI minimal BASIC)
4. Home Computer Graphics language
5. Wall mounted console transformer UL approved; CSA and European versions planned
6. TV speaker and volume control utilized (99/3)
7. Color 13" video monitor with sound provided (99/4)
8. Interface for audio cassette: 1 cassette for 99/3; 2 cassettes for 99/4
9. 44 pin I/O connector for 99/4 peripherals
10. 6 pin serial I/O for 99/3 peripherals
11. System provides music, communication and synthesized speech
12. Mini earphone jack
13. Provision for internal speaker and volume control
14. Capability to use low cost wired joystick controllers (2ea)
15. Electrical capability to add infrared wireless joysticks (not provided on 99/4)
16. BASIC interpreter executes up to 200 lines of code per second; can contain 50-70 line program in simpliest machine; Graphics language execution rate of 4500 instructions per second
17. User changeable RAM expansion modules of 4K bytes and 16K bytes (99/3 only)
18. System designed to accomodate future peripherals
19. Large selection of Solid State Software (TM) Command Modules including that of Milton Bradley and other third party software vendors.
20. 99/3 system is FCC approved Class I TV device. 99/4 system to meet FCC docket 20780.
    

• Advanced Chess
• Asset Management
• Fighter Pilot
• Financial Data Access
• Foreign Language
• Home Math Series
• Household Budget Management II
• Investment Planning
• Investment Record Keeping
• Letter Editor
• Music Composer
• Music Tutor
• Personal Record Keeping II
• Spelling Teacher
• Tax Preparation
• Telecom
  

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What are Tokens?
By Jacques GroslouisTokens are used to aid in the parsing of Commands, Functions, and Statements in BASIC programs. When run BASIC programs are usually interpreted as opposed to being compiled. Upon running an interpreted program the contents of each program line is translated to its required functions as the program runs. On the other hand a compiled program is first converted to an assembly language program, and then is run as an A/L program. A compiled program will run faster than an interpretedprogram.A TI BASIC program is interpreted twice which explains why certain functions in TI BASIC run slower than the same function on other computers. This additional interpretation is required because of the basic structure of the TI computer. Instead of using an operating system which must be booted and requiring the loading of a BASIC interpreter program, a TI has much of this already available when the TI is turned on. These preloaded programs are included in the GROM modules in the TI console. Additional GROM modules are also included in the various cartridges which can be plugged into a TI console. The program instructions contained in these GROM modules are written in Graphic Programming Language (GPL) a special language written by Texas Instruments. This is the second language which must be interpreted when a TI BASIC or Extended Basic program is run.A TI BASIC or XBASIC program consists of a series of numbered program lines containing various Commands, Functions and/or Statements which in GPL are abbreviated to one byte tokens. These abbreviations are listed in TIFAQ005. For example the token for the PRINT command is represented by character 156 (>9C) and the GOSUB command is represented by character 135 (>87). An example of a program line in usual LIST (DV80) format compared to MERGE (DV163) format is as follows: LIST format: 10 PRINT XYZ MERGE format: CHR$(0)&CHR$(10)&CHR$(156)&CHR$(200)&CHR$(3)&CHR$(88)& CHR$(89)&CHR$(90)&CHR$(0) These tokens have the following meanings: CHR$(0)&CHR$(10) Represents line number in base 256 notation. CHR$(156) Represents PRINT statement. CHR$(200)&CHR$(3) Indicates following characters are quoted string with a length of 3 characters. CHR$(88)&CHR$(89)&CHR$(90) Represents the characters XYZ. CHR$(0) Represents end of line marker.XBASIC programs have been written which can be used to write Extended Basic programs or to convert DV80 listings of extended basic programs into DV163 (merge format) programs using knowledge of the token abbreviations.More information concerning the use of GPL may be obtained by consulting the "Texas Instruments Graphics Programming Language User's Guide" June 1,1979 (Revised December 3,1979) or "The Graphics Programming Language" Copyright 1990, R. A. Green. GPL assemblers and disassemblers also exist but a GRAM device is required to load and change GPL programs.September 20,1997Jacques Groslouisjgroslou@nbnet.nb.ca1747 Riverbank DriveBathurst New Brunswick E2A 4L1CANADA
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What is the the 10" TI Color Monitor?
10" COLOR MONITOR (PHA 4100): This is the Panasonic monitor which was introduced in 1981 to replace the larger 13" Zenith manufactured color monitor originally released for sale with the TI-99/4. The Panasonic monitor carried the same 192 X 256 dot pitch density as the Zenith model and retailed for only slightly less. It was listed at $399.95 in the June-December 1982 price list (as opposed to $450 for the Zenith) and was the same price in the last price list TI released on June 1, 1983. The PHA 4100 package consisted of a connecting cable PHA 2010 that was also available for $19.95 replacement cost, a 5.5" X 8" blue on white Operating Guide, a 3.5" X 8.5" Safety Tips brochure and a list of TI Service Centers should the monitor need repair. The principal reason for switching to the Panasonic model appears to be size and cosmetic appeal since it was several inches smaller and it came in a more attractive brushed brown color instead of the black and silver casing used to house the Zenith monitor.
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What is the TI-99/4A?
The TI99/4a, produced by Texas Instruments in the early 1980's, was a computer purchased by million's of people. With as little as just a basic console and television a TI99/4a was very functional and programs could be loaded VIA a cassette recorder or a GROM cartridge ( cartridge with ROM's containing programs). . . The TI99/4a, which ran on a 16 bit TMS-9900 CPU at 3MHZ, could easily be upgraded with various peripherials and in fact, a TI99/4a clone was even produced called a Geneve 9640. A Geneve replaced the console and provided a CPU running at 12MHZ and provided a vast improvement in speed, capabilities and video... Today the TI99/4a and Geneve 9640's are still in use by hobbists and some businesses!
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What modules were produced for the TI-99/4A

TI-99/4A Module by Name

Name of Cartridge	Released	Released By	Part Nbr
4A Flyer	1986	John Phillips	BDAF
99 Home Sentry	1986	Corcomp	QGAG
Accounting Assistant	1981	Scott Foresman	SF30429
Activity Accountant	1981	Scott Foresman	SF30428
Addition	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3090
Addition And Subtraction 1	1981	Scott Foresman	PHM 3027
Addition And Subtraction 2	1981	Scott Foresman	PHM 3028
Adventure	1981	Adventure International	PHM 3041
Alien Addition	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3115
Alligator Mix	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3114
Alpiner	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3056
Amazing	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3030
Ambulance	1983	Funware	FW1005
Ant-eater	1983	Romox	99ERD11
Attendance Recorder	1982	Scott Foresman	SF30420
Barrage	1983	Sofmachine	BAAX
Beginning Grammar	1978	Texas Instruments	PHM 3003
Beyond Parsec	1988	John Phillips	BDAP
Black Hole	1983	DaTaBioTics	BABD
Blackjack and Poker	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3033
Blasto	1980	Milton Bradley	PHM 3032
Boxer	1989	DaTaBioTics	2007
Break Thru!!	1989	DaTaBioTics	2006
Buck Rogers - Planet of Zoom	1983	Sega Enterprises	PHM 3226
Budget Management
Burger Builder	1983	DaTaBioTics	BAAY
Burgertime	1983	Data East USA	PHM 3233
Car Wars	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3054
Centipede	1983	Atarisoft	RX8503
Championship Baseball	1983	Milton Bradley MBX	PHM 3148
Chicken Coop	1986	Navarone	BAAH
Chisholm Trail	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3110
Class Data Recorder	1981	Scott Foresman	SF30421
Computer Math Games I	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3084
Computer Math Games II	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3083
Computer Math Games III	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3085
Computer Math Games IV	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3086
Computer Math Games VI	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3088
Computer War	1983	Thorn EMI Video
Congo Bongo	1983	Sega Enterprises	PHM 3227
Connect Four	1980	Milton Bradley	PHM 3038
Course Manager	1981	Scott Foresman	SF30448
Crossfire	1983	Sierra On-Line	PHM 3207
DBM System v2.0	1984	Navarone	NAV114
Decimals	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3096
Decimals 2	1983	Scott Foresman	SF30244
Defender	1983	Atarisoft	RX8506
Demolition Division	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3116
Demon Attack	1983	Imagic	PHM 3219
Demonstration	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3001
Diagnostic	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3000
Dig Dug	1982-83	Namco & Atarisoft	RX8509
Disk Fixer v2.0	1984	Navarone
Disk Manager V1.0	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3019
Disk Manager V2.0	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3089
Division	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3093
Division 1	1982	Scott Foresman	PHM 3049
Donkey Kong	1983	Atarisoft	RX8512
Dragon Mix	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3117
Driving Demon	1983	Funware	FW1008
D-Station	1988	DaTaBioTics
D-Station II	1988	DaTaBioTics
Early Learning Fun	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3002
Early Logo Learning Fun	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3144
Early Reading	1980	Scott Foresman	PHM 3015
Editor-Assembler	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3055
Edu-Pack	1990	Asgard	ASGEDO1B
Equations	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3100
Escape!	1984	Cydex	2005
Espial
Extended Basic v100	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3026
Extended Basic v110	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3026
Face Maker	1983	Spinnaker	PHM 3177
Fathom	1983	Imagic	PHM 3222
Football	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3009
Fractional Numbers	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3095
Fractions 1	1982	Scott Foresman	SF30220
Frog Jump	1982	Scott Foresman	SF31177
Frogger	1984	Parker Brothers	PB1610
Hangman	1981	Milton Bradley	PHM 3037
Hen Pecked	1983	Romox	99ERD12
Home Financial Decisions	1978	Texas Instruments	PHM 3006
Homework Helper Plus	1984	Navarone	AS-04
Hopper	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3229
Household Budget Management	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3007
Hunt The Wumpus	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3023
Hustle	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3034
I'm Hiding	1983	Milton Bradley	MBX
Indoor Soccer	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3024
Integers	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3094
Jawbreaker II	1983	Sierra On-Line	PHM 3194
Jumpy	1983	DaTaBioTics	BAAZ
Jungle Hunt	1982-83	Taito & Atarisoft	RX8528
Junkman Junior	1986	DBT	BAAM
Key to Spanish	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3126
King of the Castle	1984	Cydex	TEN-42067
Laws of Arithmetic	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3099
Link v0.99	1992	Asgard	H9115
M.A.S.H	1983	20th Century Fox	PHM 3158
Mancala	1983	DaTaBioTics	2002
Measurement Formulas	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3101
Meteor Multiplication	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3119
Meteorbelt		Milton Bradley
Micro Pinball	1984	DaTaBioTics	BADE
Micro Tennis	1983	DaTaBioTics	BDAQ
Microsoft Multiplan V1.04	1981	Microsoft	PHM 3113
Microsurgeon	1983	Imagic	PHM 3220
Midnite Mason	1982	DaTaBioTics	BADF
Mind Challengers	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3025
Miner 2049er	1983	Tigervision	7-009-99
Mini Memory	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3058
Miniwriter II	1986	DaTaBioTics	BJBU
Minus Mission	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3118
Moon Mine	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3131
Moon Patrol	1982-83	Atarisoft	RX8531
Moonsweeper	1983	Imagic	PHM 3224
Ms. Pac-Man	1983	Atarisoft	RX8543
Multiplication	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3029
Multiplication 1	1981	Scott Foresman	PHM 3029
Munch Man II	1987	John Phillips	BDAG
Munch Mobile	1983	SNK Electronics	PHM 3146
Munchman	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3057
Music Maker	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3020
Number Bowling	1983	Scott Foresman	SF31189
Number Magic	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3004
Number Readiness	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3098
Numeration 1	1983	Scott Foresman	PHM 3050
Numeration 2	1983	Scott Foresman	PHM 3051
Othello	1982	CBS Video	PHM 3067
Pac-Man	1983	Atarisoft	RX8500
Paint n Print	1985	Navarone	GP100-700
Parsec	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3112
Payroll Assistant	1982	Scott Foresman	SF30426
Percents	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3097
Peripheral Diagnostic Module	1985	Corcomp	YKAL
Personal Real Estate	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3022
Personal Record Keeping	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3013
Personal Report Generator	1980	Texas Instruments
Physical Fitness	1978	Texas Instruments	PHM 3010
Picnic Paranoia	1983	Atarisoft	RX8517
Picture Parts	1983	Scott Foresman	SF31180
Plato Interpreter	1982	Control Data	PHM 3122
Pole Position	1982-83	Namco & Atarisoft	RX8534
Popeye	1984	Parker Brothers	PB1650
Princess and the Frog	1982	Romox	99ERD12
Pro Typer	1987	DaTaBioTics	BABG
Protector II	1983	Atarisoft	RX8516
Pyramid Puzzler	1983	Scott Foresman	SF31186
Q*Bert	1984	Parker Brothers	PB1620
Rabbit Trail	1983	Funware	FW1004
Reading Adventures	1983	Scott Foresman	SF30117
Reading Cheers	1983	Scott Foresman	SF30115
Reading Flight	1982	Scott Foresman	PHM 3082
Reading Fun	1982	Scott Foresman	PHM 3043
Reading On	1982	Scott Foresman	PHM 3046
Reading Power	1983	Scott Foresman	SF30121
Reading Rally	1982	Scott Foresman	PHM 3048
Reading Roundup	1982	Scott Foresman	PHM 3047
Reading Trail	1983	Scott Foresman	SF30119
Reading Wonders	1983	Scott Foresman	SF30123
Return to Pirates Isle	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3189
Rotor Raiders	1983	Romox	ROM06025
Salary Planner	1980	Scott Foresman	SF30430
Schnoz-ola	1983	Funware	PP871206
Scholastic Spelling - Level 3	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3059
Scholastic Spelling - Level 4	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3060
Scholastic Spelling - Level 5	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3061
Scholastic Spelling - Level 6	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3062
School Mailer	1981	Scott Foresman	SF30423
Securities Analysis	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3012
Sewermania	1983	Milton Bradley MBX	PHM 3150
Shamus	1983	Atarisoft	RX8518
Slymoids	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3197
SMU Electrical Engineering Library	198x	Texas Instruments	PHM 3045
Sneggit	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3145
Sorgan II	198x	DaTaBioTics	BDAU
Space Bandits	1984	Milton Bradley MBX	PHM 3149
Space Journey	1983	Scott Foresman
Speech Editor	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3011
Speed Reader	1984	Navarone	BABB
Spy's Demise	1987	DaTaBioTics	BABC
St. Nick	1983	Funware	BDAC
Star Gazer	1984	John Phillips	BBBA
Star Gazer II	1984	John Phillips	BBBB
Star Gazer III	1984	John Phillips	BBBC
Star Maze	1983	Scott Foresman	SF3182
Star Runner	1987	DaTaBioTics	BAAP
Star Trek	1983	Sega Enterprises	PHM 3225
Statistics	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3014
Story Machine v1.4	1982-83	Spinnaker	PHM 3178
Strike Three	1988	John Phillips	BADJ
Subtraction	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3091
Super Demon Attack		Texas Instruments	PHM 3219
Super Duper	1984	Navarone	BAAA
Super Extended Basic	1987	Triton	BDAK
Tax Investment Record Keeping	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3016
Terminal Emulator I	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3017
Terminal Emulator II	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3035
The Attack	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3031
TI Calc	1983	Texas Instruments	PHM 3213
TI Invaders	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3053
TI LOGO	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3040
TI LOGO II	1984	Texas Instruments	PHM 3109
TI Planner	1987	DaTaBioTics	BJBS
TI Toad	1982	DaTaBioTics	BADG
TI-Writer Word Processor	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3111
Tombstone City - 21st Century	1981	Texas Instruments	PHM 3052
Topper	1986	Navarone	99ERD11
Touch Typing Tutor	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3064
Treasure Island	1983	Data East USA	PHM 3168
Tunnels of Doom	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3042
Typo II	1983	Romox	ROM04025
Typoman	1987	Navarone	BAAQ
Video Chess	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3008
Video Games 1	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3018
Video Graphs	1979	Texas Instruments	PHM 3005
Video Vegas	1982	Funware	FW1002
Weight Control & Nutrition	1980	Texas Instruments	PHM 3021
Word Invasion	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3169
Word Radar	1982	Texas Instruments	PHM 3185
Yahtzee	1980	Milton Bradley	PHM 3039
ZeroZap	1981	Milton Bradley

Webmaster's Note: There may be additional cartridges that were produced for the TI-99/4A, but this list is as complete as the author could make it.
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