(PC-1211) Engineering format

[Dave Britten]

(05-13-2022 11:26 PM)robve Wrote:  One of the best uses of the DEF key is to define:

1 " " AREAD A$: GOTO A$

Now, just type CAT DEF-SPC (DEF then SPACE key) to run "CAT". Much quicker than RUN "CAT" or GOTO "CAT". With several MERGEd programs, this can be a handy addition, I think.

The "119 Practical Programs for the TRS-80 Pocket Computer" book suggested something similar, but with INPUT Z$: GOTO Z$ to call routines.

PS. today I got a mint (no signs of use whatsoever) PC-1350 with manual from eBay. The seller has 6 of these that are (almost) unused, he said. He sold 2. The listing is still up.

- Rob

Oh yeah, that's a good way to use DEF. Even more succinct than the little "command prompt" program in the book you mentioned.

It's weird, the ONLY mention I can find of the CLOAD1 command for merging in programs on the PC-1211 is on pages 62-63 of "Problem-Solving on the TRS-80 Pocket Computer". Not sure how the author got that seemingly insider information! I don't see it anywhere in the manuals.

EDIT: Oh, it's in the TRS-80 version of the manual, on page 96. Weird that it's not in the Sharp manual - my PC-1211 seems to respond to CLOAD1"filename"... I'll have to test it and see if it actually behaves as expected on the Sharp version.