BASIC-DOS

Using BASIC-DOS

Starting BASIC-DOS

Insert a BASIC-DOS diskette in drive A: of an IBM PC and turn the machine on. The following messages should appear on your screen:

BASIC-DOS 1.00 for the IBM PC
Copyright (c) PCJS.ORG 1981-2021

BASIC-DOS Interpreter

A>

The A> is the BASIC-DOS prompt. The prompt displays which diskette drive is the default and indicates that BASIC-DOS is ready to accept commands from the keyboard.

Typing Commands

The BASIC-DOS prompt accepts commands up to 254 characters long. Any characters typed beyond that limit are ignored. Press the Enter key to submit all characters currently displayed as the next command.

Other special keys include:

• Backspace deletes the previous character
• Esc erases the entire line
• Up Arrow displays the previous line (also: Ctrl-E)
• Down Arrow displays the next line (also: Ctrl-X)
• Left Arrow moves the cursor left one character (also: Ctrl-S)
• Right Arrow moves the cursor right one character (also: Ctrl-D)
• Home moves the cursor to the beginning of the line (also: Ctrl-W)
• End moves the cursor to the end of the line (also: Ctrl-R)
• Ctrl-Left Arrow moves the cursor left one word (also: Ctrl-A)
• Ctrl-Right Arrow moves the cursor right one word (also: Ctrl-F)
• Del deletes the current character (also: Ctrl-G)
• Ins toggles the current Insert/Overwrite mode (also: Ctrl-V)
• Ctrl-End deletes all characters to the end of the line (also: Ctrl-K)

Other special key sequences that can be typed at any time include:

• Ctrl-Break aborts the current operation (also: Ctrl-C)
• Ctrl-Alt-Del terminates the current program

You can also use the HELP KEYS command to display a brief summary of special keys.

« ContentsBASIC-DOS Commands »