Vidicode Argus Basic Programmers Reference Manual

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
38
  
BRK    transmit a break 
BRK is used to make the modem transmit a break on the specified port.  When no port is specified OPORT is used.  The 
duration of the break can be controlled with S-register 43, but the default value of 0.50 seconds is usually sufficient. See ON
BRK also. 
Examples: 
BRK#3
ON HANGUP BRK#1
Syntax: 
BRK (#[port])
See also: 
ON BRK 

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
39
  
BUFFER    reserve buffer space 
As a result of the fact that the various components of a communications system operate at different speeds, it is often 
necessary to store data temporarily in an area of memory called a buffer.  The advantage of this is that one device can take 
data out of the buffer while another puts new data in.  If the buffer is sufficiently large, the faster of the two...

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
40
  
In the following example the next byte of data is read from the buffer and placed in the variable X: 
X=GET#8
It is  acceptable to use PUT#8, INPUT#8, GET#8, etc., to manipulate the buffer contents; but when frequent buffer 
access is required, it is more efficient to use IPORT and OPORT to select port 8 as the default port.  The port number can 
then be omitted from the I/O commands. 
 
The...

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
41
  
BUFFER OFF
See also: 
IPORT, OPORT, LINK, RESTORE BUFFER
 
 
  

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
42
  
BUTTON    read the S/A button position 
BUTTON is used to read the position of the sync/async button from within your program.  When the button is in the in 
position, the function will return 1; and when the button is in the out position, the function will return 0. 
Examples: 
IF BUTTON THEN GOSUB Syn_Com
PRINT BUTTON
Syntax: 
[num-var] = BUTTON
See also: 
ON BUTTON
  

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
43
  
CALL    jump to machine code subroutine 
The CALL command is used to execute a machine language subroutine.  Such routines are normally only used where high 
speed operations are required for which BASIC would be too slow.  (Which is not very often, because Argus BASIC is fast!) 
 
Each CALL command must be followed by the start address of the routine: 
CALL &4000
In addition to the call...

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
44
  
CHR$    character string 
The CHR$ function converts an integer in the range 0-255 to its equivalent ASCII character.  It is commonly used to include 
control characters (ASCII values from 0-31) in PRINT commands.  For example, to sound a warning at the terminal when 
an error occurs, the Bell character ASCII 07 (entered at the keyboard as [Ctrl-G]), could be incorporated into the error...

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
45
  
CLEAR    clear variables/memory 
CLEAR can be used in one of nine ways: 
1. CLEAR 
When used on its own, it will clear all BASIC program variables. 
2. CLEAR ALL 
Will clear the input and output buffers of all ports. 
3. CLEAR (#[port]) 
When followed by one or more port numbers, it will clear the input and output buffers for those ports. 
4. CLEAR INPUT (#[port]) 
CLEAR followed by INPUT...

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
46
  
CLEAR BUFFER
CLEAR FILE
CLEAR !
Syntax: 
CLEAR
CLEAR ALL
CLEAR#[port](,...)
CLEAR INPUT ( #[port])(,...)
CLEAR OUTPUT ( #[port])(,...)
CLEAR BUFFER
CLEAR PRINTER
CLEAR (!/FILE)
CLEAR ROM
See also: 
RESTORE, RESTORE ROM, ROM
  

ARGUS Programmable Modem 
BASIC Programmers Reference Manual 
© 1990 - 1997 Vidicode Datacommunicatie BV 
47
  
CLOCK$    read internal clock 
CLOCK$ is used to read the time and date from the internal real-time clock.  Output is given in the format: 
DAY dd-mm-yy
HH:MM:SS
DAY is day of the week (e.g. SUN); dd is the day of the month, mm is the month, yy is the year, HH is the hour, MM is the 
minute and SS is the second. 
 
CLOCK$ can be used to set the date and time, but this can usually be done more...