TRS-80 DOS - TRSDOS (Main Page)

TRSDOS Commands

Extended Utilities

Technical Information

APPEND (Merges 2 files)

Syntax: APPEND file-1 TO file-2

This command lets you append (add) one file onto the end of another. This is primarily useful with data files. APPEND copies the contents of file-1 onto the end of file-2. File-1 is unaffected, while file-2 is extended to include the contents of file-1.

Example: APPEND FTWORTH/TXT TO NTEXAS/TXT

NTEXAS/TXT will now include the contents of FTWORTH/TXT at the end, while FTWORTH/TXT remains unchanged.

Note: To APPEND BASIC programs, both files must be saved in ASCII format (using the "A" option). Also, line numbers in file-1 must be higher than those in file-2.

AUTO (Automatic key-in on power-up)

Syntax: AUTO [dos-command]

Specifies a command to be executed immediately after power-up. This writes the command as an "automatic key-in" on the drive 0 diskette, replacing any previous automatic key-in. Typing AUTO (with no arguments) eliminates any automatic key-ins.

Examples:

AUTO CLOCK (Loads and executes the display clock on power-up)

AUTO BASIC (Loads DISK BASIC and begins initialization)

Note: The system diskette must not be write-protected. You can override an automatic key-in by holding down the BREAK key during power-up.

ATTRIB (Set protection attributes)

Syntax: ATTRIB filespec [(param ...)]

I:

Makes the file invisible to the normal DIR command.

ACC=psw1:

Assigns psw1 as the new access password.

UPD=psw2:

Assigns psw2 as the new update password.

PROT=level:

Assigns protection level (KILL, RENAME, WRITE, READ, or EXEC).

The protection levels are hierarchical; each level includes the privileges of the levels below it:

KILL:

Total privilege (Kill, Rename, Write, Read, Execute)

RENAME:

Rename, Write, Read, Execute

WRITE:

Write, Read, Execute

READ:

Read and Execute

EXEC:

Execute only

Example: ATTRIB PAYROLL (ACC=EMPLOYEE, UPD=MANAGER, PROT=READ)

BASIC / BASIC2 / BASICR (Load and run BASIC)

Syntax: BASIC [\*]

Loads DISK BASIC into the system. Use BASIC \* (note the mandatory space before the asterisk) to return to BASIC from TRSDOS without losing programs currently in memory.

BASIC:

Loads the standard Disk BASIC.

BASIC2:

Loads Disk BASIC for a 2-drive system.

BASICR:

Loads Disk BASIC with the RS-232-C driver.

CLOCK (Display real-time clock)

Syntax: CLOCK [ON|OFF]

Displays the internal real-time clock on the top line of the video display (positions 53-60). The clock is updated once per second via a foreground task. Note that any characters at those display locations will be overwritten.

COPY (Copy a file)

Syntax: COPY source-filespec TO destination-filespec

Copies a file from one diskette to another or to the same diskette under a different name. If the destination file already exists, TRSDOS will ask for permission to overwrite it.

DATE (Display or set the date)

Syntax: DATE [MM/DD/YY]

Displays or sets the current system date. The date is used for file directory stamping.

DEBUG (Real-time debugging program)

Syntax: DEBUG [ON|OFF]

A package for debugging machine language programs. When ON, it is triggered by the BREAK key or a disk error.

A:

ASCII/graphics display toggle.

C:

Call-Step (executes a CALL in full).

Daaaa:

Display memory starting at address aaaa.

Gaaaa:

Go to address aaaa.

Maaaa:

Modify memory at address aaaa.

Rrp dddd:

Load register pair with data.

S:

Single-Step.

DEVICE (Display device status)

Syntax: DEVICE

Displays the status of all system devices (Disk Drives, Printer, etc.).

DIR (Display directory)

Syntax: DIR [drive] [(param ...)]

A:

Display all information (including passwords/attributes).

I:

Include invisible files in the listing.

S:

Include system files.

DUMP (Save memory to file)

Syntax: DUMP filespec (START=aaaa, END=bbbb, TRA=cccc)

Saves a block of memory from address aaaa to bbbb into a loadable file. TRA specifies the optional transfer (execution) address.

KILL (Delete a file)

Syntax: KILL filespec

Deletes the specified file from the diskette and frees its space for other files.

FREE (Display available space)

Syntax: FREE [drive]

Displays the number of free "grans" (granules) available on the specified drive.

LIB (Display library commands)

Syntax: LIB

Lists the names of all commands currently resident in the TRSDOS library (internal commands).

LIST (Display text file)

Syntax: LIST filespec

Displays the contents of an ASCII text file on the video screen.

LOAD (Load machine language file)

Syntax: LOAD filespec

Loads a machine language program from disk into memory without executing it.

PRINT (Print text file)

Syntax: PRINT filespec

Sends the contents of an ASCII text file to the line printer.

PROT (Change diskette password)

Syntax: PROT [drive]

Allows the user to change the Master Password of the diskette in the specified drive.

RENAME (Rename a file)

Syntax: RENAME old-filespec TO new-filespec

Changes the name of an existing file. The file remains on the same drive and retains its original contents.

TIME (Display or set the time)

Syntax: TIME [HH:MM:SS]

Displays or sets the internal real-time clock.

TRACE (Display execution address)

Syntax: TRACE [ON|OFF]

Enables a foreground task that displays the Program Counter (PC) in the upper right of the screen. It is updated every 8ms. This operates in TRSDOS, BASIC, or any other program unless interrupts are disabled.

VERIFY (Automatic read-after-write)

Syntax: VERIFY [ON|OFF]

Causes TRSDOS to verify all user disk writes (e.g., file-writes from DISK BASIC) to ensure data integrity. When ON, disk access speed is reduced by approximately 50%. TRSDOS defaults to VERIFY OFF on power-up.

BACKUP (Duplicate a diskette)

Syntax: BACKUP [:d1] [TO] [:d2]

This utility duplicates an entire TRSDOS or data diskette. You can use any two drives for the backup, or you can perform the backup using drive 0 by swapping source and destination diskettes when BACKUP tells you to. If the destination diskette is unformatted, BACKUP will format it, locking out any defective tracks, and will then proceed to copy all source disk files onto it.

Examples:

BACKUP (Prompts for source and destination drive numbers)

BACKUP :0 TO :0 (One-drive backup sequence)

BACKUP :0 TO :1 (Two-drive backup sequence)

Note: BACKUP will accept a pre-formatted diskette only when its Master Password and Diskette Name match that of the source disk. In this case, BACKUP will skip the formatting step and begin the copy and verify process.

FORMAT (Prepare a data diskette)

Syntax: FORMAT

This utility lets you prepare data diskettes containing a minimum of system information and leaving you with a maximum amount of space for program and data files. TRSDOS diskettes have 44 granules (55K bytes) available; data diskettes have 67 granules (83.75K bytes).

Example: 1,3-5 (Locks out tracks 1, 3, 4, and 5)

Note: Data diskettes can only be used in drives 1, 2, and 3, except during a BACKUP or FORMAT. If you get READ errors, reformat the diskette; FORMAT will lock out defective tracks and leave the diskette usable.

TAPEDISK (Copy tape file to disk file)

Syntax: TAPEDISK

This utility lets you load a SYSTEM tape into RAM and then dump it into a specified file on the disk. Do not attempt to use TAPEDISK to load tape files which load below hexadecimal address 54F4, as TAPEDISK uses this area.

Command	Function
C	Load from tape; activates the cassette recorder.
F filename[/ext].psw :d aaaa bbbb cccc	Dump to disk. aaaa: hex start address; bbbb: hex end address; cccc: execution entry point.
E	Exit to TRSDOS via the normal re-entry point.

Example: F USRCODE/CMD:1 7000 70FF 700A

DISKDUMP/BAS (Examine disk file)

Syntax: RUN "DISKDUMP/BAS"

A BASIC program that lets you look at the contents of any disk file. It is useful for experimenting with random/sequential output and debugging I/O routines. Sectors are printed 16 bytes at a time in both hexadecimal and ASCII.

Note: The program is written to dump to a Line Printer. If no printer is connected, change LPRINTs to PRINTs (lines 170, 240, 250) and change line 160 to 160 GETLSN.

GETDISK/BAS & GETTAPE/BAS

Syntax: RUN "GETDISK/BAS" or RUN "GETTAPE/BAS"

GETDISK/BAS copies any disk file onto cassette; GETTAPE/BAS reads the cassette data and writes it into a disk file. These allow one-drive users to copy data files to a revised version of BASIC.

Note: These do not set the EOF pointer for sequential files. Use a marker at the end of the file or count data items to avoid inputting invalid data. Do not use these for BASIC programs; use CSAVE and CLOAD instead.

TEST1 (Test memory)

Syntax: TEST1

Tests the TRS-80’s ROM and RAM. It automatically checks all locations regardless of memory size. If all checks pass, it prompts you to press ENTER to return to TRSDOS.

Note: TEST1 changes the entire contents of RAM. Ensure you have saved any valuable code to disk before running.

TEST2/BAS (Test stress)

Syntax: RUN "TEST2/BAS"

A stress test for 32K or 48K RAM systems only, taking approximately 10 minutes. It creates test files on selected drives to check the integrity of the disk system.

Example: WHICH DRIVES ARE TO BE USED? 0,1,3 (Tests drives 0, 1, and 3)

Note: During the test, the display will be filled with "meaningless" characters and "STILL TESTING" messages; these should be ignored.