Subject: Re: Assembly with Merlin
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2.programmer
From: dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)
Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 02:02:19 +1200
Message-ID: <1drcumy.10wyqea2xgwv4N@dempson.actrix.gen.nz>
References: <7gl5dv$no2$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> <1dr9rcs.1dbptf61ts5hfkN@gatezh5-123.access.ch>
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Georg Lachenmeier <vakusolar@mus.ch> wrote:

> <bobryan9@my-dejanews.com> wrote:
> 
> > Can I define a character string in Merlin?
> 
> Yes (screen-copy from Merlin):
>                            ___HELP_ON_PSEUDO.OPS___
>  
> String
> ------
> ASC  "string"    = normal string
> DCI  "string"    = last char inverted
> FLS  "string"    = flashing format
> INV  "string"    = inverse format
> REV  "string"    = reversed order
> STR  "string"    = leading byte
> STRL "string"    = leading word
> DATE 0-8         = date to object
> FLO  "fp-string" = extended floating point number to object

One point I should add: the type of quote character used affects how the
characters are stored.  Double quotes (as shown here) gives you high
ASCII, while single quotes gives you low ASCII.

e.g.

        ASC 'HELLO'

generates 48 45 4C 4C 4F

while

        ASC "HELLO"

generates C8 C5 CC CC CF

The INV and FLS directives probably ignore the quote character, but you
should use double quotes for consistency.  Inverse characters are forced
to the $00-$3F range, flashing are $40-$7F, and normal are $A0-$FF.
(This assumes the characters are going directly to screen memory, or
through the COUT function.)

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand