Difference between revisions of "Program format"
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[[Category:BASIC]] | [[Category:BASIC]] | ||
| − | BBC BASIC programs are usually stored in a tokenised format. Most of the tokens used by different versions of BBC BASIC are the same, but extended tokens are different, and different versions have different line headers. | + | BBC BASIC programs are usually stored in a tokenised format. Most of the |
| + | tokens used by different versions of BBC BASIC are the same, but extended | ||
| + | tokens are different, and different versions have different line headers. | ||
| + | The exceptions are | ||
| + | [http://jaguar.orpheusweb.co.uk/branpage.html Brandy BASIC] | ||
| + | and the emulator [https://github.com/TomHarte/ElectrEm ElectrEm] which both | ||
| + | store BASIC as plain text. | ||
Acorn/Wilson format BASIC is stored as: | Acorn/Wilson format BASIC is stored as: | ||
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: <tt>{[<text>] [<cr>|<lf>|<cr><lf>|<lf><cr>]}</tt> | : <tt>{[<text>] [<cr>|<lf>|<cr><lf>|<lf><cr>]}</tt> | ||
| − | It can be useful to be able to determine what format a BASIC file is stored in. Different file formats have defined RISC OS filetypes and DOS extensions: | + | It can be useful to be able to determine what format a BASIC file is stored |
| + | in. Different file formats have defined RISC OS filetypes and DOS | ||
| + | extensions: | ||
{| border="1" | {| border="1" | ||
! Format !! RISC OS filetype !! File extension | ! Format !! RISC OS filetype !! File extension | ||
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|} | |} | ||
| − | However, you should never assume a file's format from its filetype or extension. Assuming a BASIC program has been saved normally, and there is no extra data appended to the end of the file, the format can be easily determined by looking at the ''final'' few bytes of the file: | + | However, you should never assume a file's format from its filetype or |
| + | extension. Assuming a BASIC program has been saved normally, and there is no | ||
| + | extra data appended to the end of the file, the format can be easily | ||
| + | determined by looking at the ''final'' few bytes of the file: | ||
: <tt><cr><00><ff><ff> - Russell format (Z80, 80x86) | : <tt><cr><00><ff><ff> - Russell format (Z80, 80x86) | ||
: <xx><xx><cr><ff> - Wilson/Acorn format (6502, 32000, ARM, PDP11) | : <xx><xx><cr><ff> - Wilson/Acorn format (6502, 32000, ARM, PDP11) | ||
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: <xx><xx><xx><xx> - unrecognised</tt> | : <xx><xx><xx><xx> - unrecognised</tt> | ||
| − | The following code will examine the last four bytes of an open file and determine what format it is: | + | The following code will examine the last four bytes of an open file and |
| + | determine what format it is: | ||
PTR#in%=EXT#in%-4:FOR A%=0 TO 3:buffer%?A%=BGET#in%:NEXT | PTR#in%=EXT#in%-4:FOR A%=0 TO 3:buffer%?A%=BGET#in%:NEXT | ||
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IF!buffer%=&FFFF000D :type%=1 :REM 80/86 format | IF!buffer%=&FFFF000D :type%=1 :REM 80/86 format | ||
| − | Here '''in%''' is the handle of the file that has been opened, '''buffer%''' is a pointer to a four byte '''DIM'''ensioned block of memory, '''A%''' is a temporary variable and on exit '''type%''' contains the file type. | + | Here '''in%''' is the handle of the file that has been opened, '''buffer%''' |
| + | is a pointer to a four byte '''DIM'''ensioned block of memory, '''A%''' is a | ||
| + | temporary variable and on exit '''type%''' contains the file type. | ||
| − | Note that in some circumstances it is legitimate to ''append'' data to the end of a BBC BASIC program file. In that case this method of determining the format will not work, since the last four bytes of the file will not be the last four bytes of the program. | + | Note that in some circumstances it is legitimate to ''append'' data to the |
| + | end of a BBC BASIC program file. In that case this method of determining | ||
| + | the format will not work, since the last four bytes of the file will not be | ||
| + | the last four bytes of the program. | ||
''by JGH, May 2006, originally for BBFW Wiki'' | ''by JGH, May 2006, originally for BBFW Wiki'' | ||
Latest revision as of 14:24, 4 December 2017
BBC BASIC programs are usually stored in a tokenised format. Most of the tokens used by different versions of BBC BASIC are the same, but extended tokens are different, and different versions have different line headers. The exceptions are Brandy BASIC and the emulator ElectrEm which both store BASIC as plain text.
Acorn/Wilson format BASIC is stored as:
- {<cr> <linehi> <linelo> <len> <text>} <cr> <ff>
Russell format BASIC is stored as:
- {<len> <linelo> <linehi> <text> <cr>} <00> <ff> <ff>
BASIC can also be stored as text, as:
- {[<text>] [<cr>|<lf>|<cr><lf>|<lf><cr>]}
It can be useful to be able to determine what format a BASIC file is stored in. Different file formats have defined RISC OS filetypes and DOS extensions:
| Format | RISC OS filetype | File extension |
|---|---|---|
| Acorn/Wilson | &FFB "BASIC" | "." or ",ffb" |
| Russell | &1C7 "Basic8" | ".bbc" |
| Text/Brandy/ElectrEm | &FFF "Text" or &FD1 "BASICtxt" | ".bas" |
However, you should never assume a file's format from its filetype or extension. Assuming a BASIC program has been saved normally, and there is no extra data appended to the end of the file, the format can be easily determined by looking at the final few bytes of the file:
- <cr><00><ff><ff> - Russell format (Z80, 80x86)
- <xx><xx><cr><ff> - Wilson/Acorn format (6502, 32000, ARM, PDP11)
- <xx><xx><cr><lf> - text CR/LF terminated
- <xx><xx><lf><cr> - text LF/CR terminated
- <xx><xx><xx><lf> - text LF terminated (Brandy)
- <xx><xx><xx><cr> - text CR terminated
- <xx><xx><xx><xx> - unrecognised
The following code will examine the last four bytes of an open file and determine what format it is:
PTR#in%=EXT#in%-4:FOR A%=0 TO 3:buffer%?A%=BGET#in%:NEXT type%=0 :REM unknown IFbuffer%?3=&0D :type%=7 :REM text cr IFbuffer%?3=&0A :type%=6 :REM text lf IF(!buffer% AND &FFFF0000)=&0D0A0000 :type%=5 :REM text lfcr IF(!buffer% AND &FFFF0000)=&0A0D0000 :type%=4 :REM text crlf IF(!buffer% AND &FFFF0000)=&FF0D0000 :type%=2 :REM 6502 format IF!buffer%=&FFFF000D :type%=1 :REM 80/86 format
Here in% is the handle of the file that has been opened, buffer% is a pointer to a four byte DIMensioned block of memory, A% is a temporary variable and on exit type% contains the file type.
Note that in some circumstances it is legitimate to append data to the end of a BBC BASIC program file. In that case this method of determining the format will not work, since the last four bytes of the file will not be the last four bytes of the program.
by JGH, May 2006, originally for BBFW Wiki
