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Assembler Programming: Create File

This document provides information on assembler programming for files in DOS. It discusses functions for creating, opening, reading, writing, closing, deleting, and moving the file pointer for files. These functions include int 21h with ah values of 3ch to create, 3dh to open, 3fh to read, 40h to write, 42h to move the file pointer, 41h to delete, and 3eh to close. It provides examples of code snippets using these functions with parameters like ds:dx for file names and bx for file handles.

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53 views4 pages

Assembler Programming: Create File

This document provides information on assembler programming for files in DOS. It discusses functions for creating, opening, reading, writing, closing, deleting, and moving the file pointer for files. These functions include int 21h with ah values of 3ch to create, 3dh to open, 3fh to read, 40h to write, 42h to move the file pointer, 41h to delete, and 3eh to close. It provides examples of code snippets using these functions with parameters like ds:dx for file names and bx for file handles.

Uploaded by

pitchu123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assembler programming 05/11/17, 10(36 PM

Assembler programming
The dos interrupt contains functions which makes it easy to create, open,
read, write, close and delete files.
A file should always be closed before the program is terminated.

Create file

Function 3ch creates a file. ds:dx should point to the ASCIIZ filename. cx is
is the file attribute.
Here is a lift of the attributes:
Bit Description
0 Read only
1 Hidden
2 System
Volume
3
label
Always
4
zero
5 Archive bit
6 -
7 -
On return the carry flag will be set if an error occurred. If succesful ax is
the file handle.

mov ah,3ch
mov cx,00000000b
lea dx,filename
int 21h
jc error
mov handle,ax

Open file

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Assembler programming 05/11/17, 10(36 PM

Function 3dh opens a file. ds:dx points to the ASCIIZ filename. If al is 0


then the file is opened as read only, if al is 1 the file will be opened as write
only and if al is 2 the file will be opened as read/write.
On return cf is set if an error occurred. ax is the file handle if succesful.

mov ax,3d02h
lea dx,filename
int 21h
jc error
mov handle,ax

Read from file

Function 3fh reads a string from a file. bx is the file handle, cx is the
number of bytes you want to read and ds:dx is where to put them.
On return cf is set if an error occourred. ax is equal to the number of bytes
read. If ax is different from cx end of file occurred.

mov ah,3fh
mov bx,handle
mov cx,1000
lea dx,buffer
int 21h
jc error

Write to file

Function 40h writes a string to a file. bx is the file handle, cx is the number
of bytes to write and ds:dx points to the string you want to write. On return
cf is set if an error occurred.

mov ah,40h
mov bx,handle
mov cx,1000

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Assembler programming 05/11/17, 10(36 PM

lea dx,buffer
int 21h
jc error

Move file pointer

If the file is bigger than 64kb you need to use function 42h to read the
whole file. It moves the file pointer to a new location. cx is the high bits of
the new location and dx is the low bits. al is where you want to move the
pointer from. 0 is beginning of file, 1 is the current location and 2 is end of
file. bx is the file handle. On return cf is set if an error occurred.

mov ax,4200h
mov bx,handle
mov cx,1
mov dx,1
int 21h
jc error

Delete file

Function 41h deletes a file. ds:dx points to the ASCIIZ filename. On return
cf is set if an error occurred.

mov ah,41h
lea dx,filename
int 21h
jc error

Close file

Function 3eh closes a file. bx is the file handle. On return cf is set if an


error occurred.

mov ah,3eh

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Assembler programming 05/11/17, 10(36 PM

mov bx,handle
int 21h
jc error

In the sample program filea.com creates a file and fileb.com deletes it.
files.zip (1321 bytes)

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