C64C Introductory Guide
C64C Introductory Guide
PERSONAL COMPUTER
introductory guide
• getting started 3
• the 64C keyboard 15
• using software 23
• user's manual statement 33
getting started
getting started
• yes you can—with the
Commodore 64C 2
• what you need to get started 4
• turning on the computer for
the first time 5
• the commodore 64C ports 6
• initial screen display 8
• screen messages 9
The Commodore 64C personal computer is a powerful, sophisticated and easy to use informa
tion processing system. With the 64C, you can process almost any kind of information-
business, personal, educational, recreational, scientific, financial, and more. And with the 64C
you can present this information in almost any form—words, numbers, pictures and sound.
With the wide-ranging capabilities of the 64C at your disposal, you can do all this:
• Consult encyclopedias like the World • Create and play music with the 64C's
Book and the Academic American versatile 3-voice, 6-octave sound
Encyclopedia electronically synthesizer
• Send and receive personal messages and • Do all this in the comfort of your home—
other information through thousands of you never have to wait in line or pay to
computer bulletin hoards park the car
• Visit the stars through your own IN DOING ALL THESE THINGS,
planetarium YOU CAN USE THE 64C IN TWO
WAYS:
• Learn how to program in languages
such as BASIC, C, COBOL, COMAL, • You can select from many prepackaged
FORTH, FORTRAN, LOGO, PASCAL, programs (software) available on cartridge,
PILOT—and even assembly and machine disk or tape.
language • Or you can create and run your own
• Control the pace of learning—go as fast or programs.
—if you are using a television set —if you are using a monitor:
Follow the instructions in the QUICK- Follow the instructions in the QUICK
CONNECT GUIDE. CONNECT GUIDE.
CONTROL
PORTS POWER
For joysticks, mouse, eic. PORT
L/H
EXPANSION TV Channel Selector
PORT (3 or 4)
41 A.
f 1 f I ? I I
VIDEO SERIAL
PORT PORT CASSETTE USER
PORT PORT
initial screen display
Shortly after you turn on your computer, you should see a display like the one
shown below on your television set or monitor:
—the cursor
Notice the small flashing rectangle at the upper left part of the screen, just below
the word READY. This rectangle is called the cursor. The cursor marks your posi
tion on the screen. When you type in something or when the computer responds to
something you have typed in, the cursor moves accordingly.
the cursor
If you press the RETURN without having entered something that the computer can
understand, you may see a message on the screen from the computer (e.g., SYN
TAX ERROR). These messages arc the computer's way of telling you that it can't
act on the information you have entered. In some cases the messages arc self-
explanatory, but in some cases you may need an explanation of the message.
Appendix A of the Commodore 64C System Guide lists and explains the error
messages for the 64C.
moving around the screen
You can move around the screen by moving the cursor. To do this, you use the two
keys marked with arrows, located at the right end of the bottom row of the main
keyboard.
-SHIR" Cr'sR m
IW SHIFT CfiSR m m
*~ the cut
SI HIT
Press CRSR to move the Press SHIFT CRSR to move Press CRSR to move the Press SHIFT CRSR to move
cursor down the cursor up cursor right the cursor left
10
trying out your new commodore 64C
Here's a simple program to show you that you can get your 64C to do things with
out knowing all about programming or BASIC or machine language.
First, hold down the SHIFT key and press the CLR HOME key. This "clears" (that
is, erases) the screen. Then type the following lines exactly as they appear. Press the
RETURN key after each line.
The numbers at the beginning of each line tell the computer that you are entering a
program. Pressing the RETURN key after you type each line tells the computer to
"save" that line (that is, to keep the line in the computer's memory).
After you have finished typing line 30 and have pressed RETURN for that line, use
the SHIFT and CLR HOME keys to clear the screen again. Then type RUN and
press RETURN, and follow the computer's instructions. If you get any kind of error
message on the screen, you have probably made a typing mistake. Just clear the
screen (use SHIFT/CLR HOME) and start again.
There are many prepackaged software programs that you can use with not much
more experience than it takes to use this little sample program. Once you "load"
such a program ("loading" means putting the program in the computer's memory),
the program instructs or 'prompts" you about what to do. The section in this
booklet called using software tells you how to "load" and "run" prepackaged
software programs.
If you are interested in learning how to create and run your own programs using
the 64C and the BASIC programming language, see the COMMODORE 64C SYS
TEM GUIDE—Learning to Program in Basic 2.0—the other book that comes packed
with the 64C computer.
11
about ram and rom
You have probably read or heard the terms RAM (Random Access Memory) and
ROM (Read Only Memory) used in connection with computers. These terms refer
to the two types of memory used by a computer in processing information.
RAM is memory that you can use AND change. For example, you can use RAM
to enter a program, and you can change that program while it is in RAM. The
64C can hold about 64,000 characters (bytes) of information in its RAM. This
memory can be directly used by you, and it can be changed by you.
ROM is memory that can only be used by the computer itself to perform and con
trol its internal activities. ROM cannot be changed by you, although there are
methods that you an use to see what values are in ROM. Your 64C also has 20K of
standard ROM (Read Only Memory).
The computer keeps track of how much RAM you have used and how much you
have left. The computer also keeps track of the contents and status of ROM. So,
unless you are interested in creating your own programs, you generally need not be
concerned about RAM and ROM.
troubleshooting chart
Power supply not plugged into computer I lux k power socket for loose or disconnected power
cable
Power supply not plugged into external power Check connection with wall outlet
TV not connected and/or turned on Check TV power connection and ON/OFF switch
Computer and/or TV set for wrong channel Set computer to same channel :>s TV 0 ur 4)
Randc ■■: pattern on screen wit] i cartridge in pi net1 Cartridge not properly inserted Turn power OFF and reinsert cartridge
Pictun ith po. ,r or no color Poorly tuned color controls Adjust color controls on TV nr monitor
Sound ■.■■.; th excess background noise Volume too high Adjust volume
Picture OK, but no sound Volume too low Adjust volume
Audio input ol monitor audio/video cable not ( Connect audio cable io monitor audio input
i nnne< ted
[f using external amplifier, connections or settings Connect sound jack to AUX input on amplifier and
not correct selet i AUX input
Sound OK, but no picture See "No picture" listings above Sec "No picture" listings above
Computer "locked" (cursor not flashing) C Computer inadvertently received instructions to While depressing ilu-RlN ^TOPkcy
disable keyboard; or the printer, cassette or disk drive press RESTORE key twice; or reset the peripherals by
is in listening mode turning off and on; or turn the computer off and on
Computer displays garbled symbols on the screen Overheating Pull plug on power supply and allow to cool down
(make sure ;iir flow around power supply is not
restricted)
NOTE: Stati< electrii ity generated by walking on rugs or carpeting can damage computer equipment. If such
conditions exist, he sure tndist harge the static electricity by touching ;i metal objci t before touching! he computer or
other equipment.
Also, power surges can damage computer equipment or cause data to he lost or garbled. You can avoid this by
installing an inexpensive surge protection device, available at your local electronics or hardware store.
13
the 64C keyboard
• keyboard modes 17
• the commodore 64C
keyboard layout 18
15
what the keyboard is used for
The 64C keyboard is basically a standard typewriter keyboard with some extra keys.
You use the keyboard to tell the computer what you want it to do. You also use the keys
to reply to any messages or questions the computer displays on the screen. (These mes
sages and questions are sometimes called "screen prompts" or simply "prompts".)
Most of the letter, number and symbol keys on the Commodore 64C's keyboard look
and work like the corresponding key on a standard typewriter. In addition, many or
these keys can produce special graphic symbols, which arc indicated on the front of the
keys. There are also a number of special keys that let the Commodore 64C computer do
much more than a typewriter can do. The keyboard illustration shown locates these
special keys and tells how you use them.
For a detailed description of key functions see the COMMODORE 64C SYSTEM
GUIDE.
Feel free to experiment at the keyboard. There is little chance that anything you do
at the keyboard can cause harm, and you will benefit from the "hands on"
experience.
16
keyboard modes
upper/lower case
SHIFT LOCK key. '
mode You do not have to be an accomplished
typist to use the computer effectively.
You only need to know the general
keyboard layout, including the location
and function of the special keys, as
shown on the keyboard diagram.
the commodore 64C keyboard layout
look and work like the corresponding key -Used alone to halt a
program that is running.
on a standard typewriter. In addition,
-Used with the SHIFT key
many of these keys can produce special to start a program.
THE FUNCTION
KEYS
RESTORE
using software
• what software is 22
Software is a set of instructions (also called a program) that tells your computer
just what you want it to do. In other words, software is what lets you do things
with your computer.
1. Prepackaged Software—
This is software that is ready for you to use. Prepackaged software is sometimes
called "canned" software. You don't need to know all about "computing" or "pro
gramming" to use prepackaged software programs.
2. User-Created Software—
This is software that you yourself make up. To do this you must use a special lan
guage, known as a programming language. The Commodore 64C comes with a
built-in programming language known as BASIC 2.0; see the SYSTEM GUIDE for
instructions on programming in BASIC 2.0. There are also many other program
ming languages available for the Commodore 64C, including LOGO, PILOT, LISP,
PASCAL, etc.
22
software package formats
disk—
Depending on the type of disk drive you are using, these can be either 5'A" or 3'/z"
disks enclosed in a protective envelope.
cartridge-
Software cartridges, about the size of a deck of cards, are used for many business
and educational programs, as well as for games.
cassette tape—
Software on tape uses a normal-sized audio tape cassette that contains either stan
dard audio tape or computer digital tape. The cassette is used with a special Com
modore tape recorder called a Datassette.
23
what's in a software package
24
how to load and run software
—FIRST, you must place the software program in your Commodore 64C's
memory. This is called loading the program. In some cases, you load the program
by using the LOAD command, as explained on pages 26, 27, and 28. In other
cases, the program is loaded automatically.
—SECOND, you must tell the computer to carry out the program's instruc
tions. This is called running the program. In some cases, you run the program by
using the RUN command. In other cases, the program not only loads but also
runs automatically.
The following pages tell you how to LOAD and RUN disk, cartridge and tape
software.
loading and running disk software
3. TYPE:
RUN
27
loading cassette tape software
The screen then displays this message: puter. (If for some reason you decide at
1. PLUG THE DATASSETTE
this point that you want to stop the pro
INTO THE CASSETTE PORT. PRESS PLAY ON TAPE gram from LOADing, just press the
The computer searches for the program. RUN/STOP key.)
NOTE:
28
"
For more information on using your 64C computer, see the following books:
COMMODORE 64 PROGRAMMER'S
REFERENCE GUIDE
NTRODUCTION TO BASIC-PARTS,
, U, AND III
(215)436-4200
If you have what you think is a hardware problem, be sure to call Customer Support.
There often is a simple answer to such problems. By calling Customer Support you may
be able to avoid taking your equipment in for service.
O/vt
29
summary of 64C keyboard functions
key(s) function
SHIFT
Clear screen
SHUT
Move cursor up
Delete character(s)
del 1
inst I
\ Insert character(s)
30
function key(s)
RUN
STOP
Stop a program
Stop a printout
shift!
LOCK I
CTRL
31
summary of most-used 64C commands
NOTE: For details on any of these commands, see the BASIC 2.0 ENCYCLOPEDIA
in Chapter 6 of the Commodore 64C System Guide.
32
user's manual statement
WARNING:
This equipment lias been certified Co comply with [ho limits for a Class B computing device, pursuant to Eilbpart J of
Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission's rules, which are designed Co provide reasonable protection
agflinst radio and television interference in a residential installation. If not installed properly, in strict accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions, it may cause such interference. If you suspect interference, you can test this
equipment by turning it off and on. If this equipment does cause interference, correct it by doing any of the
following:
Your house AC wall receptacle must be a three-pronged type (AC ground). If not,
contact an electrician Co install the proper receptacle. If a multi-connector box is used
to connect the computer and peripherals to AC, the ground must be common to all
units.
If necessary, consult your Commodore dealer or an experienced radio-television technician for additional sugges
tions. You may find the following FCC booklet helpful: "How to Identify anil Resolve Radio-TV Interference
Problems." The booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, stock no.
004-000-00^-4.
This manual contains copyrighted and proprietary information. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Commodore Electronics Limited.
Commodore 64C is a trademark of Commodore Electronics Limited.
33
COMMODORE'