CP/M Plus™

(CP/M® Version 3)
Operating System

System Guide
 COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 1983 Digital Research Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language
or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical,
chemical, manual or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Digital Research Inc.,
60 Garden Court, Box DRI, Monterey, California 93942.

DISCLAIMER
DIGITAL RESEARCH INC. MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES
WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTENTS HEREOF AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY
PURPOSE. Further, Digital Research Inc. reserves the right to revise this publication and to
make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation of Digital Research
Inc. to notify any person of such revision or changes.

NOTICE TO USER
From time to time changes are made in the filenames and in the files actually included on the
distribution disk. This manual should not be construed as a representation or warranty that
such files or facilities exist on the distribution disk or as part of the materials and programs
distributed. Most distribution disks include a “README.DOC” file. This file explains varia-
tions from the manual which do constitute modification of the manual and the items included
therewith. Be sure to read this file before using the software.

TRADEMARKS
CP/M and Digital Research and its logo are registered trademarks of Digital Research Inc.
CP/M Plus, DDT, LINK-80, RMAC, SID, TEX, and XREF are trademarks of Digital Research
Inc. Altos is a registered trademark of Altos Corporation. IBM is a registered trademark of
International Business Machines. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Microsoft
is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Zilog and Z80 are registered trademarks of
Zilog Inc. The CP/M Plus (CP/M Version 3) Operating System System Guide was prepared
using the Digital Research TEX™ Text Formatter and printed in the United States of America.

First Edition: January 1983

Second Edition: July 1983
Third Edition: March 2023

PDF of Version 1.0 generated on 19.03.23

ii
 Foreword

CP/M® 3, also marketed as CP/M Plus®, is a single-console operating

system for 8-bit machines that use an Intel® 8080, 8085, or Zilog® Z80®
CPU. CP/M 3 is upward-compatible with its predecessor, CP/M 2, and
offers more features and higher performance than CP/M 2. This manual
describes the steps necessary to create or modify a CP/M 3 Basic Input
Output System (BIOS) tailored for a specific hardware environment.

The CP/M Plus (CP/M Version 3) Operating System System Guide

(hereafter cited as CP/M Plus System Guide) assumes you are familiar
with systems programming in 8080 assembly language and that you have
access to a CP/M 2 system. It also assumes you understand the target
hardware and that you have functioning disk I/O drivers. You should
be familiar with the accompanying CP/M Plus (CP/M Version 3) Op-
erating System User’s Guide (hereafter cited as CP/M Plus User’s Guide)
describing the operating system utilities. You should also be familiar with
the CP/M Plus (CP/M Version 3) Operating system Programmer’s Guide
(hereafter cited as CP/M Plus Programmer’s Guide), which describes
the system calls used by the applications programmer to interface with
the operating system. The Programmer’s Utilities Guide for the CP/M
Family of Operating Systems (hereafter cited as Programmer’s Utilities
Guide) documents the assembling and debugging utilities.

Section 1 of this manual is an overview of the component modules

of the CP/M 3 operating system. Section 2 provides an overview of the
functions and data structures necessary to write an interface module
between CP/M 3 and specific hardware. Section 3 contains a detailed
description of these functions and data structures, followed by instruc-
tions to assemble and link the distributed modules with your customized
modules. Section 4 describes the modular organization of the sample
iii
CP/M 3 BIOS on your distribution diskette. Section 5 documents the
procedure to generate and boot your CP/M 3 system. Section 6 is a
sample debugging session.

The appendixes contain tables, and sample BIOS modules you can
use, or study and modify. Appendix A discusses removable media drives.
Appendix B discusses automatic density support. Appendix C describes
how CP/M 3 differs from CP/M 2. Appendix D shows the format of
the CPM3.SYS file.

Appendixes E through H are listings of the assembled source code for

the four hardware-independent modules of the sample BIOS. Appendix
E is the kernel module to use when creating a modular BIOS in the form
of the distributed sample. Appendix F shows the System Control Block.
Appendix G is a table of equates for the baud rate and mode byte for
character I/O. Appendix H contains the macro definitions you can
use to generate some of the CP/M 3 disk data structures. Appendix I
lists the assembled source code for the six BIOS modules that depend
on the Altos® 8000-15 Computer System hardware. It also contains a
sample Submit file to build a BIOS.

Appendixes J and K are tabular summaries of the public entry points

and data items in the modules of the sample BIOS. Finally, Appendix L
is a tabular summary of the thirty-three functions of the CP/M 3 BIOS,
complete with entry parameters and returned values.

iv
 Table of Contents

CP/M 3 Operating System Overview

Introduction to CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
CP/M 3 System Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Communication Between Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Banked and Nonbanked Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Memory Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Disk Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Hardware Supported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Hardware Supported by CP/M 3 Banked System. . . . . . . . . 1-12
Hardware Supported by CP/M 3 Nonbanked System. . . . . 1-13
Customizing CP/M 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Initial Load (Cold Boot) of CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

CP/M 3 BIOS Overview

Organization of the BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
System Control Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
System Initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Character I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Disk I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Memory Selects and Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Clock Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13

CP/M 3 BIOS Functional Specifications

The System Control Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Character I/O Data Structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
BIOS Disk Data Structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Drive Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Disk Parameter Header. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Disk Parameter Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
v
 Buffer Control Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Data Structure Macro Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
System Initialization Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Character I/O Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Disk I/O Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Memory Select and Move Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
Clock Support Function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-51
Banking Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-52
Assembling and Linking Your BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54

CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules

Functional Sumary of BIOS Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Conventions Used in BIOS Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Interactions of Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Initial Boot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Character I/O Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Disk I/O Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Predefined Variables and Subroutines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
BOOT Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Character I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Disk I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Disk I/O Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Drive Table Module (DRVTBL). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Extended Disk Parameter Headers (XDPHs). . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Subroutine Entry Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
Error Handling and Recovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
Multiple Sector I/O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
MOVE Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
Linking Modules into the BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22

System Generation
GENCPM Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

vi
 Customizing the CPMLDR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
CPMLDR Utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Booting CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23

Debugging the BIOS

Appendixes
Removable Media Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
Auto-density Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
Modifying a CP/M 2 BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
CPM3.SYS File Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
Root Module of Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1
System Control Block Definition for CP/M 3 BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
Equates for Mode Byte Bit Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1
Macro Definitions for CP/M 3 BIOS Data Structures . . . . . . . . . H-1
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1
Public Entry Points for CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules. . . . . . . . . . J-1
Public Data Items in CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules. . . . . . . . . . . K-1
CP/M 3 BIOS Function Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-1

vii
 List of Tables
CP/M 3 Operating System Memory Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
CP/M 3 BIOS Jump Vector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
CP/M 3 BIOS Functions Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Initialization of Page Zero. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
CP/M 3 Logical Device Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
BDOS Calls to BIOS in Nonbanked and Banked Systems. . . . . . . 2-9
Multiple Sector I/O in Nonbanked and Banked Systems. . . . . . . 2-10
Reading Two Contiguous Sectors in Banked System. . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
System Control Block Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Disk Parameter Header Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Disk Parameter Block Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
BSH and BLM Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Maximum EXK Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
BLS and Number of Directory Entries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
PSH and PHM Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Buffer Control Block Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Functional Organization of BIOS Entry Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
CP/M 3 BIOS Function Jump Table Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
I/O Redirection Bit Vectors in SCB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
CP/M 3 BIOS Module Function Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Public Symbols in CP/M 3 BIOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Global Variables in BIOSKRNL.ASM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-8
Public Utility Subroutines in BIOSKRNL.ASM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Public Names in the BIOS Jump Vector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
BOOT Module Entry Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Mode Bits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Baud Rates for Serial Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Character Device Labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Fields of Each XDPH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Subroutine Entry Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19
viii
Move Module Entry Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
Sample CP/M 3 System Track Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
CP/M 3 BIOS Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1
CPM3.SYS File Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
Header Record Definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
Public Entry Points for CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules. . . . . . . . . . J-1
Public Data Items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K-1
BIOS Function Jump Table Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-1

Figures
General Memory Organization of CP/M 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Memory organization for Banked CP/M 3 System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Organization with Bank 1 Enabled in Banked System . . 1-7
Memory Organization in Nonbanked CP/M 3 System. . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Memory Organization in Banked CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Memory organization in Nonbanked CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
CP/M 3 System Disk Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
CP/M 3 System Tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Disk Data Structures in a Banked System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Disk Parameter Header Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Disk Parameter Block Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
AL0 and AL1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Buffer Control Block Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
XDPH Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17

ix
 Listings
SCB.ASM File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Sample Character Device Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Equates for Mode Byte Bit Fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Root Module of Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1
System Control Block Definition for CP/M 3 BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
Equates for Mode Byte Fields: MODEBAUD.LIB. . . . . . . . . . . . . G-1
Macro Definitions for CP/M 3 BIOS Data Structures . . . . . . . . . H-1
Boot Loader Module for CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1
Character I/O Handler for Z80 Chip-based System . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5
Drive Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-10
Z80 DMA Single-density Disk Handler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-11
Bank and Move Module for CP/M 3 Linked BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . I-21
I/O Port Addresses for Z80 Chip-based System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-23
Sample Submit File for ASC 8000-12 System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-26

x
xi
xii
CP/M System Guide Introduction to CP/M 3

Section 1 
CP/M 3 Operating System
Overview

This section is an overview of the CP/M 3 operating system, with

a description of the system components and how they relate to each
other. The section includes a discussion of memory configurations and
supported hardware. The last portion summarizes the creation of a
customized version of the CP/M 3 Basic Input Output System (BIOS).

1.1.  Introduction to CP/M 3

CP/M 3 provides an environment for program development and
execution on computer systems that use the Intel 8080, 8085, or Z80
microprocessor chip. CP/M 3 provides rapid access to data and programs
through a file structure that supports dynamic allocation of space for
sequential and random access files.

CP/M 3 supports a maximum of sixteen logical floppy or hard disks

with a storage capacity of up to 512 megabytes each. The maximum
file size supported is 32 megabytes. You can configure the number of
directory entries and block size to satisfy various user needs.

CP/M 3 is supplied in two versions. One version supports non-

bank-switched memory the second version supports hardware with
bank-switched memory capabilities. CP/M 3 supplies additional fa-
cilities for the bank-switched system, including extended command
line editing, password protection of files, and extended error messages.

The nonbanked system requires 8.5 kilobytes of memory, plus space

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-1
CP/M 3 System Components CP/M System Guide

for your customized BIOS. It can execute in a minimum of 32 kilobytes

of memory.

The bank-switched system requires a minimum of two memory banks

with 11 kilobytes of memory in Bank 0 and 1.5 kilobytes in common
memory, plus space for your customized BIOS. The bank-switched
system provides more user memory for application programs.

CP/M 3 resides in the file CPM3.SYS, which is loaded into mem-

ory by a system loader during system initialization. The system loader
resides on the first two tracks of the system disk. CPM3.SYS contains
the distributed BDOS and the customized BIOS.

The CP/M 3 operating system is distributed on two single-density,

single-sided, eight-inch floppy disks. Digital Research supplies a sample
BIOS that is configured for an Altos 8000-15 microcomputer system
with bank-switched memory and two single-density, single-sided, eight-
inch floppy disk drives.

1.2.  CP/M 3 System Components

The CP/M 3 operating system consists of the following three modules:
the Console Command Processor (CCP), the Basic Disk Operating
System (BDOS), and the Basic Input Output System (BIOS).

The CCP is a program that provides the basic user interface to the
facilities of the operating system. The CCP supplies six built-in com-
mands: DIR, DIRS, ERASE, RENAME, TYPE, and USER. The CCP
executes in the Transient Program Area (TPA), the region of memory
where all application programs execute. The CCP contains the Program
Loader Module, which loads transient (applications) programs from
disk into the TPA for execution.

The BDOS is the logical nucleus and file system of CP/M 3. The

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-2
CP/M System Guide Communication Between Modules

BDOS provides the interface between the application program and

the physical input/output routines of the BIOS.

The BIOS is a hardware-dependent module that interfaces the BDOS

to a particular hardware environment. The BIOS performs all physical
I/O in the system. The BIOS consists of a number of routines that you
must configure to support the specific hardware of the target computer
system.

The BDOS and the BIOS modules cooperate to provide the CCP
and other transient programs with hardware-independent access to
CP/M 3 facilities. Because the BIOS is configured for different hard-
ware environments and the BDOS remains constant, you can transfer
programs that run under CP/M 3 unchanged to systems with different
hardware configurations.

1.3.  Communication Between Modules

The BIOS loads the CCP into the TPA at system cold and warm
start. The CCP moves the Program Loader Module to the top of the
TPA and uses the Program Loader Module to load transient programs.

The BDOS contains a set of functions that the CCP and applications
programs call to perform disk and character input and output operations.

The BIOS contains a Jump Table with a set of 33 entry points that
the BDOS calls to perform hardware-dependent primitive functions,
such as peripheral device I/O. For example, CONIN is an entry point of
the BIOS called by the BDOS to read the next console input character.

Similarities exist between the BDOS functions and the BIOS func-
tions, particularly for simple device I/O. For example, when a transient
program makes a console output function call to the BDOS, the BDOS
makes a console output call to the BIOS. In the case of disk I/O, however,

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-3
Communication Between Modules CP/M System Guide

this relationship is more complex. The BDOS might make many BIOS
function calls to perform a single BDOS file I/O function. BDOS disk
I/O is in terms of 128-byte logical records. BIOS disk I/O is in terms
of physical sectors and tracks.

The System Control Block (SCB) is a 100-byte, decimal, CP/M 3 data

structure that resides in the BDOS system component. The BDOS and
the BIOS communicate through fields in the SCB. The SCB contains
BDOS flags and data, CCP flags and data, and other system information,
such as console characteristics and the current date and time. You can
access some of the System Control Block fields from the BIOS.

Note that the SCB contains critical system parameters which re-
flect the current state of the operating system. If a program modifies
these parameters, the operating system can crash. See Section 3 of this
manual, and the description of BDOS Function 49 in the CP/M Plus
Programmer’s Guide for more information on the System Control Block.

Page Zero is a region of memory that acts as an interface between

transient programs and the operating system. Page Zero contains critical
system parameters, including the entry to the BDOS and the entry to
the BIOS Warm BOOT routine. At system start-up, the BIOS initial-
izes these two entry points in Page Zero. All linkage between transient
programs and the BDOS is restricted to the indirect linkage through
Page Zero. Figure 1-1 illustrates the general memory organization of
CP/M 3.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-4
CP/M System Guide Banked and Nonbanked Systems

HIGH MEMORY:
BIOS: BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM
BIOS_BASE:
BDOS: BASIC DISK OPERATING SYSTEM
BDOS_BASE:
LOADER: PROGRAM LOADER MODULE
COMPONENT OF CCP
LOADER_BASE:
TPA: TRANSIENT PROGRAM AREA TPA

CCP: COMMAND CONSOLE PROCESSOR

0100H:
PAGE ZERO
0000H:

Figure 1-1. General Memory Organization of CP/M 3

Note that all memory regions in CP/M 3 are page aligned, which
means that they must begin on a page boundary. Because a page is defined
as 256 (100H) bytes, a page boundary always begins at a hexadecimal
address where the low-order byte of the hex address is zero.

1.4.  Banked and Nonbanked Systems

CP/M 3 is supplied in two versions: one for hardware that supports
banked memory, and the other for hardware with a minimum of 32
kilobytes of memory. The systems are called banked and nonbanked.

Digital Research supplies System Page Relocatable (.SPR) files for

both a banked BDOS and a nonbanked BDOS. A sample banked BIOS
is supplied for you to use as an example when creating a customized
BIOS for your set of hardware components.

The following figure shows the memory organization for a banked

system. Bank 0 and common memory are for the operating system.
Bank 1 is the Transient Program Area, which contains the Page Zero
region of memory. You can use additional banks to enhance operating
system performance.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-5
Banked and Nonbanked Systems CP/M System Guide

In banked CP/M 3 systems, CPMLDR, the system loader, loads

part of the BDOS into common memory and part of the BDOS into
Bank 0. CPMLDR loads the BIOS in the same manner.

Figure 1-2 shows the memory organization for the banked version
of CP/M 3.

TOP OF MEMORY
BUFFERS HARDWARE-DEPENDENT BUFFER SPACE

O.S. RESIDENT OPERATING SYSTEM MODULES

COMMON
TO ALL BANKS

TOP OF BANKED
MEMORY BANKED
O.S.
TPA
BANK SWITCHED

hhhhH hhhhH
PAGE 0
BANK 0 BANK 1 ..... BANK N

Figure 1-2. Memory organization for Banked CP/M 3 System

In this figure, the top region of memory is called common memory.

Common memory is always enabled and addressable. The operating
system is divided into two modules: the resident portion, which resides
in common memory, and the banked portion, which resides just below
common memory in Bank 0.

The shaded areas in Figure 1-2 represent the memory available to

transient programs. The clear areas are used by the operating system
for disk record buffers and directory hash tables. The clear area in the
common region above the operating system represents space that can
be allocated for data buffers by GENCPM, the CP/M 3 system gen-

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-6
CP/M System Guide Banked and Nonbanked Systems

eration utility. The minimum size of the buffer area is determined by

the specific hardware requirements of the host microcomputer system.

Bank 0, the system bank, is the bank that is enabled when CP/M 3
is cold started. Bank 1 is the transient program bank.

The transient program bank must be contiguous from location zero to

the top of banked memory. Common memory must also be contiguous.
The other banks need not begin at location zero or have contiguous
memory.

Figure 1-3 shows the CP/M 3 memory organization when the TPA
bank, Bank 1, is enabled in a bank-switched system.

TOP OF MEMORY
HARDWARE DEPENDENT BUFFER SPACE

O.S. RESIDENT OPERATING SYSTEM MODULES

COMMON

TPA

TOP OF BANKED
MEMORY

TPA

LOW MEMORY
(0000H)
BANK 1

Figure 1-3. Memory Organization with Bank 1 Enabled

in Banked System

The operating system switches to Bank 0 or other banks when per-

forming operating system functions. In general, any bank switching
performed by the operating system is transparent to the calling program.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-7
Memory Requirements CP/M System Guide

The memory organization for the nonbanked version of CP/M 3 is

much simpler, as shown in Figure 1-4:

TOP OF MEMORY

O.S.

TPA

LOW MEMORY
(0000H)

Figure 1-4. Memory Organization in Nonbanked CP/M 3

System

In the nonbanked version of CP/M 3, memory consists of a single con-

tiguous region addressable from 0000H up to a maximum of 0FFFFH,
or 64K-1. The clear area above the operating system represents space
that can be allocated for data buffers and directory hash tables by the
CP/M 3 system generation utility, GENCPM, or directly allocated by
the BIOS. The minimum size of the buffer area is determined by the
specific hardware requirements of the host microcomputer system. Again,
the shaded region represents the space available for transient programs.

1.5.  Memory Requirements

Table 1-1 shows typical sizes of the CP/M 3 operating system com-
ponents.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-8
CP/M System Guide Memory Requirements

Table 1-1. CP/M 3 Operating System Memory Requirements

CP/M Version Nonbanked Banked
Common Bank 0
BDOS 8.5K 1.5K 11K
BIOS (values vary)
floppy system 1.5K .75K 2K
hard system 2.5K 1.5K 3K

The CP/M 3 banked system requires a minimum of two banks (Bank

0 and Bank 1) and can support up to 16 banks of memory. The size of
the common region is often 16K, but can be as small as 4K. Common
memory must be large enough to contain the required buffers and the
resident (common) portion of the operating system, which means a
1.5K BDOS and the common part of your customized BIOS.

In a banked environment, CP/M 3 maintains a cache of deblocking

buffers and directory records using a Least Recently Used (LRU) buff-
ering scheme. The LRU buffer is the first to be reused when the system
runs out of buffer space. The BDOS maintains separate buffer pools
for directory and data record caching.

The RSX modules shown in Figure 1-5 are Resident System Exten-
sions (RSX) that are loaded directly below the operating system when
included in an application or utility program. The Program Loader
places the RSX in memory and chains BDOS calls through the RSX
entry point in the RSX.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-9
Memory Requirements CP/M System Guide

Figure 1-5 shows the memory organization in a typical bank-switched

CP/M 3 system.

LRU DATA BUFFERS

COMMON MEMORY
RESIDENT BIOS 1K

RESIDENT BDOS 1.5K

ALLOCATION/CHECKSUM PROGRAM LOADER PROGRAM LOADER

VECTORS
STACKED RSX MODULES HASHED DIRECTORY
BANKED BIOS 3K TABLES
(ONE PER DRIVE)
BANKED BDOS 11K
COPY OF CCP FOR
TPA WARM START
LRU DIRECTORY (OPTIONAL)
BUFFERS

HASHED DIRECTORY
TABLES
(ONE PER DRIVE) OPTIONAL OVERLAYS

TRANSIENT PROGRAM

PAGE ZERO

BANK 0 BANK 1 BANK 2

Figure 1-5. Memory Organization in Banked CP/M 3

The banked system supports a TPA of 60K or more. The banked por-
tion of the operating system in Bank 0 requires at least 16K of memory.

In the banked system, the BDOS and the BIOS are separated into
two parts: a resident portion, and a banked portion. The resident BDOS
and BIOS are located in common memory. The banked BDOS and
BIOS are located in the operating system bank, referred to as Bank 0
in this manual.

The TPA extends from 100H in Bank 1 up to the bottom of the resi-
dent BDOS in common memory. The banked BIOS and BDOS reside

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-10
CP/M System Guide Memory Requirements

in Bank 0 with the directory buffers. Typically, all data buffers reside
in common. Data buffers can reside in an alternate bank if the system
has a DMA controller capable of transferring arbitrary blocks of data
from one bank to another. Hashed directory tables (one per drive) can
be placed in any bank except Bank 1 (TPA). Hashed directory tables
require 4 bytes per directory entry.

Figure 1-6 shows a typical nonbanked system configuration.

BUFFERS AND HASH TABLES

BIOS

BDOS

PROGRAM LOADER

OPTIONAL OVERLAYS

TRANSIENT PROGRAM

BASE PAGE 0H - 100H

Figure 1-6. Memory organization in Nonbanked CP/M 3

The nonbanked CP/M 3 system requires 8.5K of memory plus space

for the BIOS, buffers, and hash tables, allowing a TPA size of up to 52K
to 54K, depending on the size of the BIOS and the number of hash
tables and buffers you are using.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-11
Disk Organization CP/M System Guide

1.6.  Disk Organization

Figure 1-7 illustrates the organization of a CP/M 3 system disk.

TRACK M
CP/M 3 DATA REGION
DATA TRACKS
CP/M 3 DIRECTORY REGION
TRACK N
CCP (OPTIONAL)

SYSTEM TRACKS CPMLDR

COLD BOOT LOADER

TRACK 0

Figure 1-7. CP/M 3 System Disk Organization

In Figure 1-7, the first N tracks are the system tracks; the remaining
tracks, the data tracks, are used by CP/M 3 for file storage. Note that
the system tracks are used by CP/M 3 only during system cold start and
warm start. All other CP/M 3 disk access is directed to the data tracks
of the disk. To maintain compatibility with Digital Research products,
you should use an eight-inch, single-density, IBM® 3740 formatted disk
with two system tracks.

1.7.  Hardware Supported

You can customize the BIOS to match any hardware environment
with the following general characteristics.

1.7.1.  Hardware Supported by CP/M 3 Banked System

■ Intel 8080, Intel 8085, or Zilog Z80 CPU or equivalent.

■ A minimum of two and up to sixteen banks of memory with the
top 4K–32K in common memory. Bank 1 must have contiguous
memory from address 0000H to the base of common memory.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-12
CP/M System Guide Customizing CP/M 3

A reasonable configuration consists of two banks of 48K RAM

each, with the top 16K in common memory.
■ One to sixteen disk drives of up to 512 megabytes capacity each.
■ Some form of ASCII console device, usually a CRT.
■ One to twelve additional character input and or output devices,
such as printers, communications hardware, and plotters.

1.7.2.  Hardware Supported by CP/M 3 Nonbanked System

■ Intel 8080, Intel 8085, or Zilog Z80 CPU or equivalent.

■ A minimum of 32K and up to 64K contiguous memory address-
able from location zero.
■ One to sixteen disk drives of up to 512 megabytes capacity each.
■ Some form of ASCII console device, usually a CRT.
■ One to twelve additional input and or output devices, usually
including a printer.

Because most CP/M-compatible software is distributed on eight-

inch, soft-sectored, single-density floppy disks, it is recommended that a
CP/M 3 hardware configuration include a minimum of two disk drives,
at least one of which is a single-density floppy disk drive.

1.8.  Customizing CP/M 3

Digital Research supplies the BDOS files for a banked and a non-
banked version of CP/M 3. A system generation utility, GENCPM,
is provided with CP/M 3 to create a version of the operating system
tailored to your hardware. GENCPM combines the BDOS and your
customized BIOS files to create a CPM3.SYS file, which is loaded into
memory at system start-up. The CPM3.SYS file contains the BDOS
and BIOS system components and information indicating where these
modules reside in memory.

Digital Research supplies a CP/M 3 loader file, CPMLDR, which

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-13
Customizing CP/M 3 CP/M System Guide

you can link with your customized loader BIOS and use to load the
CPM3.SYS file into memory. CPMLDR is a small, self-contained version
of CP/M 3 that supports only console output and sequential file input.
Consistent with CP/M 3 organization, it contains two modules: an
invariant CPMLDR_BDOS, and a variant CPMLDR_BIOS, which
is adapted to match the host microcomputer hardware environment.
The CPMLDR_BIOS module can perform cold start initialization of
I/O ports and similar functions. CPMLDR can display a memory map
of the CP/M 3 system at start-up. This is a GENCPM option.

The following steps tell you how to create a new version of CP/M 3
tailored to your specific hardware.

1. Write and assemble a customized BIOS following the speci-

fications described in Section 3. This software module must
correspond to the exact physical characteristics of the target
system, including memory and port addresses, peripheral types,
and drive characteristics.

2. Use the system generation utility, GENCPM, to create the

CPM3.SYS file containing the CP/M 3 distributed BDOS and
your customized BIOS, as described in Section 5.

3. Write a customized loader BIOS (LDRBIOS) to reside on the

system tracks as of CPMLDR. CPMLDR loads the CPM3.SYS
file into memory from disk. Section 5 gives the instructions for
customizing the LDRBIOS and generating CPMLDR. Link
your customized LDRBIOS file with the supplied CPMLDR
file.

4. Use the COPYSYS utility to put CPMLDR on the system

tracks of a disk.

5. Test and debug your customized version of CP/M 3.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-14
CP/M System Guide Initial Load (Cold Boot) of CP/M 3

If you have banked memory, Digital Research recommends that you

first use your customized BIOS to create a nonbanked version of the
CP/M 3 operating system. You can leave your entire BIOS in common
memory until you have a working system. Test all your routines in a
nonbanked version of CP/M 3 before you create a banked version.

1.9.  Initial Load (Cold Boot) of CP/M 3

CP/M 3 is loaded into memory as follows. Execution is initiated by
a four-stage procedure. The first stage consists of loading into memory
a small program, called the Cold Boot Loader, from the system tracks
of the Boot disk. This load operation is typically handled by a hardware
feature associated with system reset. The Cold Boot Loader is usually
128 or 256 bytes in length.

In the second stage, the Cold Boot Loader loads the memory image
of the CP/M 3 system loader program, CPMLDR, from the system
tracks of a disk into memory and passes control to it. For a banked
system, the Cold Boot Loader loads CPMLDR into Bank 0. A PROM
loader can perform stages one and two.

In the third stage, CPMLDR reads the CPM3.SYS file, which con-
tains the BDOS and customized BIOS, from the the data area of the
disk into the memory addresses assigned by GENCPM. In a banked
system, CPMLDR reads the common part of the BDOS and BIOS
into the common part of memory, and reads the banked part of the
BDOS and BIOS into the area of memory below common base in
Bank 0. CPMLDR then transfers control to the Cold BOOT system
initialization routine in the BIOS.

For the final stage, the BIOS Cold BOOT routine, BIOS Function
0, performs any remaining necessary hardware initialization, displays
the sign-on message, and reads the CCP from the system tracks or from
a CCP.COM file on disk into location 100H of the TPA. The Cold

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-15
Initial Load (Cold Boot) of CP/M 3 CP/M System Guide

BOOT routine transfers control to the CCP, which then displays the
system prompt.

Section 2 provides an overview of the organization of the System Con-

trol Block and the data structures and functions in the CP/M 3 BIOS.

End of Section 1

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
1-16
CP/M System Guide Organization of the BIOS

Section 2 
CP/M 3 BIOS Overview

This section describes the organization of the CP/M 3 BIOS and

the BDOS jump vector. It provides an overview of the System Control
Block, followed by a discussion of system initialization procedures,
character I/O, clock support, disk I/O, and memory selects and moves.

2.1.  Organization of the BIOS

The BIOS is the CP/M 3 module that contains all hardware dependent
input and output routines. To configure CP/M 3 for a particular hard-
ware environment, use the sample BIOS supplied with this document
and adapt it to the specific hardware of the target system.

Alternatively, you can modify an existing CP/M 2.2 BIOS to install

CP/M 3 on your target machine. Note that an unmodified CP/M 2.2
BIOS does not work with the CP/M 3 operating system. See Appendix
C for a description of the modifications necessary to convert a CP/M
2.2 BIOS to a CP/M 3 BIOS.

The BIOS is a set of routines that performs system initialization,

character-oriented I/O to the console and printer devices, and physical
sector I/O to the disk devices. The BIOS also contains routines that
manage block moves and memory selects for systems with bank-switched
memory. The BIOS supplies tables that define the layout of the disk
devices and allocate buffer space which the BDOS uses to perform
record blocking and deblocking. The BIOS can maintain the system
time and date in the System Control Block.

Table 2-1 describes the entry points into the BIOS from the Cold

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-1
Organization of the BIOS CP/M System Guide

Start Loader and the BDOS. Entry to the BIOS is through a jump vec-
tor. The jump vector is a set of 33 jump instructions that pass program
control to the individual BIOS subroutines.

You must include all of the entry points in the BIOS jump vector
in your BIOS. However, if your system does not support some of the
functions provided for in the BIOS, you can use empty subroutines
for those functions. For example, if your system does not support a
printer, JMP LIST can reference a subroutine consisting of only a RET
instruction. Table 2-1 shows the elements of the jump vector.

Table 2-1. CP/M 3 BIOS Jump Vector

No. Instruction Description
0 JMP BOOT Perform cold start initialization
1 JMP WBOOT Perform warm start initialization
2 JMP CONST Check for console input character ready
3 JMP CONIN Read Console Character in
4 JMP CONOUT Write Console Character out
5 JMP LIST Write List Character out
6 JMP AUXOUT Write Auxiliary Output Character
7 JMP AUXIN Read Auxiliary Input Character
8 JMP HOME Move to Track 00 on Selected Disk
9 JMP SELDSK Select Disk Drive
10 JMP SETTRK Set Track Number
11 JMP SETSEC Set Sector Number
12 JMP SETDMA Set DMA Address
13 JMP READ Read Specified Sector
14 JMP WRITE Write Specified Sector
15 JMP LISTST Return List Status
16 JMP SECTRN Translate Logical to Physical Sector

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-2
CP/M System Guide Organization of the BIOS

No. Instruction Description

17 JMP CONOST Return Output Status of Console
18 JMP AUXIST Return Input Status of Aux. Port
19 JMP AUXOST Return Output Status of Aux. Port
20 JMP DEVTBL Return Address of Char. I/O Table
21 JMP DEVINI Initialize Char. I/O Devices
22 JMP DRVTBL Return Address of Disk Drive Table
23 JMP MULTIO Set Number of Logically Consecutive
sectors to be read or written
24 JMP FLUSH Force Physical Buffer Flushing for user-​
supported deblocking
25 JMP MOVE Memory to Memory Move
26 JMP TIME Time Set/Get signal
27 JMP SELMEM Select Bank of memory
28 JMP SETBNK Specify Bank for DMA Operation
29 JMP XMOVE Set Bank When a Buffer is in a Bank other
than 0 or 1
30 JMP USERF Reserved for System Implementor
31 JMP RESERV1 Reserved for Future Use
32 JMP RESERV2 Reserved for Future Use

Each jump address in Table 2-1 corresponds to a particular subroutine

that performs a specific system operation. Note that two entry points are
reserved for future versions of CP/M, and one entry point is provided
for OEM subroutines, accessed only by direct BIOS calls using BDOS
Function 50. Table 2-2 shows the five categories of system operations
and the function calls that accomplish these operations.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-3
System Control Block CP/M System Guide

Table 2-2. CP/M 3 BIOS Functions Operation

Operation Function
System Initialization
BOOT, WBOOT, DEVTBL, DEVINI, DRVTBL
Character I/O
CONST, CONIN, CONOUT, LIST, AUXOUT,
AUXIN, LISTST, CONOST, AUXIST, AUXOST
Disk I/O
HOME, SELDSK, SETTRK, SETSEC, SETDMA,
READ, WRITE, SECTRN, MULTIO, FLUSH
Memory Selects and Moves
MOVE, SELMEM, SETBNK, XMOVE
Clock Support
TIME

You do not need to implement every function in the BIOS jump

vector. However, to operate, the BDOS needs the BOOT, WBOOT,
CONST, CONIN, CONOUT, HOME, SELDSK, SETTRK,
SETSEC, SETDMA, READ, WRITE, SECTRN, MULTIO, and
FLUSH subroutines. Implement SELMEM and SETBNK only in a
banked environment. You can implement MULTIO, FLUSH, and
TIME as returns with a zero in register A. DEVICE and some other
utilities use the remaining entry points, but it is not necessary to fully
implement them in order to debug and develop the system.

Note: include all routines but make the nonimplemented routines a

RET instruction.

2.2.  System Control Block

The System Control Block (SCB) is a data structure located in the

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-4
CP/M System Guide System Initialization

BDOS. The SCB is a communications area referenced by the BDOS,

the CCP, the BIOS, and other system components. The SCB contains
system parameters and variables, some of which the BIOS can reference.
The fields of the SCB are named, and definitions of these names are
supplied as public variable and subroutine names in the SCB.ASM file
contained on the distribution disk. See Section 3.1 for a discussion of
the System Control Block.

2.3.  System Initialization

When the BOOT and WBOOT routines of the BIOS get control,
they must initialize two system parameters in Page Zero of memory, as
shown in Table 2-3.

Table 2-3. Initialization of Page Zero

Location Description
0,1,2 Set to JMP WBOOT (0000H: JMP BIOS + 3). Loca-
tion 1 and 2 must contain the address of WBOOT in
the jump vector.
5,6,7 Set to JMP BDOS, the primary entry point to CP/M 3
for transient programs. The current address of the BDOS
is maintained in the variable @MXTPA in the System
Control Block. (See Section 3.1, “The System Control
Block” and BIOS Function 1: WBOOT.)

The BOOT and WBOOT routine must load the CCP into the TPA
in Bank 1 at location 0100H. The CCP can be loaded in two ways. If
there is sufficient space on the system tracks, the CCP can be stored on
the system tracks and loaded from there. If you prefer, or if there is not
sufficient space on the system tracks, the BIOS Cold BOOT routine
can read the CCP into memory from the file CCP.COM on disk.

If the CCP is in a COM file, use the BOOT and WBOOT routines

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-5
System Initialization CP/M System Guide

to perform any necessary system initialization, then use the BDOS

functions to OPEN and READ the CCP.COM file into the TPA. In
bank-switched systems, the CCP must be read into the TPA in Bank 1.

In bank-switched systems, your Cold BOOT routine can place a

copy of the CCP into a reserved area of an alternate bank after loading
the CCP into the TPA in Bank 1. Then the Warm BOOT routine can
copy the CCP into the TPA in Bank 1 from the alternate bank, rather
than reloading the CCP from disk, thus avoiding all disk accesses
during warm starts.

There is a 128-byte buffer in the resident portion of the BDOS in a

banked system that can be used by BOOT and WBOOT. The address
of this buffer is stored in the SCB variable @BNKBF. BOOT and
WBOOT can use this buffer when copying the CCP to and from the
alternate bank.

The system tracks for CP/M 3 are usually partitioned as shown in

the following figure

COLD CCP
STADR LDR CPMLDR (OPTIONAL)

Figure 2-1. CP/M 3 System Tracks

The cold start procedure is designed so you need to initialize the

system tracks only once. This is possible because the system tracks
contain the system loader and need not change when you change the
CP/M 3 operating system. The Cold Start Loader loads CPMLDR
into a constant memory location that is chosen when the system is
configured. However, CPMLDR loads the BDOS and BIOS system
components into memory as specified in the CPM3.SYS file generated
by GENCPM, the system generation utility. Thus, CP/M 3 allows the

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-6
CP/M System Guide Character I/O

user to configure a new system with GENCPM and then run it without
having to update the system tracks of the system disk.

2.4.  Character I/O

CP/M 3 assumes that all simple character I/O operations are per-
formed in 8-bit ASCII, upper- and lowercase, with no parity. An ASCII
CRTL-Z (1AH) denotes an end-of-file condition for an input device.

Table 2-4 lists the characteristics of the logical devices.

Table 2-4. CP/M 3 Logical Device Characteristics

Device Characteristics
CONIN, CONOUT The interactive console that communicates
with the operator, accessed by CONST,
CONIN, CONOUT, and CONOUTST.
Typically, the CONSOLE is a device such as
a CRT or teletype, interfaced serially, but it
can also be a memory-mapped video display
and keyboard. The console is an input device
and an output device.
LIST The system printer, if it exists on your system.
LIST is usually a hard- copy device such as
a printer or teletypewriter.
AUXOUT The auxiliary character output device, such
as a modem.
AUXIN The auxiliary character input device, such
as a modem.

Note that you can define a single peripheral as the LIST, AUXOUT,
and AUXIN device simultaneously. If you assign no peripheral device
as the LIST, AUXOUT, or AUXIN device, the AUXOUT and LIST

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-7
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

routines can just return, and the AUXIN routine can return with a 1AH
(CTRL-Z) in register A to indicate an immediate end-of-file.

CP/M 3 supports character device I/O redirection. This means that

you can direct a logical device, such as CONIN or AUXOUT, to one
or more physical devices. The DEVICE utility allows you to reassign
devices and display, and to change the current device configurations, as
described in the CP/M Plus User’s Guide. The I/O redirection facility
is optional. You should not implement it until the rest of your BIOS
is fully functional.

2.5.  Disk I/O

The BDOS accomplishes disk I/O by making a sequence of calls to
the various disk access subroutines in the BIOS. The subroutines set up
the disk number to access, the track and sector on a particular disk, and
the Direct Memory Access (DMA) address and bank involved in the
I/O operation. After these parameters are established, the BDOS calls
the READ or WRITE function to perform the actual I/O operation.

Note that the BDOS can make a single call to SELDSK to select a
disk drive, follow it with a number of read or write operations to the
selected disk, and then select another drive for subsequent operations.

CP/M 3 supports multiple sector read or write operations to op-

timize rotational latency on block disk transfers. You can implement
the multiple sector I/O facility in the BIOS by using the multisector
count passed to the MULTIO entry point. The BDOS calls MULTIO
to read or write up to 128 sectors. For every sector number 1 to n, the
BDOS calls SETDMA then calls READ or WRITE.

Table 2-5 shows the sequence of BIOS calls that the BDOS makes to
read or write a physical disk sector in a nonbanked and a banked system.
Table 2-6 shows the sequence of calls the BDOS makes to the BIOS

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-8
CP/M System Guide Disk I/O

to read or write multiple contiguous physical sectors in a nonbanked

and banked system.

Table 2-5. BDOS Calls to BIOS in Nonbanked and

Banked Systems
Nonbanked BDOS
Call Explanation
SELDSK Called only when disk is initially selected or re-
selected.
SETTRK Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETSEC Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETDMA Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
READ, WRITE Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
Banked BDOS
Call Explanation
SELDSK Called only when disk is initially selected or re-
selected.
SETTRK Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETSEC Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETDMA Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETBNK Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
READ, WRITE Called for every read or write of a physical sector.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-9
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

Table 2-6. Multiple Sector I/O in Nonbanked and

Banked Systems
Nonbanked BDOS
Call Explanation
SELDSK Called only when disk is initially selected or re-
selected.
MULTIO Called to inform the BIOS that the next n calls
to disk READ or disk WRITE require a transfer
of n contiguous physical sectors to contiguous
memory.
SETTRK Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETSEC Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETDMA Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
READ, WRITE Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
Banked BDOS
Call Explanation
SELDSK Called only when disk is initially selected or re-
selected.
MULTIO Called to inform the BIOS that the next n calls
to disk READ or disk WRITE require a transfer
of n contiguous physical sectors to contiguous
memory.
SETTRK Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETSEC Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETDMA Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
SETBNK Called for every read or write of a physical sector.
READ, WRITE Called for every read or write of a physical sector.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-10
CP/M System Guide Disk I/O

Table 2-7 shows the sequence of BDOS calls to read two contiguous
physical sectors in a banked system.

Table 2-7. Reading Two Contiguous Sectors in Banked System

Call Explanation
SELDSK Called to initially select disk
MULTIO With a value of 2
SETTRK For first sector
SETSEC For first sector
SETDMA For first sector
SETBNK
READ
SETTRK For second sector
SETSEC For second sector
SETDMA For second sector
SETBNK
READ

The CP/M 3 BDOS performs its own blocking and deblocking of

logical 128-byte records. Unlike earlier versions of CP/M, the BIOS
READ and WRITE routines always transfer physical sectors as speci-
fied in the Disk Parameter Block to or from the DMA buffer. The Disk
Parameter Header defines one or more physical sector buffers which
the BDOS uses for logical record blocking and deblocking.

In a banked environment, CP/M 3 maintains a cache of deblocking

buffers and directory records using a Least Recently Used (LRU) buff-
ering scheme. The LRU buffer is the first to be reused when the system
runs out of buffer space. The BDOS maintains separate buffer pools
for directory and data record caching.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-11
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

The BIOS contains the data structures to control the data and direc-
tory buffers and the hash tables. You can either assign these buffers and
tables yourself in the BIOS, or allow the GENCPM utility to generate
them automatically.

Hash tables greatly speed directory searching. The BDOS can use
hash tables to determine the location of directory entries and therefore
reduce the number of disk accesses required to read a directory entry.
The hash table allows the BDOS to directly access the sector of the
directory containing the desired directory entry without having to
read the directory sequentially. By eliminating a sequential read of the
directory records, hashing also increases the percentage of time that
the desired directory record is in a buffer, eliminating the need for any
physical disk accesses in these cases. Hash tables and directory caches
eliminate many of the directory accesses required when accessing large
files. However, in a nonbanked system, hash tables increase the size of
the operating system.

When the BIOS finds an error condition, the READ and WRITE
routines should perform several retries before reporting the error con-
dition to the BDOS. Ten retries are typical. If the BIOS returns an
error condition to the BDOS, the BDOS reports the error to the user
in the following form:

CP/M Error on d: Disk I/O

where d: represents the drive specification of the relevant drive.

To provide better diagnostic capabilities for the user, it is often de-

sirable to print a more explicit error message from the BIOS READ or
WRITE routines before the BIOS returns an error code to the BDOS.
The BIOS should interrogate the SCB Error Mode Variable to determine
if it is appropriate to print a message on the console.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-12
CP/M System Guide Memory Selects and Moves

2.6.  Memory Selects and Moves

Four BIOS functions are provided to perform memory management.
The functions are MOVE, XMOVE, SELMEM, and SETBNK. The
XMOVE, SELMEM, and SETBNK memory management routines
are applicable to the BIOS of banked systems.

The BDOS uses the BIOS MOVE routine to perform memo-

ry-to-memory block transfers. In a banked system, the BDOS calls
XMOVE to specify the source and destination banks to be used by the
MOVE routine. If you use memory that is not in the common area for
data record buffers, you must implement the XMOVE routine.

The BDOS uses SELMEM when the operating system needs to

execute code or access data in other than the currently selected bank.

The BDOS calls the SETBNK routine prior to calling disk READ or
disk WRITE functions. The SETBNK routine must save its specified
bank as the DMA bank. When the BDOS invokes a disk I/O routine,
the I/O routine should save the current bank number and select the
DMA bank prior to the disk READ or WRITE. After completion of
the disk READ or WRITE, the disk I/O routine must reselect the
current bank. Note that when the BDOS calls the disk I/O routines,
Bank 0 is in context (selected).

2.7.  Clock Support

If the system has a real-time clock or is capable of keeping time, pos-
sibly by counting interrupts from a counter/timer chip, then the BIOS
can maintain the time of day in the System Control Block and update
the time on clock interrupts. BIOS Function 26 is provided for those
systems where the clock is unable to generate an interrupt.

The time of day is kept as four fields. @DATE is a binary word

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-13
Clock Support CP/M System Guide

containing the number of days since 31 December 1977. The bytes

@HOUR, @MIN, and @SEC in the System Control Block contain
the hour, minute, and second in Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) format.

End of Section 2

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
2-14
CP/M System Guide The System Control Block

Section 3 
CP/M 3 BIOS Functional
Specifications

This section contains a detailed description of the CP/M 3 BIOS.

The section first discusses the BIOS data structures and their relation-
ships, including the System Control Block, the drive table, the Disk
Parameter Header, the Disk Parameter Block, the Buffer Control
Blocks, and the character I/O table. The overview of the data structures
is followed by a summary of the functions in the BIOS jump vector. A
detailed description of the entry values and returned values for each
jump instruction in the BIOS jump vector follows the summary. The
last part of this section discusses the steps to follow when assembling
and linking your customized BIOS.

3.1.  The System Control Block

The System Control Block (SCB) is a data structure located in the
BDOS. The SCB contains flags and data used by the CCP, the BDOS,
the BIOS, and other system components. The BIOS can access specific
data in the System Control Block through the public variables defined
in the SCB.ASM file, which is supplied on the distribution disk.

Declare the variable names you want to reference in the SCB as

externals in your BIOS.ASM source file. Then link your BIOS with
the SCB.REL module.

In the SCB.ASM file, the high-order byte of the various SCB ad-
dresses is defined as 0FEH. The linker marks absolute external equates
as page relocatable when generating a System Page Relocatable (SPR)

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-1
The System Control Block CP/M System Guide

format file. GENCPM recognizes page relocatable addresses of 0FExxH

as references to the System Control Block in the BDOS. GENCPM
changes these addresses to point to the actual SCB in the BDOS when
it is relocating the system.

Do not perform assembly-time arithmetic on any references to the

external labels of the SCB. The result of the arithmetic could alter the
page value to something other than 0FEH.

Listing 3-1 shows the SCB.ASM file. The listing shows the field
names of the System Control Block. A @ before a name indicates that
it is a data item. A ? preceding a name indicates that it is the label of
an instruction. In the listing, r/w means Read-Write, and r/o means
Read-Only. The BIOS can modify a Read-Write variable, but must
not modify a Read-Only variable. Table 3-1 describes each item in the
System Control Block in detail.

Listing 3-1. SCB.ASM File

title 'System Control Block Definition for CP/M3 BIOS'

public @civec, @covec, @aivec, @aovec, @lovec, @bnkbf
public @crdma, @crdsk, @vinfo, @resel, @fx, @usrcd
public @mltio, @ermde, @erdsk, @media, @bflgs
public @date, @hour, @min, @sec, ?erjmp, @mxtpa

scb$base equ 0FE00H ; Base of the SCB

@CIVEC equ scb$base+22h ; Console Input Redirection
; Vector (word, r/w)
@COVEC equ scb$base+24h ; Console Output Redirection
; Vector (word, r/w)
@AIVEC equ scb$base+26h ; Auxiliary Input Redirection
; Vector (word, r/w)
@AOVEC equ scb$base+28h ; Auxiliary Output Redirection
; Vector (word, r/w)
@LOVEC equ scb$base+2Ah ; List Output Redirection
; Vector (word, r/w)

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-2
CP/M System Guide The System Control Block

@BNKBF equ scb$base+35h ; Address of 128 Byte Buffer

; for Banked BIOS (word, r/o)
@CRDMA equ scb$base+3Ch ; Current DMA Address
; (word, r/o)
@CRDSK equ scb$base+3Eh ; Current Disk (byte, r/o)
@VINFO equ scb$base+3Fh ; BDOS Variable "INFO"
; (word, r/o)
@RESEL equ scb$base+41h ; FCB Flag (byte, r/o)
@FX equ scb$base+43h ; BDOS Function for Error
; Messages (byte, r/o)
@USRCD equ scb$base+44h ; Current User Code (byte, r/o)
@MLTIO equ scb$base+4Ah ; Current Multisector Count
; (byte,r/w)
@ERMDE equ scb$base+4Bh ; BDOS Error Mode (byte, r/o)
@ERDSK equ scb$base+51h ; BDOS Error Disk (byte, r/o)
@MEDIA equ scb$base+54h ; Set by BIOS to indicate
; open door (byte,r/w)
@BFLGS equ scb$base+57h ; BDOS Message Size Flag
; (byte,r/o)
@DATE equ scb$base+58h ; Date in Days Since 1 Jan 78
; (word, r/w)
@HOUR equ scb$base+5Ah ; Hour in BCD (byte, r/w)
@MIN equ scb$base+5Bh ; Minute in BCD (byte, r/w)
@SEC equ scb$base+5Ch ; Second in BCD (byte, r/w)
?ERJMP equ scb$base+5Fh ; BDOS Error Message Jump
; (3 bytes, r/w)
@MXTPA equ scb$base+62h ; Top of User TPA
; (address at 6,7)(word, r/o)
end

The following table describes in detail each of the fields of the System
Control Block.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-3
The System Control Block CP/M System Guide

Table 3-1. System Control Block Fields

Field Meaning
@CIVEC, @COVEC, @AIVEC, @AOVEC, @LOVEC
(Read-Write Variable)
These fields are the 16 bit I/O redirection vectors for
the five logical devices: console input, console output,
auxiliary input, auxiliary output, and the list device.
(See Section 3.4.2, “Character I/O Functions”)
@BNKBF (Read-Only Variable)
@BNKBF contains the address of a 128 byte buffer
in the resident portion of the BDOS in a banked
system. This buffer is available for use during BOOT
and WBOOT only. You can use it to transfer a copy
of the CCP from an image in an alternate bank if the
system does not support interbank moves.
@CRDMA, @FX, @USRCD, @ERDSK (Read-Only Variable)
These variables contain the current DMA address,
the BDOS function number, the current user code,
and the disk code of the drive on which the last error
occurred. They can be displayed when a BDOS error
is intercepted by the BIOS. See ?ERJMP.
@CRDSK (Read-Only Variable)
@CRDSK is the current default drive, set by BDOS
Function 14.
@VINFO, @RESEL (Read-Only Variable)
If @RESEL is equal to 0FFH then @VINFO contains
the address of a valid FCB. If @RESEL is not equal
to 0FFH, then @VINFO is undefined. You can use
@VINFO to display the filespec when the BIOS
intercepts a BDOS error.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-4
CP/M System Guide The System Control Block

Field Meaning
@MLTIO (Read-Write Variable)
@MLTIO contains the current multisector count.
The BIOS can change the multisector count directly,
or through BDOS Function 44. The value of the
multisector count can range from 1 to 128.
@ERMDE (Read-Only Variable)
@ERMDE contains the current BDOS error mode.
0FFH indicates the BDOS is returning error codes to
the application program without displaying any error
messages. 0FEH indicates the BDOS is both display-
ing and returning errors. Any other value indicates
the BDOS is displaying errors without notifying the
application program.
@MEDIA (Read-Write Variable)
@MEDIA is global system flag indicating that a drive
door has been opened. The BIOS routine that de-
tects the open drive door sets this flag to 0FFH. The
BIOS routine also sets the MEDIA byte in the Disk
Parameter Header associated with the open-door
drive to 0FFH.
@BFLGS (Read-Only Variable)
The BDOS in CP/M 3 produces two kinds of error
messages: short error messages and extended error
messages. Short error messages display one or two
lines of text. Long error messages display a third line
of text containing the filename, filetype, and BDOS
Function Number involved in the error.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-5
The System Control Block CP/M System Guide

Field Meaning
@BFLGS (continued)
In banked systems, GENCPM sets this flag in the
System Control Block to indicate whether the BIOS
displays short or extended error messages. Your error
message handler should check this byte in the System
Control Block. If the high-order bit, bit 7, is set to 0,
the BDOS displays short error messages. if the high-
order bit is set to 1, the BDOS displays the extended
three-line error messages.

For example, the BDOS displays the following error

message if the BIOS returns an error from READ and
the BDOS is displaying long error messages.

CP/M Error on d: Disk I/O

BDOS Function = nn File = filename.typ

In the above error message, Function nn and filename.

typ represent BDOS function number and file speci-
fication involved, respectively.
@DATE (Read-Write Variable)
The number of days since 31 December 1977, ex-
pressed as a 16-bit unsigned integer, low byte first.
A real-time clock interrupt can update the @DATE
field to indicate the current date.
@HOUR, @MIN, @SEC (Read-Write Variable)
These 2-digit Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) fields
indicate the current hour, minute, and second if up-
dated by a real-time clock interrupt.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-6
CP/M System Guide The System Control Block

Field Meaning
?ERJMP (Read-Write Code Label)
The BDOS calls the error message subroutine through
this jump instruction. Register C contains an error
code as follows:

1 Permanent Error
2 Read Only Disk
3 Read Only File
4 Select Error
7 Password Error
8 File Exists
9 ? in Filename

Error code 1 above results in the BDOS message

Disk I/O.

The ?ERJMP vector allows the BIOS to intercept

the BDOS error messages so you can display them
in a foreign language. Note that this vector is not
branched to if the application program is expecting
return codes on physical errors. Refer to the CP/M
Plus Programmer’s Guide for more information.

?ERJMP is set to point to the default (English) error

message routine contained in the BDOS. The BOOT
routine can modify the address at ?ERJMP+1 to point
to an alternate message routine. Your error message
handler can refer to @FX, @VINFO (if @RESEL
is equal to 0FFH), @CRDMA, @CRDSK, and
@USRCD to print additional error information. Your
error handler should return to the BDOS with a RET
instruction after printing the appropriate message.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-7
Character I/O Data Structures CP/M System Guide

Field Meaning
@MXTPA (Read-Only Variable)
@MXTPA contains the address of the current BDOS
entry point. This is also the address of the top of the
TPA. The BOOT and WBOOT routines of the BIOS
must use this address to initialize the BDOS entry
JMP instruction at location 005H, during system
initialization. Each time a RSX is loaded, @MXTPA
is adjusted by the system to reflect the change in the
available User Memory (TPA).

3.2.  Character I/O Data Structures

TheBIOS data structure CHRTBL is a character table describing the
physical I/O devices. CHRTBL contains 6-byte physical device names
and the characteristics of each physical device. These characteristics
include a mode byte, and the current baud rate, if any, of the device.
The DEVICE utility references the physical devices through the names
and attributes contained in your CHRTBL. DEVICE can also display
the physical names and characteristics in your CHRTBL.

The mode byte specifies whether the device is an input or output

device, whether it has a selectable baud rate, whether it is a serial device,
and if XON/XOFF protocol is enabled.

Listing 3-2 shows a sample character device table that the DEVICE
utility uses to set and display I/O direction.

Listing 3-2. Sample Character Device Table

; sample character device table

chrtbl db 'CRT ' ; console VDT
db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$soft$baud
db baud$9600

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-8
CP/M System Guide Character I/O Data Structures

db 'LPT ' ; system serial printer

db mb$output+mb$serial+mb$soft$baud+mb$xon
db baud$9600

db 'TI810 ' ; alternate printer

db mb$output+mb$serial+mb$soft$baud
db baud$9600

db 'MODEM ' ; 300 baud modem port

db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$soft$baud
db baud$300

db 'VAX ' ; interface to VAX 11/780

db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$soft$baud
db baud$9600

db 'DIABLO' ; Diablo 630 daisy wheel printer

db mb$output+mb$serial+mb$soft$baud+mb$xon$xoff
db baud$1200

db 'CEN ' ; Centronics type parallel printer

db mb$output
db baud$none
db 0 ; table terminator

Listing 3-3 shows the equates for the fields contained in the sample
character device table. Many systems do not support all of these baud
rates.

Listing 3-3. Equates for Mode Byte Bit Fields

; equates for mode byte fields

mb$input equ 0000$0001b ; device may do input

mb$output equ 0000$0010b ; device may do output
mb$in$out equ mb$input+mb$output ; dev may do both
mb$soft$baud equ 0000$0100b ; software selectable
; baud rates

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-9
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

mb$serial equ 0000$1000b ; device may use protocol

mb$xon$xoff equ 0001$0000b ; XON/XOFF protocol
; equates for baud rate byte
baud$none equ 0 ; no baud rate
; associated with device
baud$50 equ 1 ; 50 baud
baud$75 equ 2 ; 75 baud
baud$110 equ 3 ; 110 baud
baud$134 equ 4 ; 134.5 baud
baud$150 equ 5 ; 150 baud
baud$300 equ 6 ; 300 baud
baud$600 equ 7 ; 600 baud
baud$1200 equ 8 ; 1200 baud
baud$1800 equ 9 ; 1800 baud
baud$2400 equ 10 ; 2400 baud
baud$3600 equ 11 ; 3600 baud
baud$4800 equ 12 ; 4800 baud
baud$7200 equ 13 ; 7200 baud
baud$9600 equ 14 ; 9600 baud
baud$19200 equ 15 ; 19.2k baud

3.3.  BIOS Disk Data Structures

The BIOS includes tables that describe the particular characteristics
of the disk subsystem used with CP/M 3. This section describes the
elements of these tables.

In general, each disk drive has an associated Disk Parameter Header

(DPH) that contains information about the disk drive and provides a
scratchpad area for certain BDOS operations. One of the elements of
this Disk Parameter Header is a pointer to the Disk Parameter Block
(DPB), which contains the actual disk description.

In the banked system, only the Disk Parameter Block must reside
in common memory. The DPHs, checksum vectors, allocation vectors,
Buffer Control Blocks, and Directory Buffers can reside in common
memory or Bank 0. The hash tables can reside in common memory or

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-10
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

any bank except Bank 1. The data buffers can reside in banked memory
if you implement the XMOVE function.

Figure 3-1 shows the relationships between the drive table, the Disk
Parameter Header, and the Data and Directory Buffer Control Block
fields and their respective data structures and buffers.
Drive Table (addresses of DPHs)
.........

0 1 2 3 4 15 Checksum Vector

Allocation Vector

Hash Table

Disk Parameter Header

XLT MF DPB CSV ALV DIR DTA HASH BK
BCB BCB

BCB HEAD BCB HEAD

Buffer Control Block (BCB) Buffer Control Block (BCB)

Buff Link Buff Link
addr addr

Directory Buffer Data Buffer

Buffer Control Block (BCB) Buffer Control Block (BCB)

Buff Link Buff Link
addr addr

Directory Buffer Data Buffer

Buffer Control Block (BCB) Buffer Control Block (BCB)

Buff 0000h Buff 0000h
addr addr

Directory Buffer Data Buffer

Figure 3-1. Disk Data Structures in a Banked System

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-11
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

3.3.1.  Drive Table

The drive table consists of 16 words containing the addresses of the

Disk Parameter Headers for each logical drive name, A through P, and
takes the general form:

drivetable dw dph0
dw dph1
dw dph2
.
.
.
dw dphF

If a logical drive does not exist in your system, the corresponding

entry in the drive table must be zero.

The GENCPM utility accesses the drive table to locate the various
disk parameter data structures, so that it can determine which system
configuration to use, and optionally allocate the various buffers itself.
You must supply a drive table if you want GENCPM to do this alloca-
tion. If certain addresses in the Disk Parameter Headers referenced by
this drive table are set to 0FFFEH, GENCPM allocates the appropriate
data structures and updates the DPH. You can supply the drive table
even if you have performed your own memory allocation. See the BIOS
DRVTBL function described in Section 3.4.1.

3.3.2.  Disk Parameter Header

In Figure 3-2, which shows the format of the Disk Parameter Header,
b refers to bits.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-12
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

XLT –0– MF DPB CSV ALV DIRBCB DTABCB HASH HBANK

16b 72b 8b 16b 16b 16b 16b 16b 16b 8b

Figure 3-2. Disk Parameter Header Format

Table 3-2 describes the fields of the Disk Parameter Header.

Table 3-2. Disk Parameter Header Fields

Field Comments
XLT Set the XLT field to the address of the logical to hysical
sector translation table. If there is no sector translation
and the logical and physical sector numbers are the same,
set XLT to 0000H. Disk drives with identical sector skew
factors can share the same translation table.

XLT is the value passed to SECTRN in registers DE. Usu-

ally the translation table consists of one byte per physical
sector. Generally, it is advisable to keep the number of
physical sectors per logical track to a reasonable value to
prevent the translation table from becoming too large. In
the case of disks with multiple heads, you can compute
the head number from the track address rather than the
sector address.
–0– These 72 bits (9 bytes) of zeroes are the scratch area the
BDOS uses to maintain various parameters associated
with the drive.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-13
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

Field Comments
MF MF is the Media Flag. The BDOS resets MF to zero
when the drive is logged in. The BIOS can set this flag
and @MEDIA in the SCB to 0FFH if it detects that a
drive door has been opened. If the flag is set to 0FFH, the
BDOS checks for a media change prior to performing the
next BDOS file operation on that drive. If the BDOS de-
termines that the drive contains a new volume, the BDOS
performs a login on that drive, and resets the MF flag to
00H. Note that the BDOS checks this flag only when a
system call is made, and not during an operation. Usually,
this flag is used only by systems that support door-open
interrupts.
DPB Set the DPB field to the address of a Disk Parameter
Block that describes the characteristics of the disk drive.
Several Disk Parameter Headers can address the same Disk
Parameter Block if their drive characteristics are identical.
(The Disk Parameter Block is described in Section 3.3.3.)
CSV CSV is the address of a scratchpad area used to detect
changed disks. This address must be different for each re-
movable media Disk Parameter Header. There must be one
byte for every 4 directory entries (or 128 bytes of directory).
In other words, length(CSV) = (DRM ∕ 4) + 1. (See Table
3-3 for an explanation of the DRM field.) If the drive is
permanently mounted, set the CKS variable in the DPB
to 8000H and set CSV to 0000H. This way, no storage is
reserved for a checksum vector. The checksum vector may
be located in common memory or in Bank 0. Set CSV to
0FFFEH for GENCPM to set up the checksum vector.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-14
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

Field Comments
ALV ALV is the address of the scratchpad area called the allo-
cation vector, which the BDOS uses to keep disk storage
allocation information. This area must be unique for each
drive.

The allocation vector usually requires 2 bits for each block

on the drive. Thus, length (ALV) = (DSM ∕ 4) + 2. (See
Table 3-3 for an explanation of the DSM field.) In the
nonbanked version of CP/M 3, you can optionally spec-
ify that GENCPM reserve only one bit in the allocation
vector per block on the drive. In this case, length(ALV)
= (DSM ∕ 8) + 1.

The GENCPM option to use single-bit allocation vectors

is provided in the nonbanked version of CP/M 3 because
additional memory is required by the double-bit allocation
vector. This option applies to all drives on the system.

With double-bit allocation vectors, CP/M 3 automatically

frees, at every system warm start, all file blocks that are not
permanently recorded in the directory. Note that file space
allocated to a file is not permanently recorded in a directory
unless the file is closed. Therefore, the allocation vectors
in memory can indicate that space is allocated although
directory records indicate that space is free for allocation.
With single-bit allocation vectors, CP/M 3 requires that a
drive be reset before this space can be reclaimed. Because
it increases performance, CP/M 3 does not reset disks at
system warm start.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-15
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

Field Comments
ALV Thus, with single-bit allocation vectors, if you do not reset
the disk system, DIR and SHOW can report an inaccurate
amount of free space. With single-bit allocation vectors,
the user must type a CTRL-C at the system prompt to reset
the disk system to ensure accurate reporting of free space.
Set ALV to 0FFFEH for GENCPM to automatically assign
space for the allocation vector, single- or double-bit, during
system generation. In the nonbanked system, GENCPM
prompts for the type of allocation vector. In the banked
system, the allocation vector is always double-bit and can
reside in common memory or Bank 0. When GENCPM
automatically assigns space for the allocation vector (ALV
= 0FFFEH), it places the allocation vector in Bank 0.
DIRBCB Set DIRBCB to the address of a single directory Buf-
fer Control Block (BCB) in an unbanked system. Set
DIRBCB to the address of a BCB list head in a banked
system.

Set DIRBCB to 0FFFEH for GENCPM to set up the

DIRBCB field. The BDOS uses directory buffers for all
accesses of the disk directory. Several DPHs can refer to the
same directory BCB or BCB list head or, each DPH can
reference an independent BCB or BCB list head. Section
3.3.4 describes the format of the Buffer Control Block.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-16
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

Field Comments
DTABCB Set DTABCB to the address of a data BCB list head in
a banked system.

Set DTABCB to 0FFFEH for GENCPM to set up the

DTABCB field. The BDOS uses data buffers to hold
physical sectors so that it can block and deblock logical
128-byte records. If the physical record size of the me-
dia associated with a DPH is 128 bytes, you can set the
DTABCB field of the DPH to 0FFFFH, because in this
case, the BDOS does not use a data buffer.
HASH HASH contains the address of the optional directory hash-
ing table associated with a DPH. Set HASH to 0FFFFH
to disable directory hashing.

Set HASH to 0FFFEH to make directory hashing on the

drive a GENCPM option. Each DPH using hashing must
reference a unique hash table. If a hash table is supplied,
it must be 4 × (DRM + 1) bytes long, where DRM is
one less than the length of the directory. In other words,
the hash table must contain four bytes for each directory
entry of the disk.
HBANK Set HBANK to the bank number of the hash table.
HBANK is not used in unbanked systems and should be
set to zero. The hash tables can be contained in the system
bank, common memory, or any alternate bank except Bank
1, because hash tables cannot be located in the Transient
Program Area. GENCPM automatically sets HBANK
when HASH is set to 0FFFEH.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-17
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

3.3.3.  Disk Parameter Block

Figure 3-3 shows the format of the Disk Parameter Block, where b
refers to bits.

SPT BSH BLM EXM DSM DRM AL0 AL1 CKS OFF PSH PHM

16b 8b 8b 8b 16b 16b 8b 8b 16b 16b 8b 8b

Figure 3-3. Disk Parameter Block Format

Table 3-3 describes the fields of the Disk Parameter Block.

Table 3-3. Disk Parameter Block Fields

Field Comments
SPT Set SPT to the total number of 128-byte logical records
per track.
BSH Data allocation block shift factor. The value of BSH is de-
termined by the data block allocation size.
BLM Block mask. The value of BLM is determined by the data
block allocation size.
EXM Extent mask determined by the data block allocation size
and the number of disk blocks.
DSM Determines the total storage capacity of the disk drive. DSM
is one less than the total number of blocks on the drive.
DRM Total number of directory entries minus one that can be
stored on this drive. The directory requires 32 bytes per entry.
AL0, Determine reserved directory blocks. See Figure 3-4 for
AL1 more information.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-18
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

Field Comments
CKS The size of the directory check vector, (DRM ∕ 4) + 1. Set bit
15 of CKS to 1 if the drive is permanently mounted. Set CKS
to 8000H to indicate that the drive is permanently mounted
and directory checksumming is not required.

Note: full directory checksumming is required on removable

media to support the automatic login feature of CP/M 3.
OFF The number of reserved tracks at the beginning of the logical
disk. OFF is the track on which the directory starts.
PSH Specifies the physical record shift factor.
PHM Specifies the physical record mask.

CP/M allocates disk space in a unit called a block. Blocks are also
called allocation units, or clusters. BLS is the number of bytes in a block.
The block size can be 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, or 16384 (decimal) bytes.

A large block size decreases the size of the allocation vectors but can
result in wasted disk space. A smaller block size increases the size of the
allocation vectors because there are more blocks on the same size disk.

There is a restriction on the block size. If the block size is 1024, there
cannot be more than 255 blocks present on a logical drive. In other
words, if the disk is larger than 256K, it is necessary to use at least 2048
byte blocks.

The value of BLS is not a field in the Disk Parameter Block rather,
it is derived from the values of BSH and BLM as given in Table 3-4.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-19
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

Table 3-4. BSH and BLM Values

BLS BSH BLM
1,024 3 7
2,048 4 15
4,096 5 31
8,192 6 63
16,384 7 127

The block mask, BLM, equals one less than the number of 128-byte
records in an allocation unit, (BLS ∕ 128 − 1), or (2BSH) − 1.

The value of the Block Shift Factor, BSH, is determined by the data
block allocation size. The Block Shift Factor (BSH) equals the logarithm
base two of the block size in 128-byte records, or log 2(BLS ∕ 128), where
log 2 represents the binary logarithm function.

The value of EXM depends upon both the BLS and whether the
DSM value is less than 256 or greater than 255, as shown in Table 3-5.

Table 3-5. Maximum EXK Values

BLS EXM Values
DSM<256 DSM>255
1,024 0 N/A
2,048 1 0
4,096 3 1
8,192 7 3
16,384 15 7

The value of EXM is one less than the maximum number of 16K
extents per FCB.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-20
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

Set EXM to zero if you want media compatibility with an extended

CP/M 1.4 system. This only applies to double-density CP/M 1.4 sys-
tems, with disk sizes greater than 256K bytes. It is preferable to copy
double-density 1.4 disks to single-density, then reformat them and
recreate them with the CP/M 3 system, because CP/M 3 uses directory
entries more effectively than CP/M 1.4.

DSM is one less than the total number of blocks on the drive. DSM
must be less than or equal to 7FFFH. If the disk uses 1024 byte blocks
(BSH=3, BLM=7), DSM must be less than or equal to 00FFH. The
product BLS × (DSM + l) is the total number of bytes the drive holds
and must be within the capacity of the physical disk. It does not include
the reserved operating system tracks.

The DRM entry is one less than the total number of 32-byte direc-
tory entries, and is a 16-bit value. DRM must be less than or equal to
(BLS ∕ 32 × 16) − 1. DRM determines the values of AL0 and AL1. The
two fields AL0 and AL1 can together be considered a string of 16 bits,
as shown in Figure 3-4.

AL0 AL1

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

Figure 3-4. AL0 and AL1

Position 00 corresponds to the high-order bit of the byte labeled AL0,

and position 15 corresponds to the low-order bit of the byte labeled
AL1. Each bit position reserves a data block for a number of directory
entries, thus allowing a maximum of 16 data blocks to be assigned for
directory entries. Bits are assigned starting at 00 and filled to the right
until position 15. AL0 and AL1 overlay the first two bytes of the alloca-
tion vector for the associated drive. Table 3-6 shows DRM maximums
for the various block sizes.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-21
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

Table 3-6. BLS and Number of Directory Entries

BLS Directory Entries Maximum DRM
1,024 32 × reserved blocks 511
2,048 64 × reserved blocks 1,023
4,096 128 × reserved blocks 2,047
8,192 256 × reserved blocks 4,095
16,384 512 × reserved blocks 8,191

If DRM = 127 (128 directory entries), and BLS = 1024, there are
32 directory entries per block, requiring 4 reserved blocks. In this case,
the 4 high-order bits of AL0 are set, resulting in the values AL0 = 0F0H
and AL1 = 00H. The maximum directory allocation is 16 blocks where
the block size is determined by BSH and BLM.

The OFF field determines the number of tracks that are skipped
at the beginning of the physical disk. It can be used as a mechanism
for skipping reserved operating system tracks, which on system disks
contain the Cold Boot Loader, CPMLDR, and possibly the CCP. It
is also used to partition a large disk into smaller segmented sections.

PSH and PHM determine the physical sector size of the disk. All disk
I/O is in terms of the physical sector size. Set PSH and PSM to zero if
the BIOS is blocking and deblocking instead of the BDOS.

PSH specifies the physical record shift factor, ranging from 0 to 5,

corresponding to physical record sizes of 128, 256, 512, 1K, 2K, or 4K
bytes. It is equal to the logarithm base two of the physical record size
divided by 128, or log 2(sector_size ∕ 128). See Table 3-7 for PSH values.

PHM specifies the physical record mask, ranging from 0 to 31,

corresponding to physical record sizes of 128, 256, 512, 1K, 2K, or
4K bytes. It is equal to one less than the sector size divided by 128, or,
(sector_size ∕ 128) − 1. See Table 3-7 for PHM values.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-22
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

Table 3-7. PSH and PHM Values

Sector size PSH PHM
128 0 0
256 1 1
512 2 3
1,024 3 7
2,048 4 15
4,096 5 31

3.3.4.  Buffer Control Block

A Buffer Control Block (BCB) locates physical record buffers for

the BDOS. The BDOS uses the BCB to manage the physical record
buffers during processing. More than one Disk Parameter Header can
specify the same BCB. The GENCPM utility can create the Buffer
Control Block.

Note that the BANK and LINK fields of the Buffer Control Block
are present only in the banked system. Therefore, the Buffer Control
Block is twelve bytes long in the nonbanked system, and fifteen bytes
long in the banked system. Note also that only the DRV, BUFFAD,
BANK, and LINK fields need to contain initial values. In Figure 3-5,
which shows the form of the Buffer Control Block, b refers to bits.

DRV REC# WFLG 00 TRACK SECTOR BUFAD BANK LINK

16b 24b 8b 8b 16b 16b 16b 8b 16b

Figure 3-5. Buffer Control Block Format

Table 3-8 describes the fields of each Buffer Control Block.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-23
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

Table 3-8. Buffer Control Block Fields

Field Comment
DEV Identifies the disk drive associated with the record con-
tained in the buffer located at address BUFFAD. If you
do not use GENCPM to allocate buffers, you must set
the DRV field to 0FFH.
REC# Identifies the record position of the current contents of
the buffer located at address BUFFAD. REC# consists of
the absolute sector number of the record where the first
record of the directory is zero.
WFLG Set by the BDOS to 0FFH to indicate that the buffer
contains new data that has not yet been written to disk.
When the data is written, the BDOS sets the WFLG to
zero to indicate the buffer is no longer dirty.
00 Scratch byte used by BDOS.
TRACK Contains the physical track location of the contents of
the buffer.
SECTOR Contains the physical sector location of the contents of
the buffer.
BUFFAD Specifies the address of the buffer associated with this BCB.
BANK Contains the bank number of the buffer associated with
this BCB. This field is only present in banked systems.
LINK Contains the address of the next BCB in a linked list, or
zero if this is the last BCB in the linked list. The LINK
field is present only in banked systems.

The BDOS distinguishes between two kinds of buffers: data buffers

referenced by DTABCB, and directory buffers referenced by DIRBCB.
In a banked system, the DIRBCB and DTABCB fields of a Disk Pa-
rameter Header each contain the address of a BCB list head rather than
the address of an actual BCB. A BCB list head is a word containing the

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-24
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

address of the first BCB in a linked list. If several DPHs reference the
same BCB list, they must reference the same BCB list head. Each BCB
has a LINK field that contains the address of the next BCB in the list,
or zero if it is the last BCB.

In banked systems, the one-byte BANK field indicates the bank

in which the data buffers are located. The BANK field of directory
BCBs must be zero because directory buffers must be located in Bank
0, usually below the banked BDOS module, or in common memory.
The BANK field is for systems that support direct memory-to-memory
transfers from one bank to another. (See the BIOS XMOVE entry
point in Section 3.4.4.)

The BCD data structures in a banked system must reside in Bank 0

or in common memory. The buffers of data BCBs can be located in any
bank except Bank 1 (the Transient Program Area).

For banked systems that do not support interbank block moves

through XMOVE, the BANK field must be set to 0 and the data buffers
must reside in common memory. The directory buffers can be in Bank
0 even if the system does not support bank-to-bank moves.

In the nonbanked system, the DPH, DIRBCB, and DTABCB can

point to the same BCB if the DPH defines a fixed media device. For
devices with removable media, the DPH DIRBCB and the DPH
DTABCB must reference different BCBs. In banked systems, the DPH
DIRBCB and DTABCB must point to separate list heads.

In general, you can enhance the performance of CP/M 3 by allocating

more BCBs, but the enhancement reduces the amount of TPA memory
in nonbanked systems.

If you set the DPH DIRBCB or the DPH DTABCB fields to

0FFFEH, the GENCPM utility creates BCBs, allocates physical record

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-25
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

buffers, and sets these fields to the address of the BCBs. This allows you
to write device drivers without regard to buffer requirements.

3.3.5.  Data Structure Macro Definitions

Several macro definitions are supplied with CP/M 3 to simplify the

creation of some of the data structures in the BIOS. These macros are
defined in the library file CPM3.LIB on the distribution disk.

To reference these macros in your BIOS, include the following

statement:

MACLIB CPM3

DTBL Macro

Use the DTBL macro to generate the drive table, DRVTBL. It has
one parameter, a list of the DPHs in your system. The list is enclosed
in angle brackets.

The form of the DTBL macro call is

label: DTBL <DPHA,DPHB,...,DPHP>

where DPHA is the address of the DPH for drive A, DPHB is the
address of the DPH for drive B, up to drive P. For example,

DRVTBL: DTBL <ACSHD0,FDSD0,FDSD1>

This example generates the drive table for a three-drive system. The
DTBL macro always generates a sixteen-word table, even if you supply
fewer DPH names. The unused entries are set to zero to indicate the
corresponding drives do not exist.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-26
CP/M System Guide BIOS Disk Data Structures

DPH Macro

The DPH macro routine generates a Disk Parameter Header (DPH).

It requires two parameters: the address of the skew table for this drive,
and the address of the Disk Parameter Block (DPB) . Two parameters
are optional: the maximum size of the checksum vector, and the max-
imum size of the allocation vector. If you omit the maximum size of
the checksum vector and the maximum size of the allocation vector
from the DPH macro invocation, the corresponding fields of the Disk
Parameter Header are set to 0FFFEH so that GENCPM automatically
allocates the vectors.

The form of the DPH macro call is

label: DPH ?trans,?dpb,[?csize],[?asize]

where:

?trans is the address of the translation vector for this drive;

?dpb is the address of the DPB for this drive;
?csize is the maximum size in bytes of the checksum vector;
?asize is the maximum size in bytes of the allocation vector.

The following example, which includes all four parameters, shows a

typical DPH macro invocation for a standard single-density disk drive:

FDSDO: DPH SKEW6,DPB$SD,16,31

SKEW Macro

The SKEW macro generates a skew table and requires the following
parameters: the number of physical sectors per track, the skew factor,
and the first sector number on each track (usually 0 or 1).

The form of the SKEW macro call is

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-27
BIOS Disk Data Structures CP/M System Guide

label: SKEW ?secs,?skf,?fsc

where:

?secs is the number of physical sectors per track

?skf is the sector skew factor
?fsc is the first sector number on each track.

The following macro invocation generates the skew table for a stan-
dard single-density disk drive.

SKEW6: SKEW 26,6,1

DPB Macro

The DPB macro generates a Disk Parameter Block specifying the

characteristics of a drive type. It requires six parameters: the physical
sector size in bytes, the number of physical sectors per track, the total
number of tracks on the drive, the size of an allocation unit in bytes, the
number of directory entries desired, and the number of system tracks
to reserve at the beginning of the drive. There is an optional seventh
parameter that defines the CKS field in the DPB. If this parameter is
missing, CKS is calculated from the directory entries parameter.

The form of the DPB macro call is

label: DPB ?psize,?pspt,?trks,?bls,?ndirs,?off[,?ncks]

where:

?psize is the physical sector size in bytes

?pspt is the number of physical sectors per track
?trks is the number of tracks on the drive
?bls is the allocation unit size in bytes
?ndirs is the number of directory entries

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-28
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

?off is the number of tracks to reserve

?ncks is the number of checked directory entries.

The following example shows the parameters for a standard sin-

gle-density disk drive:

DPB$SD: DPB 128,26,77,1024,64,2

The DPB macro can be used only when the disk drive is under eight
megabytes. DPBs for larger disk drives must be constructed by hand.

3.4.  BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

This section describes the entry parameters, returned values, and
exact responsibilities of each BIOS entry point in the BIOS jump
vector. The routines are arranged by function. Section 3.4.1 describes
system initialization. Section 3.4.2 presents the character I/O functions,
followed by Section 3.4.3, discussing the disk I/O functions. Section
3.4.4 discusses the BIOS memory select and move functions. The last
section, 3.4.5, discusses the BIOS clock support function. Table 3-9
shows the BIOS entry points the BDOS calls to perform each of the
four categories of system functions.

Table 3-9. Functional Organization of BIOS Entry Points

Operation Function
System Initialization
BOOT, WBOOT, DEVTBL, DEVINI,
DRVTBL
Character I/O
CONST, CONIN, CONOUT,
LIST, AUXOUT, AUXIN, LISTST,
CONOST, AUXIST, AUXOST

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-29
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

Operation Function
Disk I/O
HOME, SELDSK, SETTRK, SETSEC,
SETDMA, READ, WRITE, SECTRN,
MULTIO, FLUSH
Memory Selects and Moves
MOVE, XMOVE, SELMEM, SETBNK
Clock Support
TIME

Table 3-10 is a summary showing the CP/M 3 BIOS function num-

bers, jump instruction names, and the entry and return parameters of
each jump instruction in the table, arranged according to the BIOS
function number.

Table 3-10. CP/M 3 BIOS Function Jump Table Summary

No. Function Input Output
0 BOOT None None
1 WBOOT None None
2 CONST None A=0FFH if ready
A=00H if not ready
3 CONIN NONE A=Con Char
4 CONOUT C=Con Char None
5 LIST C=Char None
6 AUXOUT C=Char None
7 AUXIN None A=Char
8 HOME None None
9 SELDSK C=Drive 0-15 HL=DPH addr
E=Init Sel Flag HL=00H if invalid dr.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-30
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

No. Function Input Output

10 SETTRK BC=Track No None
11 SETSEC BC=Sector No None
12 SETDMA BC=.DMA None
13 READ None A=00H if no Err
A=01H if Non-recov Err
A=0FFH if media changed
14 WRITE C=Deblk Codes A=00H if no Err
A=01H if Phys Err
A=02H if Dsk is R/O
A=0FFH if media changed
15 LISTST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
16 SECTRN BC=Log Sect No HL=Phys Sect No
DE=Trans Tbl Adr
17 CONOST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
18 AUXIST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
19 AUXOST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
20 DEVTBL None HL=Chrtbl
21 DEVINI C=Dev No 0–15 None
22 DRVTBL None HL=Drv Tbl addr
HL=0FFFFH
HL=0FFFEH
23 MULTIO C=Mult Sec Cnt None
24 FLUSH None A=00H if no err
A=01H if phys err
A=02H if disk R/O

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-31
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

No. Function Input Output

25 MOVE HL=Dest Adr HL & DE point to next
DE=Source Adr bytes following MOVE
26 TIME C=Get/Set Flag None
27 SELMEM A=Mem Bank None
28 SETBNK A=Mem Bank None
29 XMOVE B=Dest Bank None
C=Source Bank
BC=Count
30 USERF Reserved for System Implementor
31 RESERV1 Reserved for Future Use
32 RESERV2 Reserved for Future Use

3.4.1.  System Initialization Functions

This section defines the BIOS system initialization routines BOOT,

WBOOT, DEVTBL, DEVINI, and DRVTBL.

BIOS Function 0: BOOT

Get Control from Cold Start Loader
and Initialize System
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: None

The BOOT entry point gets control from the Cold Start Loader in
Bank 0 and is responsible for basic system initialization. Any remaining
hardware initialization that is not done by the boot ROMs, the Cold
Boot Loader, or the LDRBIOS should be performed by the BOOT
routine.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-32
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

The BOOT routine must perform the system initialization outlined

in Section 2.3, “System Initialization”. This includes initializing Page
Zero jumps and loading the CCP. BOOT usually prints a sign-on
message, but this can be omitted. Control is then transferred to the
CCP in the TPA at 0100H.

To initialize Page Zero, the BOOT routine must place a jump at lo-
cation 0000H to BIOS base + 3, the BIOS warm start entry point. The
BOOT routine must also place a jump instruction at location 0005H to
the address contained in the System Control Block variable, @MXTPA.

The BOOT routine must establish its own stack area if it calls any
BDOS or BIOS routines. In a banked system, the stack is in Bank 0
when the Cold BOOT routine is entered. The stack must be placed in
common memory.

BIOS Function 1: WBOOT

Get Control When a Warm Start Occurs
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: None

The WBOOT entry point is entered when a warm start occurs. A

warm start is performed whenever a user program branches to location
0000H or attempts to return to the CCP. The WBOOT routine must
perform the system initialization outlined in BIOS Function 0, including
initializing Page Zero jumps and loading the CCP.

When your WBOOT routine is complete, it must transfer control

to the CCP at location 0100H in the TPA.

Note that the CCP does not reset the disk system at warm start. The

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-33
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

CCP resets the disk system when a CTRL-C is pressed following the
system prompt.

Note also that the BIOS stack must be in common memory to make
BDOS function calls. Only the BOOT and WBOOT routines can
perform BDOS function calls.

If the WBOOT routine is reading the CCP from a file, it must set
the multisector I/O count, @MLTIO in the System Control Block,
to the number of 128-byte records to be read in one operation before
reading CCP.COM. You can directly set @MLTIO in the SCB, or you
can call BDOS Function 44 to set the multisector count in the SCS.

If blocking/deblocking is done in the BIOS instead of in the BDOS,

the WBOOT routine must discard all pending buffers.

BIOS Function 20: DEVTBL

Return Address of Character I/O Table
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: HL=address of Chrtbl

The DEVTBL and DEVINI entry points allow you to support device
assignment with a flexible, yet completely optional system. It replaces
the IOBYTE facility of CP/M 2.2. Note that the CHRTBL must be
in common in banked systems.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-34
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

BIOS Function 21: DEVINI

Initialize Character I/O Device
Entry Parameters: C=device number, 0-15

Returned Values: None

The DEVINI routine initializes the physical character device spec-

ified in register C to the baud rate contained in the appropriate entry
of the CHRTBL. It need only be supplied if I/O redirection has been
implemented and is referenced only by the DEVICE utility supplied
with CP/M 3.

BIOS Function 22: DRVTBL

Return Address of Disk Drive Table
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: HL=Address of Drive Table of Disk Parameter

Headers (DPH); Hashing can utilized if
specified by the DPHs Referenced by this
DRVTBL.
HL=0FFFFH if no Drive Table GENCPM
does not set up buffers. Hashing is supported.
HL=0FFFEH if no Drive Table GENCPM
does not set up buffers. Hashing is not sup-
ported.

The first instruction of this subroutine must be an LXI H,‹address›

where ‹address› is one of the above returned values. The GENCPM
utility accesses the address in this instruction to locate the drive table
and the disk parameter data structures to determine which system
configuration to use.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-35
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

If you plan to do your own blocking/deblocking, the first instruction

of the DRVTBL routine must be the following:

lxi h,0FFFEh

You must also set the PSH and PSM fields of the associated Disk Pa-
rameter Block to zero.

3.4.2.  Character I/O Functions

This section defines the CP/M 3 character I/O routines CONST,

CONIN, CONOUT, LIST, AUXOUT, AUXIN, LISTST, CONOST,
AUXIST, and AUXOST.

CP/M 3 assumes all simple character I/O operations are performed

in eight-bit ASCII, upper and lowercase, with no parity. An ASCII
CTRL-Z (1AH) denotes an end-of-file condition for an input device.

In CP/M 3, you can direct each of the five logical character devices
to any combination of up to twelve physical devices. Each of the five
logical devices has a 16-bit vector in the System Control Block (SCB).
Each bit of the vector represents a physical device where bit 15 corre-
sponds to device zero, and bit 4 is device eleven. Bits 0 through 3 are
reserved for future system use.

You can use the public names defined in the supplied SCB.ASM file
to reference the I/O redirection bit vectors. The names are shown in
Table 3-11.

Table 3-11. I/O Redirection Bit Vectors in SCB

Name Logical Device
@CIVEC Console Input
@COVEC Console Output

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-36
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

Name Logical Device

@AIVEC Auxiliary Input
@AOVEC Auxiliary Output
@LOVEC List Output

You should send an output character to all of the devices whose

corresponding bit is set. An input character should be read from the
first ready device whose corresponding bit is set.

An input status routine should return true if any selected device is

ready. An output status routine should return true only if all selected
devices are ready.

BIOS Function 2: CONST

Sample the Status of the Console Input Device
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=0FFH if a console

character is ready to read
A=00H if no console
character is ready to read

Read the status of the currently assigned console device and return
0FFH in register A if a character is ready to read, and 00H in register
A if no console characters are ready.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-37
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

BIOS Function 3: CONIN

Read a Character from the Console
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=Console Character

Read the next console character into register A with no parity. If

no console character is ready, wait until a character is available before
returning.

BIOS Function 4: CONOUT

Output Character to Console
Entry Parameters: C=Console Character

Returned Values: None

Send the character in register C to the console output device. The

character is in ASCII with no parity.

BIOS Function 5: LIST

Output Character to List Device
Entry Parameters: C=Character

Returned Values: None

Send the character from register C to the listing device. The character
is in ASCII with no parity.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-38
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

BIOS Function 6: AUXOUT

Output a Character to the
Auxiliary Output Device
Entry Parameters: C=Character

Returned Values: None

Send the character from register C to the currently assigned AUXOUT

device. The character is in ASCII with no parity.

BIOS Function 7: AUXIN

Read a Character from the
Auxiliary Input Device
Entry Parameters: C=Character

Returned Values: None

Read the next character from the currently assigned AUXIN device
into register A with no parity. A returned ASCII CTRL-Z (1AH)
reports an end-of-file.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-39
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

BIOS Function 15: LISTST

Return the Ready Status of the List Device
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=00H if list device is not

ready to accept a character
A=0FFH if list device is
ready to accept a character

The BIOS LISTST function returns the ready status of the list device.

BIOS Function 17: CONOST

Return Output Status of Console
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=0FFH if ready

A=00H if not ready

The CONOST routine checks the status of the console. CONOST

returns an 0FFH if the console is ready to display another character. This
entry point allows for full polled handshaking communications support.

BIOS Function 18: AUXIST

Return Input Status of Auxiliary Port
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=0FFH if ready

A=00H if not ready

The AUXIST routine checks the input status of the auxiliary port.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-40
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

This entry point allows full polled handshaking for communications

support using an auxiliary port.

BIOS Function 19: AUXOST

Return Output Status of Auxiliary Port
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=0FFH if ready

A=00H if not ready

The AUXOST routine checks the output status of the auxiliary port.
This routine allows full polled handshaking for communications support
using an auxiliary port.

3.4.3.  Disk I/O Functions

This section defines the CP/M 3 BIOS disk I/O routines HOME,
SELDSK, SETTRK, SETSEC, SETDMA, READ, WRITE, SECTRN,
MULTIO, and FLUSH.

BIOS Function 8: HOME

Select Track 00 of the Specified Drive
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: None

Return the disk head of the currently selected disk to the track 00
position. Usually, you can translate the HOME call into a call on
SETTRK with a parameter of 0.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-41
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

BIOS Function 9: SELDSK

Select the Specified Disk Drive
Entry Parameters: C=Disk Drive (0–15)
E=Initial Select Flag

Returned Values: HL=Address of Disk Parameter

Header (DPH) if drive exists
HL=0000H if drive does not exist

Select the disk drive specified in register C for further operations,

where register C contains 0 for drive A, 1 for drive B, and so on to 15
for drive P. On each disk select, SELDSK must return in HL the base
address of a 25-byte area called the Disk Parameter Header. If there is
an attempt to select a nonexistent drive, SELDSK returns HL=0000H
as an error indicator.

On entry to SELDSK, you can determine if it is the first time the

specified disk is selected. Bit 0, the least significant bit in register E, is
set to 0 if the drive has not been previously selected. This information
is of interest in systems that read configuration information from the
disk to set up a dynamic disk definition table.

When the BDOS calls SELDSK with bit 0 in register E set to 1,

SELDSK must return the same Disk Parameter Header address as it
returned on the initial call to the drive. SELDSK can only return a 00H
indicating an unsuccessful select on the initial select call.

SELDSK must return the address of the Disk Parameter Header

on each call. Postpone the actual physical disk select operation until a
READ or WRITE is performed, unless I/O is required for automatic
density-sensing.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-42
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

BIOS Function 10: SETTRK

Set Specified Track Number
Entry Parameters: BC=Track Number

Returned Values: None

Register BC contains the track number for a subsequent disk access

on the currently selected drive. Normally, the track number is saved
until the next READ or WRITE occurs.

BIOS Function 11: SETSEC

Set Specified Sector Number
Entry Parameters: BC=Sector Number

Returned Values: None

Register BC contains the sector number for the subsequent disk

access on the currently selected drive. This number is the value returned
by SECTRN. Usually, you delay actual sector selection until a READ
or WRITE operation occurs.

BIOS Function 12: SETDMA

Set Address for Subsequent Disk I/O
Entry Parameters: BC=Direct Memory
Access Address

Returned Values: None

Register BC contains the DMA (Direct Memory Access) address for

the subsequent READ or WRITE operation. For example, if B=00H

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-43
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

and C=80H when the BDOS calls SETDMA, then the subsequent
read operation reads its data starting at 80H, or the subsequent write
operation gets its data from 80H, until the next call to SETDMA occurs.

BIOS Function 13: READ

Read a Sector from the Specified Drive
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=00H if no errors occurred

A=01H if nonrecoverable
error condition occurred
A=0FFH if media has
changed

Assume the BDOS has selected the drive, set the track, set the sector,
and specified the DMA address. The READ subroutine attempts to
read one sector based upon these parameters, then returns one of the
error codes in register A as described above.

If the value in register A is 0, then CP/M 3 assumes that the disk

operation completed properly. If an error occurs, the BIOS should
attempt several retries to see if the error is recoverable before returning
the error code.

If an error occurs in a system that supports automatic density selec-

tion, the system should verify the density of the drive. If the density has
changed, return a 0FFH in the accumulator. This causes the BDOS to
terminate the current operation and relog in the disk.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-44
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

BIOS Function 14: WRITE

Write a Sector to the Specified Disk
Entry Parameters: C=Deblocking Codes

Returned Values: A=00H if no error occurred

A=01H if physical error
occurred
A=02H if disk is Read-Only
A=0FFH if media has
changed

Write the data from the currently selected DMA address to the cur-
rently selected drive, track, and sector. Upon each call to WRITE, the
BDOS provides the following information in register C:

0 = deferred write
1 = nondeferred write
2 = deferred write to the first sector of a new data block

This information is provided for those BIOS implementations that

do blocking/deblocking in the BIOS instead of the BDOS.

As in READ, the BIOS should attempt several retries before report-

ing an error.

If an error occurs in a system that supports automatic density selec-

tion, the system should verify the density of the drive. If the density has
changed, return a 0FFH in the accumulator. This causes the BDOS to
terminate the current operation and relog in the disk.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-45
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

BIOS Function 16: SECTRN

Translate Sector Number Given Translate Table
Entry Parameters: BC=Logical Sector Number
DE=Translate Table Address

Returned Values: HL=Physical Sector Number

SECTRN performs logical sequential sector address to physical

sector translation to improve the overall response of CP/M 3. Digital
Research ships standard CP/M disk with a skew factor of 6, where six
physical sectors are skipped between each logical read operation. This
skew factor allows enough time between sectors for most programs on a
slow system to process their buffers without missing the next sector. In
computer systems that use fast processors, memory, and disk subsystems,
you can change the skew factor to improve overall response.

Typically, most disk systems perform well with a skew of every other
physical sector. You should maintain support of single-density, IBM
3740 compatible disks using a skew factor of 6 in your CP/M 3 system
to allow information transfer to and from other CP/M users.

SECTRN receives a logical sector number in BC, and a translate

table address in DE. The logical sector number is relative to zero. The
translate table address is obtained from the Disk Parameter Block for
the currently selected disk. The sector number is used as an index into
the translate table, with the resulting physical sector number returned
in HL. For standard, single-density, eight- inch disk systems, the tables
and indexing code are provided in the sample BIOS and need not be
changed.

Certain drive types either do not need skewing or perform the skewing
externally from the system software. In this case, the skew table address

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-46
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

in the DPH can be set to zero, and the SECTRN routine can check for
the zero in DE and return with the physical sector set to the logical sector.

BIOS Function 23: MULTIO

Set Count of Consecutive Sectors
for READ or WRITE
Entry Parameters: C=Multisector Count

Returned Values: None

To transfer logically consecutive disk sectors to or from contiguous

memory locations, the BDOS issues a MULTIO call, followed by a
series of READ or WRITE calls. This allows the BIOS to transfer
multiple sectors in a single disk operation. The maximum value of the
sector count is dependent on the physical sector size, ranging from 128
with 128-byte sectors, to 4 with 4096-byte sectors. Thus, the BIOS can
transfer up to 16K directly to or from the TPA with a single operation.

The BIOS can directly transfer all of the specified sectors to or from
the DMA buffer in one operation and then count down the remaining
calls to READ or WRITE.

If the disk format uses a skew table to minimize rotational latency

when single records are transferred, it is more difficult to optimize
transfer time for multisector transfers. One way of utilizing the multi-
sector count with a skewed disk format is to place the sector numbers
and associated DMA addresses into a table until either the residual
multisector count reaches zero, or the track number changes. Then you
can sort the saved requests by physical sector to allow all of the required
sectors on the track to be read in one rotation. Each sector must be
transferred to or from its proper DMA address.

When an error occurs during a multisector transfer, you can either

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-47
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

reset the multiple sector counters in the BIOS and return the error
immediately, or you can save the error status and return it to the BDOS
on the last READ or WRITE call of the MULTIO operation.

BIOS Function 24: FLUSH

Force Physical Buffer Flushing
for User-supported Deblocking
Entry Parameters: None

Returned Values: A=00H if no error occurred

A=01H if physical error
occurred
A=02H if disk is Read-Only

The flush buffers entry point allows the system to force physical
sector buffer flushing when your BIOS is performing its own record
blocking and deblocking.

The BDOS calls the FLUSH routine to ensure that no dirty buffers
remain in memory. The BIOS should immediately write any buffers
that contain unwritten data.

Normally, the FLUSH function is superfluous, because the BDOS

supports blocking/deblocking internally. It is required, however, for
those systems that support blocking/deblocking in the BIOS, as many
CP/M 2.2 systems do.

Note: if you do not implement FLUSH, the routine must return a zero
in register A. You can accomplish this with the following instructions:

xra a
ret

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-48
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

3.4.4.  Memory Select and Move Functions

This section defines the memory management functions MOVE,

XMOVE, SELMEM, and SETBNK.

BIOS Function 25: MOVE

MOVE Memory-to-Memory Block Move
Entry Parameters: HL=Destination address
DE=Source address
BC=Count

Returned Values: HL and DE must point to

next bytes following move
operation

The BDOS calls the MOVE routine to perform memory to mem-

ory block moves to allow use of the Z80 LDIR instruction or special
DMA hardware, if available. Note that the arguments in HL and DE
are reversed from the Z80 machine instruction, necessitating the use of
XCHG instructions on either side of the LDIR. The BDOS uses this
routine for all large memory copy operations. On return, the HL and
DE registers are expected to point to the next bytes following the move.

Usually, the BDOS expects MOVE to transfer data within the cur-
rently selected bank or common memory. However, if the BDOS calls
the XMOVE entry point before calling MOVE, the MOVE routine
must perform an interbank transfer.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-49
BIOS Subroutine Entry Points CP/M System Guide

BIOS Function 27: SELMEM

Select Memory Bank
Entry Parameters: A=Memory Bank

Returned Values: None

The SELMEM entry point is only present in banked systems. The

banked version of the CP/M 3 BDOS calls SELMEM to select the cur-
rent memory bank for further instruction execution or buffer references.
You must preserve or restore all registers other than the accumulator,
A, upon exit.

BIOS Function 28: SETBNK

Specify Bank for DMA Operation
Entry Parameters: A=Memory Bank

Returned Values: None

SETBNK only occurs in the banked version of CP/M 3. SETBNK

specifies the bank that the subsequent disk READ or WRITE routine
must use for memory transfers. The BDOS always makes a call to
SETBNK to identify the DMA bank before performing a READ or
WRITE call. Note that the BDOS does not reference banks other than
0 or 1 unless another bank is specified by the BANK field of a Data
Buffer Control Block (BCB).

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-50
CP/M System Guide BIOS Subroutine Entry Points

BIOS Function 29: XMOVE

Set Banks for Following MOVE
Entry Parameters: B=destination bank
C=source bank

Returned Values: None

XMOVE is provided for banked systems that support memory-to-

memory DMA transfers over the entire extended address range. Systems
with this feature can have their data buffers located in an alternate bank
instead of in common memory, as is usually required. An XMOVE call
affects only the following MOVE call. All subsequent MOVE calls apply
to the memory selected by the latest call to SELMEM. After a call to
the XMOVE function, the following call to the MOVE function is not
more than 128 bytes of data. If you do not implement XMOVE, the
first instruction must be a RET instruction.

3.4.5.  Clock Support Function

This section defines the clock support function TIME.

BIOS Function 26: TIME

Get and Set Time
Entry Parameters: C=Time Get/Set Flag

Returned Values: None

The BDOS calls the TIME function to indicate to the BIOS whether
it has just set the Time and Date fields in the SCB, or whether the BDOS
is about to get the Time and Date from the SCB. On entry to the TIME
function, a zero in register C indicates that the BIOS should update the

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-51
Banking Considerations CP/M System Guide

Time and Date fields in the SCB. A 0FFH in register C indicates that
the BDOS has just set the Time and Date in the SCB and the BIOS
should update its clock. Upon exit, you must restore register pairs HL
and DE to their entry values.

This entry point is for systems that must interrogate the clock to
determine the time. Systems in which the clock is capable of generating
an interrupt should use an interrupt service routine to set the Time and
Date fields on a regular basis.

3.5.  Banking Considerations

This section discusses considerations for separating your BIOS into
resident and banked modules. You can place part of your customized
BIOS in common memory, and part of it in Bank 0. However, the fol-
lowing data structures and routines must remain in common memory:

■ the BIOS stack

■ the BIOS jump vector
■ Disk Parameter Blocks
■ memory management routines
■ the CHRTBL data structure
■ all character I/O routines
■ portions of the disk I/O routines

You can place portions of the disk I/O routines in the system bank,
Bank 0. In a banked environment, if the disk I/O hardware supports
DMA transfers to and from banks other than the currently selected
bank, the disk I/O drivers can reside in Bank 0. If the system has a DMA
controller that supports block moves from memory to memory between
banks, CP/M 3 also allows you to place the blocking and deblocking
buffers in any bank other than Bank 1, instead of common memory.

If your disk controller supports data transfers only into the currently

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-52
CP/M System Guide Banking Considerations

selected bank, then the code that initiates and performs a data transfer
must reside in common memory. In this case, the disk I/O transfer rou-
tines must select the DMA bank, perform the transfer, then reselect Bank
0. The routine in common memory performs the following procedure:

1. Selects the DMA bank that SETBNK saved.

2. Performs physical I/O.
3. Reselects Bank 0.
4. Returns to the calling READ or WRITE routine in Bank 0.

Note that Bank 0 is in context (selected) when the BDOS calls the
system initialization functions BOOT and DRVTBL the disk I/O
routines HOME, SELDSK, SETTRK, SETSEC, SETDMA, READ,
WRITE, SECTRN, MULTIO, and FLUSH and the memory man-
agement routines XMOVE and SETBNK.

Bank 0 or Bank 1 is in context when the BDOS calls the system

initialization routines WBOOT, DEVTBL, and DEVINI the char-
acter I/O routines CONST, CONIN, CONOUT, LIST, AUXOUT,
AUXIN, LISTST, CONOST, AUXIST, and AUXOST, the memory
select and move routines MOVE and SELMEM, and the clock support
routine TIME.

You can place a portion of the character I/O routines in Bank 0 if

you place the following procedure in common memory.

1. Swap stacks to a local stack in common.

2. Save the current bank.
3. Select Bank 0.
4. Call the appropriate character I/O routine.
5. Reselect the saved bank.
6. Restore the stack.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-53
Assembling and Linking Your BIOS CP/M System Guide

3.6.  Assembling and Linking Your BIOS

This section assumes you have developed a BIOS3.ASM or
BNKBIOS3.ASM file appropriate to your specific hardware environ-
ment. Use the Digital Research Relocatable Macro Assembler RMAC™
to assemble the BIOS. Use the Digital Research Linker LINK-80™ to
create the BIOS3.SPR and BNKBIOS3.SPR files. The SPR files are
part of the input to the GENCPM program.

In a banked environment, your CP/M 3 BIOS can consist of two

segments: a banked segment and a common segment. This allows you
to minimize common memory usage to maximize the size of the TPA.
To prepare a banked BIOS, place code and data that must reside in
common in the CSEG segment, and code and data that can reside
in the system bank in the DSEG segment. When you link the BIOS,
LINK-80 creates the BNKBIOS3.SPR file with all the CSEG code and
data first, then the DSEG code and data.

After assembling the BIOS with RMAC, link your BNKBIOS using
LINK-80 with the [B] option. The [B] option aligns the DSEG on a page
boundary, and places the length of the CSEG into the BNKBIOS3.SPR
header page.

Use the following procedure to prepare a BIOS3.SPR or

BNKBIOS3.SPR file from your customized BIOS.

1. Assemble your BIOS3.ASM or BNKBIOS3.ASM file with the

relocatable assembler RMAC.COM to produce a relocatable
file of type REL. Assemble SCB.ASM to produce the relocat-
able file SCB.REL.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-54
CP/M System Guide Assembling and Linking Your BIOS

Assembling the Nonbanked BIOS:

A›RMAC BIOS3

Assembling the Banked BIOS:

A›RMAC BNKBIOS3

2. Link the BIOS3.REL or BNKBIOS3.REL file and the SCB.REL

file with LINK-80 to produce the BIOS3.SPR or BNKBIOS3.
SPR file. The [OS] option with LINK causes the output of a
System Page Relocatable (SPR) file.

Linking the Nonbanked BIOS:

A›LINK BIOS3[OS]=BIOS3,SCB

Linking the Banked BIOS:

A›LINK BNKBIOS3[B]=BNKBIOS3,SCB

The preceding examples show command lines for linking a banked

and nonbanked BIOS. In these examples, the BIOS3.REL and
BNKBIOS3.REL are the files of your assembled BIOS. SCB.
REL contains the definitions of the System Control Block
variables. The [B] option implies the [OS] option.

End of Section 3

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-55
 CP/M System Guide

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
3-56
CP/M System Guide Functional Sumary of BIOS Modules

Section 4 
CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules

This section discusses the modular organization of the example

CP/M 3 BIOS on your distribution disk. For previous CP/M operat-
ing systems, it was necessary to generate all input/output drivers from
a single assembler source file. Such a file is difficult to maintain when
the BIOS supports several peripherals. As a result, Digital Research is
distributing the BIOS for CP/M 3 in several small modules.

The organization of the BIOS into separate modules allows you to

write or modify any I/O driver independently of the other modules. For
example, you can easily add another disk I/O driver for a new controller
with minimum impact on the other parts of the BIOS.

4.1.  Functional Sumary of BIOS Modules

The modules of the BIOS are BIOSKRNL.ASM, SCB.ASM,
BOOT.ASM, MOVE.ASM, CHARIO.ASM, DRVTBL.ASM, and
a disk I/O module for each supported disk controller in the configuration.

BIOSKRNL.ASM is the kernel, root, or supervisor module of the

BIOS. The SCB.ASM module contains references to locations in the
System Control Block. You can customize the other modules to support
any hardware configuration. To customize your system, add or modify
external modules other than the kernel and the SCB.ASM module.

Digital Research supplies the BIOSKRNL.ASM module. This

module is the fixed, invariant portion of the BIOS, and the interface
from the BDOS to all BIOS functions. It is supplied in source form

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-1
Functional Sumary of BIOS Modules CP/M System Guide

for reference only, and you should not modify it except for the equate
statement described in the following paragraph.

You must be sure the equate statement (banked equ true) at the
start of the BIOSKRNL.ASM source file is correct for your system
configuration. Digital Research distributes the BIOSKRNL.ASM file
for a banked system. If you are creating a BIOS for a nonbanked system,
change the equate statement to the following:

banked equ false

and reassemble with RMAC. This is the only change you should make
to the BIOSKRNL.ASM file.

Table 4-1 summarizes the modules in the CP/M 3 BIOS.

Table 4-1. CP/M 3 BIOS Module Function Summary

Module Function
BIOSKRNL.ASM
Performs basic system initialization, and dispatches
character and disk I/O.
SCB.ASM module
Contains the public definitions of the various fields
in the System Control Block. The BIOS can reference
the public variables.
BOOT.ASM module
Performs system initialization other than character
and disk I/O. BOOT loads the CCP for cold starts
and reloads it for warm starts.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-2
CP/M System Guide Conventions Used in BIOS Modules

Module Function
CHARIO.ASM module
Performs all character device initialization, input,
output, and status polling. CHARIO contains the
character device characteristics table.
DRVTBL.ASM module
Points to the data structures for each configured disk
drive. The drive table determines which physical disk
unit is associated with which logical drive. The data
structure for each disk drive is called an Extended Disk
Parameter Header (XDPH).
Disk I/O modules
Initialize disk controllers and execute READ and
WRITE code for disk controllers. You must provide
an XDPH for each supported unit, and a separate disk
I/O module for each controller in the system. To add
another disk controller for which a prewritten module
exists, add its XDPH names to the DRVTBL and link
in the new module.
MOVE.ASM module
Performs memory-to-memory moves and bank selects.

4.2.  Conventions Used in BIOS Modules

The Digital Research RMAC relocating assembler and LINK-80
linkage editor allow a module to reference a symbol contained in another
module by name. This is called an external reference. The Microsoft
relocatable object module format that RMAC and LINK use allows
six-character names for externally defined symbols. External names
must be declared PUBLIC in the module in which they are defined.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-3
Interactions of Modules CP/M System Guide

The external names must be declared EXTRN in any modules that

reference them.

The modular BIOS defines a number of external names for specific

purposes. Some of these are defined as public in the root module,
BIOSKRNL.ASM. Others are declared external in the root and must
be defined by the system implementor. Section 4.4 contains a table
summarizing all predefined external symbols used by the modular BIOS.

External names can refer to either code or data. All predefined ex-
ternal names in the modular BIOS prefixed with a @ character refer
to data items. All external names prefixed with a ? character refer to a
code label. To prevent conflicts with future extensions, user-defined
external names should not contain these characters.

4.3.  Interactions of Modules

The root module of the BIOS, BIOSKRNL.ASM, handles all BDOS
calls, performs interfacing functions, and simplifies the individual
modules you need to create.

4.3.1.  Initial Boot

BIOSKRNL.ASM initializes all configured devices in the following

order:

1. BIOSKRNL calls ?CINIT in the CHARIO module for each

of the 16 character devices and initializes the devices.

2. BIOSKRNL invokes the INIT entry point of each XDPH in

the FD1797SD module.

3. BIOSKRNL calls the ?INIT entry of the BOOT module to

initialize other system hardware, such as memory controllers,

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-4
CP/M System Guide Interactions of Modules

interrupts, and clocks. It prints a sign-on message specific to

the system, if desired.

4. BIOSKRNL calls ?LDCCP in the BOOT module to load the

CCP into the TPA.

5. The BIOSKRNL module sets up Page Zero of the TPA with

the appropriate jump vectors, and passes control to the CCP.

4.3.2.  Character I/O Operation

The CHARIO module performs all physical character I/O. This

module contains both the character device table (@CTBL) and the
routines for character input, output, initialization, and status polling.
The character device table, @CTBL, contains the ASCII name of each
device, mode information, and the current baud rate of serial devices.

To support logical to physical redirection of character devices, CP/M 3

supplies a 16-bit assignment vector for each logical device. The bits
in these vectors correspond to the physical devices. The character I/O
interface routines in BIOSKRNL handle all device assignment, calling
the appropriate character I/O routines with the correct device number.
The BIOSKRNL module also handles XON/XOFF processing on
output devices where it is enabled.

You can use the DEVICE utility to assign several physical devices
to a logical device. The BIOSKRNL root module polls the assigned
physical devices, and either reads a character from the first ready input
device that is selected, or sends the character to all of the selected output
devices as they become ready.

4.3.3.  Disk I/O Operation

The BIOSKRNL module handles all BIOS calls associated with disk

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-5
Predefined Variables and Subroutines CP/M System Guide

I/O. It initializes global variables with the parameters for each operation,
then invokes the READ or WRITE routine for a particular controller.
The SELDSK routine in the BIOSKRNL calls the LOGIN routine for
a controller when the BDOS initiates a drive login. This allows disk
density or media type to be automatically determined.

The DRVTBL module contains the sixteen-word drive table, @DTBL.

The order of the entries in @DTBL determines the logical to physical
drive assignment. Each word in @DTBL contains the address of a DPH,
which is part of an XDPH, as shown in Table 4-10. The word contains
a zero if the drive does not exist. The XDPH contains the addresses of
the INIT, LOGIN, READ, and WRITE entry points of the I/O driver
for a particular controller. When the actual drivers are called, globally
accessible variables contain the various parameters of the operation,
such as the track and sector.

4.4.  Predefined Variables and Subroutines

The modules of the BIOS define public variables which other mod-
ules can reference.

Table 4-2 contains a summary of each public symbol and the module
that defines it.

Table 4-2. Public Symbols in CP/M 3 BIOS

Symbol Function and Use Defined in Module
@ADRV Byte, Absolute drive code BIOSKRNL
@CBNK Byte, Current CPU bank BIOSKRNL
@CNT Byte, Multisector count BIOSKRNL
@CTBL Table, Character device table CHARIO
@DBNK Byte, Bank for disk I/O BIOSKRNL
@DMA Word, DMA address BIOSKRNL

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-6
CP/M System Guide Predefined Variables and Subroutines

Symbol Function and Use Defined in Module

@DTBL Table, Drive table DRVTBL
@RDRV Byte, Relative drive code (UNIT) BIOSKRNL
@SECT Word, Sector address BIOSKRNL
@TRK Word, Track number BIOSKRNL

?BANK Bank select MOVE

?CI Character device input CHARIO
?CINIT Character device initialization CHARIO
?CIST Character device input status CHARIO
?CO Character device output CHARIO
?COST Character device output status CHARIO
?INIT General initialization BOOT
?LDCCP Load CCP for cold start BOOT
?MOVE Move memory to memory MOVE
?PDEC Print decimal number BIOSKRNL
?PDERR Print BIOS disk error header BIOSKRNL
?PMSG Print message BIOSKRNL
?RLCCP Reload CCP for warm start BOOT
?XMOVE Set banks for extended move MOVE
?TIME Set or Get time BOOT

The System Control Block defines public variables that other mod-
ules can reference. The System Control Block variables @CIVEC,
@COVEC, @AIVEC, @AOVEC, and @LOVEC are referenced by
BIOSKRNL.ASM. The variable @BNKBF can be used by ?LDCCP
and ?RLCCP to implement interbank block moves. The public variable
names @ERMDE, @FX, @RESEL, @VINFO, @CRDSK, @USRCD,
and @CRDMA are used for error routines which intercept BDOS

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-7
Predefined Variables and Subroutines CP/M System Guide

errors. The publics @DATE, @HOUR, @MIN, and @SEC can be

updated by an interrupt-driven real-time clock. @MXTPA contains
the current BDOS entry point.

Disk I/O operation parameters are passed in the following global

variables, as shown in Table 4-3.

Table 4-3. Global Variables in BIOSKRNL.ASM

Variable Meaning
@ADRV Byte contains the absolute drive code (0 through F
for A through P) that CP/M is referencing for READ
and WRITE operations. The SELDSK routine in the
BIOSKRNL module obtains this value from the BDOS
and places it in @DRV. The absolute drive code is used
to print error messages.
@RDRV Byte contains the relative drive code for READ and
WRITE operations. The relative drive code is the UNIT
number of the controller in a given disk I/O module.
BIOSKRNL obtains the unit number from the XDPH.
This is the actual drive code a driver should send to the
controller.
@TRK Word contains the starting track for READ and WRITE.
@SECT Word contains the starting sector for READ and WRITE.
@DMA Word contains the starting disk transfer address.
@DBNK Byte contains the bank of the DMA buffer.
@CNT Byte contains the physical sector count for the operations
that follow.
@CBNK Byte contains the current bank for code execution.

Several utility subroutines are defined in the BIOSKRNL.ASM

module, as shown in Table 4-4.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-8
CP/M System Guide Predefined Variables and Subroutines

Table 4-4. Public Utility Subroutines in BIOSKRNL.ASM

Utility Meaning
?PMSG Print string starting at ‹HL›, stop at null (0).
?PDEC Print binary number in decimal from HL.
?PDERR Print disk error message header using current disk param-
eters: ‹CR›‹LF›BIOS Error on d:, T- nn, S-nn.

All BIOS entry points in the jump vector are declared as public for
general reference by other BIOS modules, as shown in Table 4-5.

Table 4-5. Public Names in the BIOS Jump Vector

Public Name Function
?BOOT Cold boot entry
?WBOOT Warm boot entry
?CONST Console input status
?CONIN Console input
?CONO Console output
?LIST List output
?AUXO Auxiliary output
?AUXI Auxiliary input
?HOME Home disk drive
?SLDSK Select disk drive
?STTRK Set track
?STSEC Set sector
?STDMA Set DMA address
?READ Read record
?WRITE Write record
?LISTS List status
?SCTRN Translate sector

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-9
BOOT Module CP/M System Guide

Public Name Function

?CONOS Console output status
?AUXIS Auxiliary input status
?AUXOS Auxiliary output status
?DVTBL Return character device table address
?DEVIN Initialize character device
?DRTBL Return disk drive table address
?MLTIO Set multiple sector count
?FLUSH Flush deblocking buffers (not implemented)
?MOV Move memory block
?TIM Signal set or get time from clock
?BNKSL Set bank for further execution
?STBNK Set bank for DMA
?XMOV Set banks for next move

4.5.  BOOT Module

The BOOT module performs general system initialization, and loads
and reloads the CCP. Table 4-6 shows the entry points of the BOOT
module.

Table 4-6. BOOT Module Entry Points

Module Meaning
?INIT The BIOSKRNL module calls ?INIT during cold start to
perform hardware initialization other than character and
disk I/O. Typically, this hardware can include time-of-day
clocks, interrupt systems, and special I/O ports used for
bank selection.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-10
CP/M System Guide Character I/O

Module Meaning
?LDCCP BIOSKRNL calls ?LDCCP during cold start to load
the CCP into the TPA. The CCP can be loaded either
from the system tracks of the boot device or from a file,
at the discretion of the system implementor. In a banked
system, you can place a copy of the CCP in a reserved
area of another bank to increase the performance of the
?RLCCP routine.
?RLCCP BIOSKRNL calls ?RLCCP during warm start to reload
the CCP into the TPA. In a banked system, the CCP
can be copied from an alternate bank to eliminate any
disk access. Otherwise, the CCP should be loaded from
either the system tracks of the boot device or from a file.

4.6.  Character I/O

The CHARIO module handles all character device interfacing.
The CHARIO module contains the character device definition table
@CTBL, the character input routine ?CI , the character output routine
?CO, the character input status routine ?CIST, the character output
status routine ?COST, and the character device initialization routine
?CINIT.

The BIOS root module, BIOSKRNL.ASM, handles all character

I/O redirection. This module determines the appropriate devices to
perform operations and executes the actual operation by calling ?CI,
?CO, ?CIST, and ?COST with the proper device number(s).

@CTBL is the external name for the structure CHRTBL described

in Section 3 of this manual. @CTBL contains an 8-byte entry for each
physical device defined by this BIOS. The table is terminated by a zero
byte after the last entry.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-11
Character I/O CP/M System Guide

The first field of the character device table, @CTBL, is the 6-byte
device name. This device name should be all upper-case, left-justified,
and padded with ASCII spaces (20H).

The second field of @CTBL is 1 byte containing bits that Indicate

the type of device and its current mode, as shown in Table 4-7.

Table 4-7. Mode Bits

Mode Bits Meaning
00000001 Input device (such as a keyboard)
00000010 Output device (such as a printer)
00000011 Input/output device (such as a terminal or modem)
00000100 Device has software-selectable baud rates
00001000 Device may use XON protocol
00010000 XON/XOFF protocol enabled

The third field of @CTBL is 1 byte and contains the current baud
rate for serial devices. The high-order nibble of this field is reserved for
future use and should be set to zero. The low-order four bits contain the
current baud rate as shown in Table 4-8. Many systems do not support
all of these baud rates.

Table 4-8. Baud Rates for Serial Devices

Decimal Binary Baud Rate
0 0000 none
1 0001 50
2 0010 75
3 0011 110
4 0100 134.5
5 0101 150

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-12
CP/M System Guide Character I/O

Decimal Binary Baud Rate

6 0110 300
7 0111 600
8 1000 1200
9 1001 1800
10 1010 2400
11 1011 3600
12 1100 4800
13 1101 7200
14 1110 9600
15 1111 19200

Table 4-9 shows the entry points to the routines in the CHARIO
module. The BIOSKRNL module calls these routines to perform ma-
chine-dependent character I/O.

Table 4-9. Character Device Labels

Label Meaning
?CI Character Device Input

?CI is called with a device number in register B. It should

wait for the next available input character , then return the
character in register A. The character should be in 8-bit
ASCII with no parity.
?CO Character Device Output

?CI is called with a device number in register B. It should

wait for the next available input character , then return the
character in register A. The character should be in 8-bit
ASCII with no parity.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-13
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

Label Meaning
?CIST Character Device Input Status

?CIST is called with a device number in register B. It

should return with register A set to zero if the device
specified has no input character ready and should return
with A set to 0FFH if the device specified has an input
character ready to be read.
?COST Character Device Output Status

?COST is called with a device number in register B. It

should return with register A set to zero if the device spec-
ified cannot accept a character immediately, and should
return with A set to 0FFH if the device is ready to accept
a character.
?CINIT Character Device Initialization

?CINIT is called for each of the 16 character devices,

and initializes the devices. Register C contains the de-
vice number. The ?CINIT routine initializes the physical
character device specified in register C to the baud rate
contained in the appropriate entry of the CHRTBL. You
only need to supply this routine if I/O redirection has
been implemented. It is referenced only by the DEVICE
utility supplied with CP/M 3.

4.7.  Disk I/O

The separation of the disk I/O section of the BIOS into several mod-
ules allows you to support each particular disk controller independently
from the rest of the system. A manufacturer can supply the code for a
controller in object module form, and you can link it into any existing
modular BIOS to function with other controllers in the system.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-14
CP/M System Guide Disk I/O

The data structure called the Extended Disk Parameter Header,

or XDPH, contains all the necessary information about a disk drive.
BIOSKRNL.ASM locates the XDPH for a particular logical drive
using the Drive Table. The XDPH contains the addresses of the READ,
WRITE, initialization, and login routines. The XDPH also contains the
relative unit number of the drive on the controller, the current media
type, and the Disk Parameter Header (DPH) that the BDOS requires.
Section 3 of this manual describes the Disk Parameter Header.

The code to read and write from a particular drive is independent of

the actual CP/M logical drive assignment, and works with the relative
unit number of the drive on the controller. The position of the XDPH
entry in the DRVTBL determines the actual CP/M 3 drive code.

4.7.1.  Disk I/O Structure

The BIOS requires a DRVTBL module to locate the disk driver. it

also requires a disk module for each controller that is supported.

The drive table module, DRVTBL, contains the addresses of each

XDPH defined in the system. Each XDPH referenced in the DRVTBL
must be declared external to link the table with the actual disk modules.

The XDPHs are the only public entry points in the disk I/O modules.
The root module references the XDPHs to locate the actual I/O driver
code to perform sector READS and WRITES. When the READ and
WRITE routines are called, the parameters controlling the READ or
WRITE operation are contained in a series of global variables that are
declared public in the root module.

4.7.2.  Drive Table Module (DRVTBL)

The drive table module, DRVTBL, defines the CP/M absolute drive
codes associated with the physical disks.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-15
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

The DRVTBL module contains one public label, @DTBL. @DTBL

is a 16-word table containing the addresses of up to 16 XDPH's. Each
XDPH name must be declared external in the DRVTBL. The first entry
corresponds to drive A, and the last to drive P. You must set an entry to
0 if the corresponding drive is undefined. Selecting an undefined drive
causes a BDOS SELECT error.

4.7.3.  Extended Disk Parameter Headers (XDPHs)

An Extended Disk Parameter Header (XDPH) consists of a prefix

and a regular Disk Parameter Header as described in Section 3. The label
of a XDPH references the start of the DPH. The fields of the prefix are
located at relative offsets from the XDPH label.

The XDPHs for each unit of a controller are the only entry points
in a particular disk drive module. They contain both the DPH for the
drive and the addresses of the various action routines for that drive,
including READ, WRITE, and initialization. Figure 4-1 shows the
format of the Extended Disk Parameter Header.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-16
CP/M System Guide Disk I/O

ADDRESS LOW BYTE HIGH BYTE

0 7 8 15
XDPH − 10 addr of sector WRITE

XDPH − 8 addr of sector READ

XDPH − 6 addr of sector LOGIN

XDPH − 4 addr of sector INIT
XDPH − 2 unit type
XDPH + 0 addr of translate table start of
regular DPH
XDPH + 2 0 0
XDPH + 4 0 0
XDPH + 6 0 0
XDPH + 8 0 0
XDPH + 10 Media Flag 0
XDPH + 12 addr of DPB
XDPH + 14 addr of CSV
XDPH + 16 addr of ALV
XDPH + 18 addr of DIRBCB
XDPH + 20 addr of DTABCB
XDPH + 22 addr of HASH
XDPH + 24 hash bank

Figure 4-1. XDPH Format

Table 4-10 describes the fields of each Extended Disk Parameter

Header.

Table 4-10. Fields of Each XDPH

Field Meaning
WRITE The WRITE word contains the address of the sector
WRITE routine for the drive.
READ The READ word contains the address of the sector
READ routine for the drive.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-17
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

Field Meaning
LOGIN The LOGIN word contains the address of the LOGIN
routine for the drive.
INIT The INIT word contains the address of the first-time
initialization code for the drive.
UNIT The UNIT byte contains the drive code relative to
the disk controller.
TYPE The TYPE byte is unused by the BIOS root, and is
reserved for the driver to keep the current density or
media type to support multiple-format disk subsystems.
regular DPH The remaining fields of the XDPH comprise a standard
DPH, as discussed in Section 3 of this manual.

4.7.4.  Subroutine Entry Points

The pointers contained in the XDPH reference the actual code entry
points to a disk driver module. These routines are not declared public.
Only the XDPH itself is public. The BIOS root references the XDPHs
only through the @DTBL. Table 4-11 shows the BIOS subroutine
entry points.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-18
CP/M System Guide Disk I/O

Table 4-11. Subroutine Entry Points

Entry Point Meaning
WRITE When the WRITE routine is called, the address of
the XDPH is passed in registers DE. The parameters
for the WRITE operation are contained in the pub-
lic variables @ADRV, @RDRV, @TRK, @SECT,
@DMA, and @DBNK. The WRITE routine should
return an error code in register A. The code 00 means
a successful operation, 01 means a permanent error
occurred, and 02 means the drive is write-protected
if that feature is supported.
READ When the READ routine is called, the address of the
XDPH is contained in registers DE. The parameters
for the READ operation are contained in the pub-
lic variables @ADRV, @RDRV, @TRK, @SECT,
@DMA, and @DBNK. The READ routine should
return an error code in register A. A code of 00 means
a successful operation and 01 means a permanent
error occurred.
LOGIN The LOGIN routine is called before the BDOS logs
into the drive, and allows the automatic determination
of density. The LOGIN routine can alter the various
parameters in the DPH, including the translate table
address (TRANS) and the Disk Parameter Block
(DPB). The LOGIN routine can also set the TYPE
byte. On single media type systems, the LOGIN rou-
tine can simply return. When LOGIN is called, the
registers DE point to the XDPH for this drive.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-19
Disk I/O CP/M System Guide

Entry Point Meaning

INIT The BOOT entry of the BIOSKRNL module calls
each INIT routine during cold start and prior to any
other disk accesses. INIT can perform any necessary
hardware initialization, such as setting up the controller
and interrupt vectors, if any.

4.7.5.  Error Handling and Recovery

The READ and WRITE routines should perform several retries

of an operation that produces an error. If the error is related to a seek
operation or a record not found condition, the retry routine can home
or restore the drive, and then seek the correct track. The exact sequence
of events is hardware-dependent.

When a nonrecoverable error occurs the READ or WRITE routines

can print an error message informing the operator of the details of the
error. The BIOSKRNL module supplies a subroutine, ?PDERR, to
print a standard BIOS error message header. This routine prints the
following message:

BIOS Err on D: T-nn S-nn

The D: is the selected drive, and T-nn and S-nn display the track and
sector number for the operation. The READ and WRITE routines
should print the exact cause of the error after this message, such as
Not Ready, or Write Protect. The driver can then ask the operator if
additional retries are desired, and return an error code to the BDOS
if they are not.

However, if the @ERMDE byte in the System Control Block in-

dicates the BDOS is returning error codes to the application program

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-20
CP/M System Guide MOVE Module

without printing error messages, the BIOS should simply return an

error without any message.

4.7.6.  Multiple Sector I/O

The root module global variable @CNT contains the multisector

count. Refer to Sections 2.5 and 3.4.3 for a discussion of the consider-
ations regarding multirecord I/O.

4.8.  MOVE Module

The MOVE Module performs memory-to-memory block moves
and controls bank selection. The ?MOVE and ?XMOVE entry points
correspond directly to the MOVE and XMOVE jump vector routines
documented in Section 3. Table 4-12 shows the entry points for the
MOVE module.

Table 4-12. Move Module Entry Points

Entry Point Meaning
?MOVE Memory-to-memory move
?MOVE is called with the source address for the move
in register DE, the destination address in register HL,
and the byte count in register BC. If ?XMOVE has
been called since the last call to ?MOVE, an interbank
move must be performed. On return, registers HL and
DE must point to the next bytes after the MOVE. This
routine can use special DMA hardware for the interbank
move capability, and can use the Z80 LDIR instruction
for intrabank moves.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-21
Linking Modules into the BIOS CP/M System Guide

Entry Point Meaning

?XMOVE Set banks for one following ?MOVE
?XMOVE is called with the destination bank in register
B and the source bank in register C. Interbank moves
are only invoked if the DPHs specify deblocking buffers
in alternate banks. ?XMOVE only applies to one call to
?MOVE. (Not implemented in the example.)
?BANK Set bank for execution
?BANK is called with the bank address in register A.
This bank address has already been stored in @CBNK
for future reference. All registers except A must be
maintained upon return.

4.9.  Linking Modules into the BIOS

The following lines are examples of typical link commands to build
a modular BIOS ready for system generation with GENCPM:
LINK BNKBIOS3[b]=BNKBIOS,SCB,BOOT,CHARIO,MOVE,DRVTBL,‹disk-modules›

LINK BIOS3[os]=BIOS,SCB,BOOT,CHARIO,MOVE,DRVTBL,‹disk-modules›

End of Section 4

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
4-22
CP/M System Guide 

Section 5 
System Generation

This section describes the use of the GENCPM utility to create a

memory image CPM3.SYS file containing the elements of the CP/M 3
operating system. This section also describes customizing the LDRBIOS
portion of the CPMLDR program, and the operation of CPMLDR
to read the CPM3.SYS file into memory. Finally, this section describes
the procedure to follow to boot CP/M 3.

In the nonbanked system, GENCPM creates the CPM3.SYS file

from the BDOS3.SPR and your customized BIOS3.SPR files. In
the banked system, GENCPM creates the CPM3.SYS file from the
RESBDOS3. SPR file, the BNKBDOS3.SPR file, and your customized
BNKBIOS3.SPR file.

If your BIOS contains a segment that can reside in banked memory,

GENCPM separates the code and data in BNKBIOS3.SPR into a
banked portion which resides in Bank 0 just below common memory,
and a resident portion which resides in common memory.

GENCPM relocates the system modules, and can allocate physical

record buffers, allocation vectors, checksum vectors, and hash tables as
requested in the BIOS data structures. It also relocates references to the
System Control Block, as described on page 3-1. GENCPM accepts
its command input from a file, GENCPM.DAT, or interactively from
the console.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-1
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

5.1.  GENCPM Utility

Syntax:

GENCPM {AUTO | AUTO DISPLAY}

Purpose:

GENCPM creates a memory image CPM3.SYS file, containing

the CP/M 3 BDOS and customized BIOS. The GENCPM utility
performs late resolution of intermodule references between system
modules. GENCPM can accept its command input interactively from
the console or from a file GENCPM.DAT.

In the nonbanked system, GENCPM creates a CPM3.SYS file

from the BDOS3.SPR and BIOS3.SPR files. In the banked system,
GENCPM creates the CPM3.SYS file from the RESBDOS3.SPR, the
BNKBDOS3.SPR and the BNKBIOS3.SPR files. Remember to back up
your CPM3.SYS file before executing GENCPM, because GENCPM
deletes any existing CPM3.SYS file before it generates a new system.

Input Files:

Banked System Nonbanked System

BNKBIOS3.SPR BIOS3.SPR
RESBDOS3.SPR BDOS3.SPR
BNKBDOS3.SPR

optionally GENCPM.DAT

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-2
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

Output File:

CPM3.SYS

optionally GENCPM.DAT

GENCPM determines the location of the system modules in memory

and, optionally, the number of physical record buffers allocated to the
system. GENCPM can specify the location of hash tables requested
by the Disk Parameter Headers (DPHs) in the BIOS. GENCPM can
allocate all required disk buffer space and create all the required Buffer
Control Blocks (BCBs). GENCPM can also create checksum vectors
and allocation vectors.

GENCPM can get its input from a file GENCPM.DAT. The values
in the file replace the default values of GENCPM. If you enter the
AUTO parameter in the command line GENCPM gets its input from
the file GENCPM.DAT and generates a new system displaying only its
sign-on and sign-off messages on the console. If AUTO is specified and
a GENCPM.DAT file does not exist on the current drive, GENCPM
reverts to manual generation.

If you enter the AUTO DISPLAY parameter in the command

line, GENCPM automatically generates a new system and displays
all questions on the console. If AUTO DISPLAY is specified and a
GENCPM.DAT file does not exist on the current drive, GENCPM
reverts to manual generation. If GENCPM is running in AUTO mode
and an error occurs, it reverts to manual generation and starts from the
beginning.

The GENCPM.DAT file is an ASCII file of variable names and their

associated values. In the following discussion, a variable name in the
GENCPM.DAT file is referred to as a Question Variable. A line in the
GENCPM.DAT file takes the following general form:

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-3
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

Question Variable = value | ? ] ?value ‹CR›‹LF›

value = #decimal value

or hexadecimal value
or drive letter (A–P)
or Yes, No, Y, or N

You can specify a default value by following a question mark with

the appropriate value, for example ?A or ?25 or ?Y. The question mark
tells GENCPM to stop and prompt the user for input, then continue
automatically. At a ?value entry, GENCPM displays the default value
and stops for verification.

The following pages display GENCPM questions. The items in paren-

theses are the default values. The Question Variable associated with the
question is shown below the explanation of the answers to the questions.

Program Questions:

Use GENCPM.DAT for defaults (Y) ?

Enter Y - GENCPM gets its default values from the file

GENCPM.DAT.

Enter N - GENCPM uses the built-in default values.

No Question Variable is associated with this question

Create a new GENCPM.DAT file (N) ?

Enter N - GENCPM does not create a new GENCPM.

DAT file

Enter Y - After GENCPM generates the new CPM3.SYS

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-4
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

file it creates a new GENCPM.DAT file containing the

default values.

Question Variable: CRDATAF

Display Load Table at Cold Boot (Y) ?

Enter Y - On Cold Boot the system displays the load table

containing the filename, filetype, hex starting address, length
of system modules, and the TPA size.

Enter N - System displays only the TPA size on cold boot.

Question Variable: PRTMSG

Number of console columns (#80) ?

Enter the number of columns (characters-per-line) for your

console.

A character in the last column must not force a new line for
console editing in CP/M 3. If your terminal forces a new line
automatically, decrement the column count by one.

Question Variable: PAGWID

Number of lines per console page (#24) ?

Enter the number of the lines per screen for your console.

Question Variable: PAGLEN

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-5
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

Backspace echoes erased character (N) ?

Enter N - Backspace (Ctrl-H, 08H) moves back one column

and erases the previous character.

Enter Y - Backspace moves forward one column and displays

the previous character.

Question Variable: BACKSPC

Rubout echoes erased character (Y) ?

Enter Y - Rubout (7FH) moves forward one column and

displays the previous character.

Enter N - Rubout moves back one column and erases the

previous character.

Question Variable: RUBOUT

Initial default drive (A:) ?

Enter the drive code the prompt is to display at cold boot.

Question Variable: BOOTDRV

Top page of memory (FF) ?

Enter the page address that is to be the top of the operating

system. 0FFH is the top of a 64K system.

Question Variable: MEMTOP

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-6
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

Bank-switched memory (Y) ?

Enter Y - GENCPM uses the banked system files.

Enter N - GENCPM uses the nonbanked system files.

Question Variable: BNKSWT

Common memory base page (CO) ?

This question is displayed only if you answered Y to the

previous question. Enter the page address of the start of
common memory.

Question Variable: COMBAS

Long error messages (Y) ?

This question is displayed only if you answered Y to bank-

switched memory.

Enter Y - CP/M 3 error messages contain the BDOS func-

tion number and the name of the file on which the operation
was attempted.

Enter N - CP/M 3 error messages do not display the function

number or file.

Question Variable: LERROR

Double allocation vectors (Y) ?

This question is displayed only if you answered N to bank-

switched memory. For more information about double al-

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-7
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

location vectors, see the definition of the Disk Parameter

Header ALV field in Section 3.

Enter Y - GENCPM creates double-bit allocation vectors

for each drive.

Enter N - GENCPM creates single-bit allocation vectors

for each drive.

Question Variable: DBLALV

Accept new system definition (Y) ?

Enter Y - GENCPM proceeds to the next set of questions.

Enter N - GENCPM repeats the previous questions and

displays your previous input in the default parentheses. You
can modify your answers.

No Question Variable is associated with this question.

Number of memory segments (#3) ?

GENCPM displays this question if you answered Y to bank-

switched memory.

Enter the number of memory segments in the system. Do

not count common memory or memory in Bank 1, the TPA
bank, as a memory segment. A maximum of 16 (0–15) mem-
ory segments are allowed. The memory segments define to
GENCPM the memory available for buffer and hash table
allocation.

Do not include the part of Bank 0 that is reserved for the

operating system.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-8
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

Question Variable: NUMSEGS

CP/M 3 Base,size,bank (8E,32,00)

Enter memory segment table:
Base,size,bank (00,8E,00) ?
Base,size,bank (00,C0,02) ?
Base,size,bank (00,C0,03) ?

Enter the base page, the length, and the bank of the memory
segment.

Question Variable: MEMSEGO where # 0 to F hex

Accept new memory segment table entries (Y) ?

Enter Y - GENCPM displays the next group of questions.

Enter N - GENCPM displays the memory segment table

definition questions again.

No Question Variable is associated with this question.

Setting up directory hash tables:

Enable hashing for drive d: (Y)

GENCPM displays this question if there is a Drive Table

and if the DPHs for a given drive have an 0FFFEH in the
hash table address field of the DPH. The question is asked
for every drive d: defined in the BIOS.

Enter Y - Space is allocated for the Hash Table. The address

and bank of the Hash Table is entered into the DPH.

Enter N - No space is allocated for a Hash Table for that drive.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-9
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

Question Variable: HASHDRVd where d = drives A–P.

Setting up Blocking/Deblocking buffers:

GENCPM displays the next set of questions if either or both

the DTABCB field or the DIRBCB field contain 0FFFEH.

Number of directory buffers for drive d: (#1) ? 10

This question appears only if you are generating a banked

system. Enter the number of directory buffers to allocate for
the specified drive. In a banked system, directory buffers are
allocated only inside Bank 0. In a nonbanked system, one
directory buffer is allocated above the BIOS.

Question Variable: NDIRRECd where d = drives A–P.

Number of data buffers for drive d: (#1) ? 1

This question appears only if you are generating a Banked

system. Enter the number of data buffers to allocate for the
specified drive. In a banked system, data buffers can only
be allocated outside Bank 1, and in common. You can only
allocate data buffers in alternate banks if your BIOS supports
interbank moves. In a nonbanked system, data buffers are
allocated above the BIOS.

Question Variable: NDTARECd where d = drives A–P.

Share buffer(s) with which drive (A:) ?

This question appears only if you answered zero to either of

the above questions.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-10
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

Enter the drive letter (A–P) of the drive with which you
want this drive to share a buffer.

Question Variable: ODIRDRVd for directory records where

d = drives A–P.

Question Variable: ODTADRVd for data records where d

drives A–P.

Allocate buffers outside of Common (N) ?

This question appears if the BIOS XMOVE routine is im-

plemented.

Answer Y - GENCPM allocates data buffers outside of com-

mon and Bank 0.

Answer N - GENCPM allocates data buffers in common.

Question Variable: ALTBNKSd where d = drives A–P.

Overlay Directory buffer for drive d: (Y) ?

This question appears only if you are generating a nonbanked

system.

Enter Y - this drive shares a directory buffer with another drive.

Enter N - GENCPM allocates an additional directory buffer

above the BIOS.

Question Variable: OVLYDIRd where d = drives A–P.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-11
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

Overlay Data buffer for drive d: (Y) ?

This question appears only if you are generating a nonbanked

system.

Enter Y - this drive shares a data buffer with another drive.

Enter N - GENCPM allocates an additional data buffer

above the BIOS.

Question Variable: OVLYDTAd for directory records where

d = drives A–P.

Accept new buffer definitions (Y) ?

Enter Y GENCPM creates the CPM3.SYS file and termi-

nates.

Enter N - GENCPM redisplays all of the buffer definition

questions.

No Question Variable is associated with this question.

Examples:

The following section contains examples of two system generation

sessions. If no entry follows a program question, assume RETURN
was entered to select the default value in parentheses. Entries different
from the default appear after the question mark.

EXAMPLE OF CONTENTS OF GENCPM.DAT FILE

combas = c0 ‹CR›
lerror = ? ‹CR›
numsegs = 3 ‹CR›

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-12
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

memseg00 = 00,80,00 ‹CR›

memseg01 = 0d,b3,02 ‹CR›
memseg0f = ?00,c0,10 ‹CR›
hashdrva = y ‹CR›
hashdrvd = n ‹CR›
ndirreca = 20 ‹CR›
ndtarecf = 10 ‹CR›

EXAMPLE OF SYSTEM GENERATION WITH BANKED

MEMORY

A›GENCPM

CP/M 3.0 System Generation

Copyright (C) 1982, Digital Research

Default entries are shown in (parens).

Default base is Hex, precede entry with # for decimal

Use GENCPM.DAT for defaults (Y) ?

Create a new GENCPM.DAT file (N) ?

Display Load Map at Cold Boot (Y) ?

umber of console columns (#80) ?

Number of lines in console page (#24) ?
Backspace echoes erased character (N) ?
Rubout echoes erased character (N) ?

Initial default drive (A:) ?

Top page of memory (FF) ?

Bank switched memory (Y) ?

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-13
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

Common memory base page (C0) ?

Long error messages (Y) ?

Accept new system definition (Y) ?

Setting up Allocation vector for drive A:

Setting up Checksum vector for drive A:
Setting up Allocation vector for drive B:
Setting up Checksum vector for drive B:
Setting up Allocation vector for drive C:
Setting up Checksum vector for drive C:
Setting up Allocation vector for drive D:
Setting up Checksum vector for drive D:

*** Bank 1 and Common are not included ***

*** in the memory segment table. ***

Number of memory segments (#3) ?

CP/M 3 Base,size,bank (8B,35,00)

Enter memory segment table:

Base,size,bank (00,8B,00) ?
Base,size,bank (0D,B3,02) ?
Base,size,bank (00,C0,03) ?

CP/M 3 Sys 8B00H 3500H Bank 00

Memseg No. 00 0000H 8B00H Bank 00
Memseg No. 01 0D00H B300H Bank 02
Memseg No. 02 0000H C000H Bank 03

Accept new memory segment table entries (Y) ?

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-14
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

Setting up directory hash tables:

Enable hashing for drive A: (Y) ?
Enable hashing for drive B: (Y) ?
Enable hashing for drive C: (Y) ?
Enable hashing for drive D: (Y) ?

Setting up Blocking/Deblocking buffers:

The physical record size is 0200H:

Available space in 256 byte pages:
TPA = 00F4H, Bank 0 = 00BBH, Other banks = 0166H
Number of directory buffers for drive A: (#32) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00F4H, Bank 0 = 0049H, Other banks = 0166H
Number of data buffers for drive A: (#2) ?
Allocate buffers outside of Common (N) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00F0H, Bank 0 = 0049H, Other banks = 0166H
Number of directory buffers for drive B (#32) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00F0H, Bank 0 = 0007H, Other banks = 0166H
Number of data buffers for drive B: (#0) ?
Share buffer(s) with which drive (A:) ?

The physical record size is 0080H:

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00F0H, Bank 0 = 0007H, Other banks = 0166H
Number of directory buffers for drive C: (410) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-15
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

TPA = 00F0H, Bank 0 = 0001H, Other banks = 0166H

Number of directory buffers for drive D: (#0) ?
Share buffer(s) with which drive (C:) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00F0H, Bank 0 = 0001H, Other banks = 0166H

Accept new buffer definitions (Y) ?

BNKBIOS3 SPR F600H 0600H

BNKBIOS3 SPR B100H 0F00H
RESBDOS3 SPR F000H 0600H
BNKBDOS3 SPR 8700H 2A00H

*** CP/M 3.0 SYSTEM GENERATION DONE

In the preceding example GENCPM displays the resident portion

of BNKBIOS3.SPR first, followed by the banked portion.

EXAMPLE OF SYSTEM GENERATION WITH NONBANKED

MEMORY

A›GENCPM

CP/M 3.0 System Generation

Copyright (C) 1982, Digital Research

Default entries are shown in (parens).

Default base is Hex, precede entry with for decimal

Use GENCPM.DAT for defaults (Y) ?

Create a new GENCPM.DAT file (N) ?

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-16
CP/M System Guide GENCPM Utility

Display Load Map at Cold Boot (Y) ?

Number of console columns (#80) ?

Number of lines in console page (#24) ?
Backspace echoes erased character (N) ?
Rubout echoes erased character (N) ?

Initial default drive (A:) ?

Top page of memory (FF) ?

Bank switched memory (Y) ? N

Double allocation vectors (Y) ?

Accept new system definition (Y) ?

Setting up Blocking/Deblocking buffers:

The physical record size is 0200H:

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00D8H

Directory buffer required and allocated for drive A:

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00D5H

Overlay Data buffer for drive A: (Y) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00D5H

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-17
GENCPM Utility CP/M System Guide

Overlay Directory buffer for drive B: (Y) ?

Share buffer(s) with which drive (A:) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00D5H

Overlay Data buffer for drive B: (Y) ?

Share buffer(s) with which drive (A:) ?

The physical record size is 00B0H:

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 0005H

Overlay Directory buffer for drive C: (Y) ?

Share buffer(s) with which drive (A:) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00D5H

Overlay Directory buffer for drive D: (Y) ?

Share buffer(s) with which drive (C ) ?

Available space in 256 byte pages:

TPA = 00D5H

Accept new buffer definitions (Y) ?

BIOS3 SPR F300H 0B00H

BDOS3 SPR D600H 1D00H

*** CP/M 3.0 SYSTEM GENERATION DONE

A›

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-18
CP/M System Guide Customizing the CPMLDR

5.2.  Customizing the CPMLDR

The CPMLDR resides on the system tracks of a CP/M 3 system disk,
and loads the CPM3.SYS file into memory to cold start the system.
CPMLDR contains the LDRBDOS supplied by Digital Research, and
must contain your customized LDRBIOS.

The system tracks for CP/M 3 contain the customized Cold Start
Loader, CPMLDR with the customized LDRBIOS, and possibly the
CCP.

The COPYSYS utility places the Cold Start Loader, the CPMLDR,
and optionally the CCP on the system tracks, as shown in Table 5-1.

Table 5-1. Sample CP/M 3 System Track Organization

Track Sector Page MemoryAddress CP/M 3 Module Name
00 01 Boot Address

00 02 00 0100H CPMLDR
.
. and
.
00 21 09 0A80H LDRBDOS

00 22 10 0B00H LDRBIOS
.
.
00 26 12 0D00H and
01 01 12 0D80H
.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-19
Customizing the CPMLDR CP/M System Guide

Track Sector Page MemoryAddress CP/M 3 Module Name

.
01 26 25 1A00H CCP

Typically the Cold Start Loader is loaded into memory from Track
0, Sector 1 of the system tracks when the reset button is depressed. The
Cold Start Loader then loads CPMLDR from the system tracks into
memory.

Alternatively, if you are starting from an existing CP/M 2 system,

you can run CPMLDR.COM as a transient program. CP/M 2 loads
CPMLDR.COM into memory at location 100H. CPMLDR then reads
the CPM3.SYS file from User 0 on drive A and loads it into memory.

Use the following procedure to create a customized CPMLDR.COM

file, including your customized LDRBIOS:

1. Prepare a LDRBIOS.ASM file.

2. Assemble the LDRBIOS file with RMAC to produce a

LDRBIOS.REL file.

3. Link the supplied CPMLDR.REL file with the LDRBIOS.REL

file you created to produce a CPMLDR.COM file.

A›LINK CPMLDR[L100]=CPMLDR,LDRBIOS

Replace the address 100 with the load address to which your
boot loader loads CPMLDR.COM. You must include a bias
of 100H bytes for buffer space when you determine the load
address.

The CPMLDR requires a customized LDRBIOS to perform disk

input and console output. The LDRBIOS is essentially a nonbanked

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-20
CP/M System Guide Customizing the CPMLDR

BIOS. The LDRBIOS has the same JMP vector as the regular CP/M 3
BIOS. The LDRBIOS is called only to perform disk reads (READ)
from one drive, console output (CONOUT) for sign-on messages,
and minimal system initialization.

The CPMLDR calls the BOOT entry point at the beginning of the
LDRBIOS to allow it to perform any necessary hardware initialization.
The BOOT entry point should return to CPMLDR instead of loading
and branching to the CCP, as a BIOS normally does. Note that inter-
rupts are not disabled when the LDRBIOS BOOT routine is called.

Test your LDRBIOS completely to ensure that it properly performs

console character output and disk reads. Check that the proper tracks
and sectors are addressed on all reads and that data is transferred to the
proper memory locations.

You should assemble the LDRBIOS.ASM file with a relocat-

able origin of 0000H. Assemble the LDRBIOS with RMAC to
produce a LDRBIOS.REL file. Link the LDRBIOS.REL file with
the CPMLDR.REL file supplied by Digital Research to create a
CPMLDR.COM file. Use the L option in LINK to specify the load
origin (address) to which the boot loader on track 0 sector 1 loads the
CPMLDR.COM file.

Unnecessary BIOS functions can be deleted from the LDRBIOS to

conserve space. There is one absolute restriction on the length of the
LDRBIOS it cannot extend above the base of the banked portion of
CP/M 3. (GENCPM lists the base address of CP/M 3 in its load map.)
If you plan to boot CP/M 3 from standard, single-density, eight-inch
floppy disks, your CPMLDR must not be longer than 1980H to place
the CPMLDR.COM file on two system tracks with the boot sector. If
the CCP resides on the system tracks with the Cold Start Loader and
CPMLDR, the combined lengths must not exceed 1980H.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-21
CPMLDR Utility CP/M System Guide

5.3.  CPMLDR Utility

Syntax:

CPMLDR

Purpose:

CPMLDR loads the CP/M 3 system file CPM3.SYS into Bank 0

and transfers control to the BOOT routine in the customized BIOS.
You can specify in GENCPM for CPMLDR to display a load table
containing the names and addresses of the system modules.

The CPM3.SYS file contains the CP/M 3 BDOS and customized

BIOS. The file CPM3.SYS must be on drive A in USER 0. You can ex-
ecute CPMLDR under SID™ or DDT™ to help debug the BIOS. A $B
in the default File Control Block (FCB) causes CPMLDR to execute
a RST 7 (SID breakpoint) just before jumping to the CP/M 3 Cold
Boot BIOS entry point.

Input File:

CPM3.SYS

Examples:

A›CPMLDR
CP/M V3.0 Loader
Copyright (C) 1982, Digital Research

BNKBIOS3 SPR F600H 0A00H

BNKBIOS3 SPR BB00H 0500H
RESBDOS3 SPR F100H 0500H
BNKBDOS3 SPR 9A00H 2100H

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-22
CP/M System Guide Booting CP/M 3

60K TPA
A›

In the preceding example, CPMLDR displays its name and version

number, the Digital Research copyright message, and a four-column
load table containing the filename, filetype, hex starting address, and
length of the system modules. CPMLDR completes its sign-on message
by indicating the size of the Transient Program Area (TPA) in kilobytes.
The CCP then displays the system prompt, A›.

5.4.  Booting CP/M 3

The CP/M 3 cold start operation loads the CCP, BDOS, and BIOS
modules into their proper locations in memory and passes control to
the cold start entry point (BIOS Function 0: BOOT) in the BIOS.
Typically, a PROM-based loader initiates a cold start by loading sector
0 on track 1 of the system tracks into memory and jumping to it. This
first sector contains the Cold Start Loader. The Cold Start Loader
loads the CPMLDR.COM program into memory and jumps to it.
CPMLDR loads the CPM3.SYS file into memory and jumps to the
BIOS cold start entry point.

To boot the CP/M 3 system, use the following procedure:

1. Create the CPM3.SYS file.

2. Copy the CPM3.SYS file to the boot drive.

3. Create a CPMLDR.COM for your machine.

4. Place the CPMLDR.COM file on your system tracks using

SYSGEN with CP/M 2 or COPYSYS with CP/M 3. The boot
loader must place the CPMLDR.COM file at the address at
which it originated. If CPMLDR has been linked to load at

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-23
Booting CP/M 3 CP/M System Guide

100H, you can run CPMLDR under CP/M 2.

The COPYSYS utility handles initialization of the system tracks.

The source of COPYSYS is included with the standard CP/M 3 system
because you need to customize COPYSYS to support nonstandard
system disk formats. COPYSYS copies the Cold Start Loader, the
CPMLDR.COM file, and optionally the CCP to the system tracks.
Refer to the COPYSYS.ASM source file on the distribution disk.

End of Section 5

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
5-24
CP/M System Guide 

Section 6 
Debugging the BIOS

This section describes a sample debugging session for a nonbanked

CP/M 3 BIOS. You must create and debug your nonbanked system
first, then bring up the banked system. Note that your system probably
displays addresses that differ from the addresses in the following example.

You can use SID, Digital Research’s Symbolic Debugger Program,

running under CP/M 2.2, to help debug your customized BIOS. The
following steps outline a sample debugging session.

1. Determine the amount of memory available to CP/M 3 when

the debugger and CP/M 2.2 are in memory. To do this, load
the debugger under CP/M 2.2 and list the jump instruction
at location 0005H. In the following example of a 64K system,
0C500H is the base address of the debugger, and also the
maximum top of memory that you can specify in GENCPM
for your customized CP/M 3 system.

A›SID
CP/M 3 SID - Version 3.0
#L5
0005 JMP C500
.
.
.

2. Running under CP/M 2.2, use GENCPM to generate a

CPM3.SYS file, which specifies a top of memory that is less
than the base address of the debugger, as determined by the

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
6-1
 CP/M System Guide

previous step. Allow at least 256K bytes for a patch area. In

this example, you can specify C3 to GENCPM as the top of
memory for your CP/M 3 system.

A›GENCPM
.
.
Top page of memory (FF)? C3
.
.
.

3. Now you have created a system small enough to debug under

SID. Use SID to load the CPMLDR.COM file, as shown in
the following example:

A›SID CPMLDR.COM
CP/M 3 SID - Version 3.0
NEXT MSZE PC END
0E80 0EB0 0100 D4FF
#

4. Use the I command in SID, as shown in the next example, to

place the characters $B into locations 005DH and 005EH of the
default FCB based at 005CH. The $B causes CPMLDR.COM
to break after loading the CPM3.SYS file into memory.

#I$B

5. Transfer control to CPMLDR using the G command:

#G

At this point, the screen clears and the following information

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
6-2
CP/M System Guide 

appears:

CP/M V3.0 LOADER

Copyright (c) 1982, Digital Research

BIOS3 SPR AA00 0B00

BDOS3 SPR 8B00 1F00

34K TPA

* 01A9
#

6. With the CP/M 3 system in the proper location, you can set
passpoints in your BIOS. Use the L command with the address
specified as the beginning of the BIOS by the CPMLDR load
table as shown in step 5 above. This L command causes SID
to display the BIOS jump vector which begins at that address.
The jump vector indicates the beginning address of each sub-
routine in the table. For example, the first jump instruction in
the example below is to the Cold Boot subroutine.

#LAA00

The output from your BIOS might look like this:

JMP AA68
JMP AA8E
JMP ABA4
JMP ABAF
JMP ABCA
.
.
.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
6-3
 CP/M System Guide

7. Now set a passpoint in the Cold BOOT routine. Use the P

command with an address to set a passpoint at that address.

#PAA68

8. Continue with the CPMLDR.COM program by entering the

G command, followed by the address of Cold Boot, the first
entry in the BIOS jump vector.

#GAA00

9. In response to the G command, the CPMLDR transfers control

to the CP/M 3 operating system. If you set a passpoint in the
Cold BOOT routine, the program stops executing, control
transfers to SID, and you can begin tracing the BOOT routine.

10. When you know the BOOT routine is functioning correctly,

enter passpoints for the other routines you want to trace, and
begin tracing step by step to determine the location of problems.

Refer to the Digital Research Symbolic Instruction Debugger User’s

Guide (SID) in the Programmer’s Utilities Guide for the CP/M Family
of Operating Systems for a discussion of all the SID commands.

End of Section 6

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
6-4
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix A 
Removable Media Considerations

All disk drives under CP/M 3 are classified as either permanent or

removable. In general, removable drives support media changes perma-
nent drives do not. Setting the high-order bit in the CKS field in a drive’s
Disk Parameter Block (DPB) marks the drive as a permanent drive.

The BDOS file system distinguishes between permanent and re-

movable drives. If a drive is permanent, the BDOS always accepts the
contents of physical record buffers as valid. In addition, it also accepts
the results of hash table searches on the drive.

On removable drives, the status of physical record buffers is more

complicated. Because of the potential for media change, the BDOS
must discard directory buffers before performing most directory related
BDOS function calls. This is required because the BDOS detects media
changes by reading directory records. When it reads a directory record,
the BDOS computes a checksum for the record, and compares the
checksum to the currently stored value in the drive’s checksum vector.
If the checksum values do not match, the BDOS assumes the media
has changed. Thus, the BDOS can only detect a media change by an
actual directory READ operation.

A similar situation occurs with directory hashing on removable drives.

Because the directory hash table is a memory-resident table, the BDOS
must verify all unsuccessful hash table searches on removable drives by
accessing the directory.

The net result of these actions is that there is a significant performance

penalty associated with removable drives as compared to permanent

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
A-1
 CP/M System Guide

drives. In addition, the protection provided by classifying a drive as

removable is not total. Media changes are only detected during directory
operations. If the media is changed on a drive during BDOS WRITE
operations, the new disk can be damaged.

The BIOS media flag facility gives you another option for supporting
drives with removable media. However, to use this option, the disk con-
troller must be capable of generating an interrupt when the drive door
is opened. If your hardware provides this support, you can improve the
handling of removable media by implementing the following procedure:

1. Mark the drive as a permanent drive and set the DPB CKS
parameter to the total number of directory entries, divided by
four. For example, set the CKS field for a disk with 96 directory
entries to 8018H.

2. Implement an interrupt service routine that sets the @MEDIA

flag in the System Control Block and the DPH MEDIA byte
for the drive that signaled the door open condition.

By using the media flag facility, you gain the performance advantage
associated with permanent drives on drives that support removable
media. The BDOS checks the System Control Block @MEDIA flag
on entry for all disk-related function calls. If the flag has not been set,
it implies that no disks on the system have been changed. If the flag is
set, the BDOS checks the DPH MEDIA flag of each currently logged-
in disk. If the DPH MEDIA flag of a drive is set, the BDOS reads the
entire directory on the drive to determine whether the drive has had a
media change before performing any other operations on the drive. In
addition, it temporarily classifies any permanent disk with the DPH
MEDIA flag set as a removable drive. Thus, the BDOS discards all
directory physical record buffers when a drive door is opened to force
all directory READ operations to access the disk.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
A-2
CP/M System Guide 

To summarize, using the BIOS MEDIA flag with removable drives

offers two important benefits. First, because a removable drive can be
classified as permanent, performance is enhanced. Second, because the
BDOS immediately checks the entire directory before performing any
disk-related function an the drive if the drive’s DPH MEDIA flag is set,
disk integrity is enhanced.

End of Appendix A

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
A-3
 CP/M System Guide

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
A-4
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix B 
Auto-density Support

Auto-density support refers to the capability of CP/M 3 to support

different types of media on a single drive. For example, some floppy-disk
drives accept single-sided and double-sided disks in both single-density
and double-density formats. Auto-density support requires that the
BIOS be able to determine the current density when SELDSK is called
and to subsequently be able to detect a change in disk format when the
READ or WRITE routines are called.

To support multiple disk formats, the drivers BIOS driver must include
a Disk Parameter Block (DPB) for each type of disk or include code
to generate the proper DPB parameters dynamically. In addition, the
BIOS driver must determine the proper format of the disk when the
SELDSK entry point is called with register E bit 0 equal to 0 (initial
SELDSK calls). If the BIOS driver cannot determine the format, it can
return 0000H in register pair HL to indicate the select was not success-
ful. Otherwise, it must update the Disk Parameter Header (DPH) to
address a DPB that describes the current media, and return the address
of the DPH to the BDOS.

Note: all subsequent SELDSK calls with register E bit 0 equal to 1, the
BIOS driver must continue to return the address of the DPH returned
in the initial SELDSK call. The value 0000H is only a legal return value
for initial SELDSK calls.

After a driver’s SELDSK routine has determined the format of a

disk, the driver’s READ and WRITE routines assume this is the cor-
rect format until an error is detected. If an error is detected and the
driver determines that the media has been changed to another format,

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
B-1
 CP/M System Guide

it must return the value 0FFH in register A and set the media flag in
the System Control Block. This signals the BDOS that the media has
changed and the next BIOS call to the drive will be an initial SELDSK
call. Do not modify the drivers DPH or DPB until the initial SELDSK
call is made. Note that the BDOS can detect a change in media and
will make an initial SELDSK call, even though the BIOS READ and
WRITE routines have not detected a disk format change. However,
the SELDSK routine must always determine the format on initial calls.

A drive’s Disk Parameter Header (DPH) has associated with it several

uninitialized data areas: the allocation vector, the checksum vector, the
directory hash table, and physical record buffers. The size of these areas
is determined by DPB parameters. If space for these areas is explicitly
allocated in the BIOS, the DPB that requires the most space determines
the amount of memory to allocate. If the BIOS defers the allocation
of these areas to GENCPM, the DPH must be initialized to the DPB
with the largest space requirements. If one DPB is not largest in all of
the above categories, a false one must be constructed so that GENCPM
allocates sufficient space for each data area.

End of Appendix B

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
B-2
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix C 
Modifying a CP/M 2 BIOS

If you are modifying an existing CP/M 2.2 BIOS, you must note
the following changes.

■ The BIOS jump vector is expanded from 17 entry points in

CP/M 2.2 to 33 entry points in CP/M 3. You must implement
the necessary additional routines.

■ The Disk Parameter Header and Disk Parameter Block data

structures are expanded.

See Section 3 of this manual, “CP/M 3 BIOS Functional Specifi-

cations”, for details of the BIOS data structures and subroutines. The
following table shows all CP/M 3 BIOS functions with the changes
necessary to support CP/M 3.

Table C-1. CP/M 3 BIOS Functions

Function Meaning
BIOS Function 00: BOOT
The address for the JMP at location 5 must be
obtained from @MXTPA in the System Control
Block.
BIOS Function 01: WBOOT
The address for the JMP at location 5 must be
obtained from @MXTPA in the System Control
Block. The CCP can be reloaded from a file.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
C-1
 CP/M System Guide

Function Meaning
BIOS Function 02: CONST
Can be implemented unchanged.
BIOS Function 03: CONIN
Can be implemented unchanged. Do not mask
the high-order bit.
BIOS Function 04: CONOUT
Can be implemented unchanged.
BIOS Function 05: LIST
Can be implemented unchanged.
BIOS Function 06: AUXOUT
Called PUNCH in CP/M 2. Can be implemented
unchanged.
BIOS Function 07: AUXIN
Called READER in CP/M 2. Can be implemented
unchanged. Do not mask the high-order bit.
BIOS Function 08: HOME
No change.
BIOS Function 09: SELDSK
Can not return a select error when SELDSK is
called with bit 0 in register E equal to 1.
BIOS Function 10: SETTRK
No change.
BIOS Function 11: SETSEC
Sectors are physical sectors, not logical 128-byte
sectors.
BIOS Function 12: SETDMA
Now called for every READ or WRITE operation.
The DMA buffer can now be greater than 128 bytes.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
C-2
CP/M System Guide 

Function Meaning
BIOS Function 13: READ
READ operations are in terms of physical sectors.
READ can return a 0FFH error code if it detects
that the disk format has changed.
BIOS Function 14: WRITE
WRITE operations are in terms of physical sectors.
If write detects that the disk is Read-Only, it can
return error code 2. WRITE can return a 0FFH
error code if it detects that the disk format has
changed.
BIOS Function 15: LISTST
Can be implemented unchanged.
BIOS Function 16: SECTRN
Sectors are physical sectors, not logical 128-byte
sectors.

The following is a list of new BIOS functions:

BIOS Function 17: CONOST

BIOS Function 18: AUXIST

BIOS Function 19: AUXOST

BIOS Function 20: DEVTBL

BIOS Function 21: DEVINI

BIOS Function 22 DRVTBL

BIOS Function 23: MULTIO

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
C-3
 CP/M System Guide

BIOS Function 24: FLUSH

BIOS Function 25: MOVE

BIOS Function 26: TIME

BIOS Function 27: SELMEM

BIOS Function 28: SETBNK

BIOS Function 29: XMOVE

BIOS Function 30: USERF

BIOS Function 31: RESERV1

BIOS Function 32: RESERV2

End of Appendix C

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
C-4
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix D 
CPM3.SYS File Format

Table D-1. CPM3.SYS File Format

Record Contents
0 Header Record (128 bytes)
1 Print Record (128 bytes)
2–n CP/M 3 operating system in re-
verse order, top down.

Table D-2. Header Record Definition

Byte Content
0 Top page plus one, at which the resident portion of
CP/M 3 is to be loaded top down.
1 Length in pages (256 bytes) of the resident portion
of CP/M 3.
2 Top page plus one, at which the banked portion of
CP/M 3 is to be loaded top down.
3 Length in pages (256 bytes) of the banked portion
of CP/M 3.
4–5 Address of CP/M 3 Cold Boot entry point.
6–15 Reserved.
16–51 Copyright Message.
52 Reserved.
53–58 Serial Number.
59–127 Reserved

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
D-1
 CP/M System Guide

The Print Record is the CP/M 3 Load Table in ASCII, terminated

by a dollar sign ($).

End of Appendix D

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
D-2
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

Appendix E 
Root Module of Relocatable
BIOS for CP/M 3

All the listings in Appendixes E through I are assembled with, the CP/M Re-
locating Macro Assembler, and cross-referenced XREF™, an assembly language
cross-reference program used with RMAC. These listings are output from the
XREF program. The assembly sources are on your distribution disk as .ASM files.

Listing E-1. Root Module of Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

1 title 'Root module of relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3.0'
2
3 ; version 1.0 15 Sept 82
4
5 FFFF = true equ -1
6 0000 = false equ not true
7
8 FFFF = banked equ true
9
10
11 ; Copyright (C), 1982
12 ; Digital Research, Inc
13 ; P.O. Box 579
14 ; Pacific Grove, CA 93950
15
16
17 ; This is the invariant portion of the modular BIOS and is
18 ; distributed as source for informational purposes only.
19 ; All desired modifications should be performed by
20 ; adding or changing externally defined modules.
21 ; This allows producing "standard" I/O modules that
22 ; can be combined to support a particular system
23 ; configuration.
24
25 000D = cr equ 13
26 000A = lf equ 10
27 0007 = bell equ 7
28 0011 = ctlQ equ 'Q'-'@'
29 0013 = ctlS equ 'S'-'@'
30
31 0100 = ccp equ 0100h ; Console Command Processor gets loaded into the TPA
32
33 cseg ; GENCPM puts CSEG stuff in common memory

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-1
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

34
35
36 ; variables in system data page
37
38 extrn @covec,@civec,@aovec,@aivec,@lovec ; I/O redirection vectors
39 extrn @mxtpa ; addr of system entry point
40 extrn @bnkbf ; 128 byte scratch buffer
41
42 ; initialization
43
44 extrn ?init ; general initialization and signon
45 extrn ?ldccp,?rlccp ; load & reload CCP for BOOT & WBOOT
46
47 ; user defined character I/O routines
48
49 extrn ?ci,?co,?cist,?cost ; each take device in <B>
50 extrn ?cinit ; (re)initialize device in <C>
51 extrn @ctbl ; physical character device table
52
53 ; disk communication data items
54
55 extrn @dtbl ; table of pointers to XDPHs
56 public @adrv,@rdrv,@trk,@sect ; parameters for disk I/O
57 public @dma,@dbnk,@cnt ; '' '' '' ''
58
59 ; memory control
60
61 public @cbnk ; current bank
62 extrn ?xmove,?move ; select move bank, and block move
63 extrn ?bank ; select CPU bank
64
65 ; clock support
66
67 extrn ?time ; signal time operation
68
69 ; general utility routines
70
71 public ?pmsg,?pdec ; print message, print number from 0 to 65535
72 public ?pderr ; print BIOS disk error message header
73
74 maclib modebaud ; define mode bits
75
76
77 ; External names for BIOS entry points
78
79 public ?boot,?wboot,?const,?conin,?cono,?list,?auxo,?auxi
80 public ?home,?sldsk,?sttrk,?stsec,?stdma,?read,?write
81 public ?lists,?sctrn
82 public ?conos,?auxis,?auxos,?dvtbl,?devin,?drtbl
83 public ?mltio,?flush,?mov,?tim,?bnksl,?stbnk,?xmov
84
85
86 ; BIOS Jump vector.
87
88 ; All BIOS routines are invoked by calling these
89 ; entry points.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-2
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

90
91 0000 C30000 ?boot: jmp boot ; initial entry on cold start
92 0003 C36C00 ?wboot: jmp wboot ; reentry on program exit, warm start
93
94 0006 C37701 ?const: jmp const ; return console input status
95 0009 C39201 ?conin: jmp conin ; return console input character
96 000C C3DA00 ?cono: jmp conout ; send console output character
97 000F C3E600 ?list: jmp list ; send list output character
98 0012 C3E000 ?auxo: jmp auxout ; send auxilliary output character
99 0015 C39801 ?auxi: jmp auxin ; return auxilliary input character
100
101 0018 C36E00 ?home: jmp home ; set disks to logical home
102 001B C33F00 ?sldsk: jmp seldsk ; select disk drive, return disk parameter info
103 001E C37100 ?sttrk: jmp settrk ; set disk track
104 0021 C37700 ?stsec: jmp setsec ; set disk sector
105 0024 C37D00 ?stdma: jmp setdma ; set disk I/O memory address
106 0027 C39400 ?read: jmp read ; read physical block(s)
107 002A C3AA00 ?write: jmp write ; write physical block(s)
108
109 002D C31201 ?lists: jmp listst ; return list device status
110 0030 C38900 ?sctrn: jmp sectrn ; translate logical to physical sector
111
112 0033 C30601 ?conos: jmp conost ; return console output status
113 0036 C37D01 ?auxis: jmp auxist ; return aux input status
114 0039 C30C01 ?auxos: jmp auxost ; return aux output status
115 003C C3D200 ?dvtbl: jmp devtbl ; return address of device def table
116 003F C30000 ?devin: jmp ?cinit ; change baud rate of device
117
118 0042 C3D600 ?drtbl: jmp getdrv ; return address of disk drive table
119 0045 C3CB00 ?mltio: jmp multio ; set multiple record count for disk I/O
120 0048 C3CF00 ?flush: jmp flush ; flush BIOS maintained disk caching
121
122 004B C30000 ?mov: jmp ?move ; block move memory to memory
123 004E C30000 ?tim: jmp ?time ; Signal Time and Date operation
124 0051 C32502 ?bnksl: jmp bnksel ; select bank for code execution and default DMA
125 0054 C38500 ?stbnk: jmp setbnk ; select different bank for disk I/O DMA operations.
126 0057 C30000 ?xmov: jmp ?xmove ; set source and destination banks for one operation
127
128 005A C30000 jmp 0 ; Reserved for system implementor
129 005D C30000 jmp 0 ; reserved for future expansion
130 0060 C30000 jmp 0 ; reserved for future expansion
131
132
133 ; BOOT
134 ; Initial entry point for system startup.
135
136 dseg ; this part can be banked
137
138 boot:
139 0000 31D200 lxi sp,boot$stack
140 0003 0E0F mvi c,15 ; initialize all 16 character devices
141 c$init$loop:
142 0005 C5CD0000C1 push b ! call ?cinit ! pop b
143 000A 0DF20500 dcr c ! jp c$init$loop
144
145 000E CD0000 call ?init ; perform any additional system initialization

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-3
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

146 ; and print signon message

147
148 0011 0100102100 lxi b,16*256+0 ! lxi h,@dtbl ; init all 16 logical disk drives
149 d$init$loop:
150 0017 C5 push b ; save remaining count and abs drive
151 0018 5E235623 mov e,m ! inx h ! mov d,m ! inx h ; grab @drv entry
152 001C 7BB2CA3600 mov a,e ! ora d ! jz d$init$next ; if null, no drive
153 0021 E5 push h ; save @drv pointer
154 0022 EB xchg ; XDPH address in <HL>
155 0023 2B2B7E32EE dcx h ! dcx h ! mov a,m ! sta @RDRV ; get relative drive code
156 0029 7932ED00 mov a,c ! sta @ADRV ; get absolute drive code
157 002D 2B dcx h ; point to init pointer
158 002E 562B5E mov d,m ! dcx h ! mov e,m ; get init pointer
159 0031 EBCDB601 xchg ! call ipchl ; call init routine
160 0035 E1 pop h ; recover @drv pointer
161 d$init$next:
162 0036 C1 pop b ; recover counter and drive #
163 0037 0C05C21700 inr c ! dcr b ! jnz d$init$loop ; and loop for each drive
164 003C C36300 jmp boot$1
165
166 cseg ; following in resident memory
167
168 boot$1:
169 0063 CD7800 call set$jumps
170 0066 CD0000 call ?ldccp ; fetch CCP for first time
171 0069 C30001 jmp ccp
172
173
174 ; WBOOT
175 ; Entry for system restarts.
176
177 wboot:
178 006C 31D200 lxi sp,boot$stack
179 006F CD7800 call set$jumps ; initialize page zero
180 0072 CD0000 call ?rlccp ; reload CCP
181 0075 C30001 jmp ccp ; then reset jmp vectors and exit to ccp
182
183
184 set$jumps:
185
186 if banked
187 0078 3E01CD5100 mvi a,1 ! call ?bnksl
188 endif
189
190 007D 3EC3 mvi a,JMP
191 007F 3200003205 sta 0 ! sta 5 ; set up jumps in page zero
192 0085 2103002201 lxi h,?wboot ! shld 1 ; BIOS warm start entry
193 008B 2A00002206 lhld @MXTPA ! shld 6 ; BDOS system call entry
194 0091 C9 ret
195
196
197 0092 ds 64
198 00D2 = boot$stack equ $
199
200
201 ; DEVTBL

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-4
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

202 ; Return address of character device table

203
204 devtbl:
205 00D2 210000C9 lxi h,@ctbl ! ret
206
207
208 ; GETDRV
209 ; Return address of drive table
210
211 getdrv:
212 00D6 210000C9 lxi h,@dtbl ! ret
213
214
215
216 ; CONOUT
217 ; Console Output. Send character in <C>
218 ; to all selected devices
219
220 conout:
221
222 00DA 2A0000 lhld @covec ; fetch console output bit vector
223 00DD C3E900 jmp out$scan
224
225
226 ; AUXOUT
227 ; Auxiliary Output. Send character in <C>
228 ; to all selected devices
229
230 auxout:
231 00E0 2A0000 lhld @aovec ; fetch aux output bit vector
232 00E3 C3E900 jmp out$scan
233
234
235 ; LIST
236 ; List Output. Send character in <C>
237 ; to all selected devices.
238
239 list:
240 00E6 2A0000 lhld @lovec ; fetch list output bit vector
241
242 out$scan:
243 00E9 0600 mvi b,0 ; start with device 0
244 co$next:
245 00EB 29 dad h ; shift out next bit
246 00EC D2FF00 jnc not$out$device
247 00EF E5 push h ; save the vector
248 00F0 C5 push b ; save the count and character
249 not$out$ready:
250 00F1 CD2C01B7CA call coster ! ora a ! jz not$out$ready
251 00F8 C1C5 pop b ! push b ; restore and resave the character and device
252 00FA CD0000 call ?co ; if device selected, print it
253 00FD C1 pop b ; recover count and character
254 00FE E1 pop h ; recover the rest of the vector
255 not$out$device:
256 00FF 04 inr b ; next device number
257 0100 7CB5 mov a,h ! ora l ; see if any devices left

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-5
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

258 0102 C2EB00 jnz co$next ; and go find them...

259 0105 C9 ret
260
261
262 ; CONOST
263 ; Console Output Status. Return true if
264 ; all selected console output devices
265 ; are ready.
266
267 conost:
268 0106 2A0000 lhld @covec ; get console output bit vector
269 0109 C31501 jmp ost$scan
270
271
272 ; AUXOST
273 ; Auxiliary Output Status. Return true if
274 ; all selected auxiliary output devices
275 ; are ready.
276
277 auxost:
278 010C 2A0000 lhld @aovec ; get aux output bit vector
279 010F C31501 jmp ost$scan
280
281
282 ; LISTST
283 ; List Output Status. Return true if
284 ; all selected list output devices
285 ; are ready.
286
287 listst:
288 0112 2A0000 lhld @lovec ; get list output bit vector
289
290 ost$scan:
291 0115 0600 mvi b,0 ; start with device 0
292 cos$next:
293 0117 29 dad h ; check next bit
294 0118 E5 push h ; save the vector
295 0119 C5 push b ; save the count
296 011A 3EFF mvi a,0FFh ; assume device ready
297 011C DC2C01 cc coster ; check status for this device
298 011F C1 pop b ; recover count
299 0120 E1 pop h ; recover bit vector
300 0121 B7 ora a ; see if device ready
301 0122 C8 rz ; if any not ready, return false
302 0123 04 inr b ; drop device number
303 0124 7CB5 mov a,h ! ora l ; see if any more selected devices
304 0126 C21701 jnz cos$next
305 0129 F6FF ori 0FFh ; all selected were ready, return true
306 012B C9 ret
307
308 coster: ; check for output device ready, including optional
309 ; xon/xoff support
310 012C 682600 mov l,b ! mvi h,0 ; make device code 16 bits
311 012F E5 push h ; save it in stack
312 0130 292929 dad h ! dad h ! dad h ; create offset into device characteristics tbl
313 0133 11060019 lxi d,@ctbl+6 ! dad d ; make address of mode byte

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-6
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

314 0137 7EE610 mov a,m ! ani mb$xonxoff

315 013A E1 pop h ; recover console number in <HL>
316 013B CA0000 jz ?cost ; not a xon device, go get output status direct
317 013E 112B0219 lxi d,xofflist ! dad d ; make pointer to proper xon/xoff flag
318 0142 CD5D01 call cist1 ; see if this keyboard has character
319 0145 7EC46F01 mov a,m ! cnz ci1 ; get flag or read key if any
320 0149 FE11C25001 cpi ctlq ! jnz not$q ; if its a ctl-Q,
321 014E 3EFF mvi a,0FFh ; set the flag ready
322 not$q:
323 0150 FE13C25701 cpi ctls ! jnz not$s ; if its a ctl-S,
324 0155 3E00 mvi a,00h ; clear the flag
325 not$s:
326 0157 77 mov m,a ; save the flag
327 0158 CD6601 call cost1 ; get the actual output status,
328 015B A6 ana m ; and mask with ctl-Q/ctl-S flag
329 015C C9 ret ; return this as the status
330
331 cist1: ; get input status with <BC> and <HL> saved
332 015D C5E5 push b ! push h
333 015F CD0000 call ?cist
334 0162 E1C1 pop h ! pop b
335 0164 B7 ora a
336 0165 C9 ret
337
338 cost1: ; get output status, saving <BC> & <HL>
339 0166 C5E5 push b ! push h
340 0168 CD0000 call ?cost
341 016B E1C1 pop h ! pop b
342 016D B7 ora a
343 016E C9 ret
344
345 ci1: ; get input, saving <BC> & <HL>
346 016F C5E5 push b ! push h
347 0171 CD0000 call ?ci
348 0174 E1C1 pop h ! pop b
349 0176 C9 ret
350
351
352 ; CONST
353 ; Console Input Status. Return true if
354 ; any selected console input device
355 ; has an available character.
356
357 const:
358 0177 2A0000 lhld @civec ; get console input bit vector
359 017A C38001 jmp ist$scan
360
361
362 ; AUXIST
363 ; Auxiliary Input Status. Return true if
364 ; any selected auxiliary input device
365 ; has an available character.
366
367 auxist:
368 017D 2A0000 lhld @aivec ; get aux input bit vector
369

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-7
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

370 ist$scan:
371 0180 0600 mvi b,0 ; start with device 0
372 cis$next:
373 0182 29 dad h ; check next bit
374 0183 3E00 mvi a,0 ; assume device not ready
375 0185 DC5D01 cc cist1 ; check status for this device
376 0188 B7C0 ora a ! rnz ; if any ready, return true
377 018A 04 inr b ; drop device number
378 018B 7CB5 mov a,h ! ora l ; see if any more selected devices
379 018D C28201 jnz cis$next
380 0190 AF xra a ; all selected were not ready, return false
381 0191 C9 ret
382
383
384 ; CONIN
385 ; Console Input. Return character from first
386 ; ready console input device.
387
388 conin:
389 0192 2A0000 lhld @civec
390 0195 C39B01 jmp in$scan
391
392
393 ; AUXIN
394 ; Auxiliary Input. Return character from first
395 ; ready auxiliary input device.
396
397 auxin:
398 0198 2A0000 lhld @aivec
399
400 in$scan:
401 019B E5 push h ; save bit vector
402 019C 0600 mvi b,0
403 ci$next:
404 019E 29 dad h ; shift out next bit
405 019F 3E00 mvi a,0 ; insure zero a (nonexistant device not ready).
406 01A1 DC5D01 cc cist1 ; see if the device has a character
407 01A4 B7 ora a
408 01A5 C2B201 jnz ci$rdy ; this device has a character
409 01A8 04 inr b ; else, next device
410 01A9 7CB5 mov a,h ! ora l ; see if any more devices
411 01AB C29E01 jnz ci$next ; go look at them
412 01AE E1 pop h ; recover bit vector
413 01AF C39B01 jmp in$scan ; loop til we find a character
414
415 ci$rdy:
416 01B2 E1 pop h ; discard extra stack
417 01B3 C30000 jmp ?ci
418
419
420 ; Utility Subroutines
421
422
423 ipchl: ; vectored CALL point
424 01B6 E9 pchl
425

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-8
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

426
427 ?pmsg: ; print message @<HL> up to a null
428 ; saves <BC> & <DE>
429 01B7 C5 push b
430 01B8 D5 push d
431 pmsg$loop:
432 01B9 7EB7CAC801 mov a,m ! ora a ! jz pmsg$exit
433 01BE 4FE5 mov c,a ! push h
434 01C0 CD0C00E1 call ?cono ! pop h
435 01C4 23C3B901 inx h ! jmp pmsg$loop
436 pmsg$exit:
437 01C8 D1 pop d
438 01C9 C1 pop b
439 01CA C9 ret
440
441 ?pdec: ; print binary number 0-65535 from <HL>
442 01CB 01F30111F0 lxi b,table10! lxi d,-10000
443 next:
444 01D1 3E2F mvi a,'0'-1
445 pdecl:
446 01D3 E53C19D2DE push h! inr a! dad d! jnc stoploop
447 01D9 3333C3D301 inx sp! inx sp! jmp pdecl
448 stoploop:
449 01DE D5C5 push d! push b
450 01E0 4FCD0C00 mov c,a! call ?cono
451 01E4 C1D1 pop b! pop d
452 nextdigit:
453 01E6 E1 pop h
454 01E7 0A5F03 ldax b! mov e,a! inx b
455 01EA 0A5703 ldax b! mov d,a! inx b
456 01ED 7BB2C2D101 mov a,e! ora d! jnz next
457 01F2 C9 ret
458
459 table10:
460 01F3 18FC9CFFF6 dw -1000,-100,-10,-1,0
461
462 ?pderr:
463 01FD 21D100CDB7 lxi h,drive$msg ! call ?pmsg ; error header
464 0203 3AED00C641 lda @adrv ! adi 'A' ! mov c,a ! call ?cono ; drive code
465 020C 21E300CDB7 lxi h,track$msg ! call ?pmsg ; track header
466 0212 2AEF00CDCB lhld @trk ! call ?pdec ; track number
467 0218 21E800CDB7 lxi h,sector$msg ! call ?pmsg ; sector header
468 021E 2AF100CDCB lhld @sect ! call ?pdec ; sector number
469 0224 C9 ret
470
471
472 ; BNKSEL
473 ; Bank Select. Select CPU bank for further execution.
474
475 bnksel:
476 0225 323B02 sta @cbnk ; remember current bank
477 0228 C30000 jmp ?bank ; and go exit through users
478 ; physical bank select routine
479
480
481 022B FFFFFFFFFFxofflist db -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1 ; ctl-s clears to zero

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-9
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

482 0233 FFFFFFFFFF db -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1

483
484
485
486 dseg ; following resides in banked memory
487
488
489
490 ; Disk I/O interface routines
491
492
493 ; SELDSK
494 ; Select Disk Drive. Drive code in <C>.
495 ; Invoke login procedure for drive
496 ; if this is first select. Return
497 ; address of disk parameter header
498 ; in <HL>
499
500 seldsk:
501 003F 7932ED00 mov a,c ! sta @adrv ; save drive select code
502 0043 69260029 mov l,c ! mvi h,0 ! dad h ; create index from drive code
503 0047 01000009 lxi b,@dtbl ! dad b ; get pointer to dispatch table
504 004B 7E23666F mov a,m ! inx h ! mov h,m ! mov l,a ; point at disk descriptor
505 004F B4C8 ora h ! rz ; if no entry in table, no disk
506 0051 7BE601C26D mov a,e ! ani 1 ! jnz not$first$select ; examine login bit
507 0057 E5EB push h ! xchg ; put pointer in stack & <DE>
508 0059 21FEFF197E lxi h,-2 ! dad d ! mov a,m ! sta @RDRV ; get relative drive
509 0061 21FAFF19 lxi h,-6 ! dad d ; find LOGIN addr
510 0065 7E23666F mov a,m ! inx h ! mov h,m ! mov l,a ; get address of LOGIN routine
511 0069 CDB601 call ipchl ; call LOGIN
512 006C E1 pop h ; recover DPH pointer
513 not$first$select:
514 006D C9 ret
515
516
517 ; HOME
518 ; Home selected drive. Treated as SETTRK(0).
519
520 home:
521 006E 010000 lxi b,0 ; same as set track zero
522
523
524 ; SETTRK
525 ; Set Track. Saves track address from <BC>
526 ; in @TRK for further operations.
527
528 settrk:
529 0071 6960 mov l,c ! mov h,b
530 0073 22EF00 shld @trk
531 0076 C9 ret
532
533
534 ; SETSEC
535 ; Set Sector. Saves sector number from <BC>
536 ; in @sect for further operations.
537

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-10
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

538 setsec:
539 0077 6960 mov l,c ! mov h,b
540 0079 22F100 shld @sect
541 007C C9 ret
542
543
544 ; SETDMA
545 ; Set Disk Memory Address. Saves DMA address
546 ; from <BC> in @DMA and sets @DBNK to @CBNK
547 ; so that further disk operations take place
548 ; in current bank.
549
550 setdma:
551 007D 6960 mov l,c ! mov h,b
552 007F 22F300 shld @dma
553
554 0082 3A3B02 lda @cbnk ; default DMA bank is current bank
555 ; fall through to set DMA bank
556
557 ; SETBNK
558 ; Set Disk Memory Bank. Saves bank number
559 ; in @DBNK for future disk data
560 ; transfers.
561
562 setbnk:
563 0085 32F600 sta @dbnk
564 0088 C9 ret
565
566
567 ; SECTRN
568 ; Sector Translate. Indexes skew table in <DE>
569 ; with sector in <BC>. Returns physical sector
570 ; in <HL>. If no skew table (<DE>=0) then
571 ; returns physical=logical.
572
573 sectrn:
574 0089 6960 mov l,c ! mov h,b
575 008B 7AB3C8 mov a,d ! ora e ! rz
576 008E EB096E2600 xchg ! dad b ! mov l,m ! mvi h,0
577 0093 C9 ret
578
579
580 ; READ
581 ; Read physical record from currently selected drive.
582 ; Finds address of proper read routine from
583 ; extended disk parameter header (XDPH).
584
585 read:
586 0094 2AED002600 lhld @adrv ! mvi h,0 ! dad h ; get drive code and double it
587 009A 11000019 lxi d,@dtbl ! dad d ; make address of table entry
588 009E 7E23666F mov a,m ! inx h ! mov h,m ! mov l,a ; fetch table entry
589 00A2 E5 push h ; save address of table
590 00A3 11F8FF19 lxi d,-8 ! dad d ; point to read routine address
591 00A7 C3BD00 jmp rw$common ; use common code
592
593

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-11
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

594 ; WRITE
595 ; Write physical sector from currently selected drive.
596 ; Finds address of proper write routine from
597 ; extended disk parameter header (XDPH).
598
599 write:
600 00AA 2AED002600 lhld @adrv ! mvi h,0 ! dad h ; get drive code and double it
601 00B0 11000019 lxi d,@dtbl ! dad d ; make address of table entry
602 00B4 7E23666F mov a,m ! inx h ! mov h,m ! mov l,a ; fetch table entry
603 00B8 E5 push h ; save address of table
604 00B9 11F6FF19 lxi d,-10 ! dad d ; point to write routine address
605
606 rw$common:
607 00BD 7E23666F mov a,m ! inx h ! mov h,m ! mov l,a ; get address of routine
608 00C1 D1 pop d ; recover address of table
609 00C2 1B1B dcx d ! dcx d ; point to relative drive
610 00C4 1A32EE00 ldax d ! sta @rdrv ; get relative drive code and post it
611 00C8 1313 inx d ! inx d ; point to DPH again
612 00CA E9 pchl ; leap to driver
613
614
615 ; MULTIO
616 ; Set multiple sector count. Saves passed count in
617 ; @CNT
618
619 multio:
620 00CB 32F500C9 sta @cnt ! ret
621
622
623 ; FLUSH
624 ; BIOS deblocking buffer flush. Not implemented.
625
626 flush:
627 00CF AFC9 xra a ! ret ; return with no error
628
629
630
631 ; error message components
632 00D1 0D0A074249drive$msg db cr,lf,bell,'BIOS Error on ',0
633 00E3 3A20542D00track$msg db ': T-',0
634 00E8 2C20532D00sector$msg db ', S-',0
635
636
637 ; disk communication data items
638
639 00ED @adrv ds 1 ; currently selected disk drive
640 00EE @rdrv ds 1 ; controller relative disk drive
641 00EF @trk ds 2 ; current track number
642 00F1 @sect ds 2 ; current sector number
643 00F3 @dma ds 2 ; current DMA address
644 00F5 00 @cnt db 0 ; record count for multisector transfer
645 00F6 00 @dbnk db 0 ; bank for DMA operations
646
647
648 cseg ; common memory
649

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-12
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

650 023B 00 @cbnk db 0 ; bank for processor operations

651
652
AUXIN 0198 99 397#
AUXIST 017D 113 367#
AUXOST 010C 114 277#
AUXOUT 00E0 98 230#
BANKED FFFF 8# 186
BAUD110 0003
BAUD1200 0008
BAUD134 0004
BAUD150 0005
BAUD1800 0009
BAUD19200 000F
BAUD2400 000A
BAUD300 0006
BAUD3600 000B
BAUD4800 000C
BAUD50 0001
BAUD600 0007
BAUD7200 000D
BAUD75 0002
BAUD9600 000E
BAUDNONE 0000
BELL 0007 27# 632
BNKSEL 0225 124 475#
BOOT 0000 91 138#
BOOT1 0063 164 168#
BOOTSTACK 00D2 139 178 198#
CCP 0100 31# 171 181
CI1 016F 319 345#
CINEXT 019E 403# 411
CINITLOOP 0005 141# 143
CIRDY 01B2 408 415#
CISNEXT 0182 372# 379
CIST1 015D 318 331# 375 406
CONEXT 00EB 244# 258
CONIN 0192 95 388#
CONOST 0106 112 267#
CONOUT 00DA 96 220#
CONST 0177 94 357#
COSNEXT 0117 292# 304
COST1 0166 327 338#
COSTER 012C 250 297 308#
CR 000D 25# 632
CTLQ 0011 28# 320
CTLS 0013 29# 323
DEVTBL 00D2 115 204#
DINITLOOP 0017 149# 163
DINITNEXT 0036 152 161#
DRIVEMSG 00D1 463 632#
FALSE 0000 6#
FLUSH 00CF 120 626#
GETDRV 00D6 118 211#
HOME 006E 101 520#
INSCAN 019B 390 400# 413

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-13
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

IPCHL 01B6 159 423# 511

ISTSCAN 0180 359 370#
LF 000A 26# 632
LIST 00E6 97 239#
LISTST 0112 109 287#
MBINOUT 0003
MBINPUT 0001
MBOUTPUT 0002
MBSERIAL 0008
MBSOFTBAUD 0004
MBXONXOFF 0010 314
MULTIO 00CB 119 619#
NEXT 01D1 443# 456
NEXTDIGIT 01E6 452#
NOTFIRSTSELECT 006D 506 513#
NOTOUTDEVICE 00FF 246 255#
NOTOUTREADY 00F1 249# 250
NOTQ 0150 320 322#
NOTS 0157 323 325#
OSTSCAN 0115 269 279 290#
OUTSCAN 00E9 223 232 242#
PDECL 01D3 445# 447
PMSGEXIT 01C8 432 436#
PMSGLOOP 01B9 431# 435
READ 0094 106 585#
RWCOMMON 00BD 591 606#
SECTORMSG 00E8 467 634#
SECTRN 0089 110 573#
SELDSK 003F 102 500#
SETBNK 0085 125 562#
SETDMA 007D 105 550#
SETJUMPS 0078 169 179 184#
SETSEC 0077 104 538#
SETTRK 0071 103 528#
STOPLOOP 01DE 446 448#
TABLE10 01F3 442 459#
TRACKMSG 00E3 465 633#
TRUE FFFF 5# 6 8
WBOOT 006C 92 177#
WRITE 00AA 107 599#
XOFFLIST 022B 317 481#
?AUXI 0015 79 99#
?AUXIS 0036 82 113#
?AUXO 0012 79 98#
?AUXOS 0039 82 114#
?BANK 0000 63 477
?BNKSL 0051 83 124# 187
?BOOT 0000 79 91#
?CI 0000 49 347 417
?CINIT 0000 50 116 142
?CIST 0000 49 333
?CO 0000 49 252
?CONIN 0009 79 95#
?CONO 000C 79 96# 434 450 464
?CONOS 0033 82 112#
?CONST 0006 79 94#

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-14
Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3 

?COST 0000 49 316 340

?DEVIN 003F 82 116#
?DRTBL 0042 82 118#
?DVTBL 003C 82 115#
?FLUSH 0048 83 120#
?HOME 0018 80 101#
?INIT 0000 44 145
?LDCCP 0000 45 170
?LIST 000F 79 97#
?LISTS 002D 81 109#
?MLTIO 0045 83 119#
?MOV 004B 83 122#
?MOVE 0000 62 122
?PDEC 01CB 71 441# 466 468
?PDERR 01FD 72 462#
?PMSG 01B7 71 427# 463 465 467
?READ 0027 80 106#
?RLCCP 0000 45 180
?SCTRN 0030 81 110#
?SLDSK 001B 80 102#
?STBNK 0054 83 125#
?STDMA 0024 80 105#
?STSEC 0021 80 104#
?STTRK 001E 80 103#
?TIM 004E 83 123#
?TIME 0000 67 123
?WBOOT 0003 79 92# 192
?WRITE 002A 80 107#
?XMOV 0057 83 126#
?XMOVE 0000 62 126
@ADRV 00ED 56 156 464 501 586 600 639#
@AIVEC 0000 38 368 398
@AOVEC 0000 38 231 278
@BNKBF 0000 40
@CBNK 023B 61 476 554 650#
@CIVEC 0000 38 358 389
@CNT 00F5 57 620 644#
@COVEC 0000 38 222 268
@CTBL 0000 51 205 313
@DBNK 00F6 57 563 645#
@DMA 00F3 57 552 643#
@DTBL 0000 55 148 212 503 587 601
@LOVEC 0000 38 240 288
@MXTPA 0000 39 193
@RDRV 00EE 56 155 508 610 640#
@SECT 00F1 56 468 540 642#
@TRK 00EF 56 466 530 641#

End of Appendix E

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-15
 Root Module of the Relocatable BIOS for CP/M 3

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
E-16
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix F 
System Control Block Definition
for CP/M 3 BIOS

The SCB.ASM module contains the public definitions of the fields

in the System Control Block. The BIOS can reference public variables.

Listing F-1. System Control Block Definition for CP/M 3 BIOS

1 title 'System Control Block Definition for CP/M3 BIOS'
2
3 public @civec, @covec, @aivec, @aovec, @lovec, @bnkbf
4 public @crdma, @crdsk, @vinfo, @resel, @fx, @usrcd
5 public @mltio, @ermde, @erdsk, @media, @bflgs
6 public @date, @hour, @min, @sec, ?erjmp, @mxtpa
7
8
9 FE00 = scb$base equ 0FE00H ; Base of the SCB
10
11 FE22 = @CIVEC equ scb$base+22h ; Console Input Redirection
12 ; Vector (word, r/w)
13 FE24 = @COVEC equ scb$base+24h ; Console Output Redirection
14 ; Vector (word, r/w)
15 FE26 = @AIVEC equ scb$base+26h ; Auxiliary Input Redirection
16 ; Vector (word, r/w)
17 FE28 = @AOVEC equ scb$base+28h ; Auxiliary Output Redirection
18 ; Vector (word, r/w)
19 FE2A = @LOVEC equ scb$base+2Ah ; List Output Redirection
20 ; Vector (word, r/w)
21 FE35 = @BNKBF equ scb$base+35h ; Address of 128 Byte Buffer
22 ; for Banked BIOS (word, r/o)
23 FE3C = @CRDMA equ scb$base+3Ch ; Current DMA Address
24 ; (word, r/o)
25 FE3E = @CRDSK equ scb$base+3Eh ; Current Disk (byte, r/o)
26 FE3F = @VINFO equ scb$base+3Fh ; BDOS Variable "INFO"
27 ; (word, r/o)
28 FE41 = @RESEL equ scb$base+41h ; FCB Flag (byte, r/o)
29 FE43 = @FX equ scb$base+43h ; BDOS Function for Error
30 ; Messages (byte, r/o)
31 FE44 = @USRCD equ scb$base+44h ; Current User Code (byte, r/o)
32 FE4A = @MLTIO equ scb$base+4Ah ; Current Multi-Sector Count
33 ; (byte,r/w)
34 FE4B = @ERMDE equ scb$base+4Bh ; BDOS Error Mode (byte, r/o)
35 FE51 = @ERDSK equ scb$base+51h ; BDOS Error Disk (byte,r/o)
36 FE54 = @MEDIA equ scb$base+54h ; Set by BIOS to indicate

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
F-1
 CP/M System Guide

37 ; open door (byte,r/w)

38 FE57 = @BFLGS equ scb$base+57h ; BDOS Message Size Flag (byte,r/o)
39 FE58 = @DATE equ scb$base+58h ; Date in Days Since 1 Jan 78
40 ; (word, r/w)
41 FE5A = @HOUR equ scb$base+5Ah ; Hour in BCD (byte, r/w)
42 FE5B = @MIN equ scb$base+5Bh ; Minute in BCD (byte, r/w)
43 FE5C = @SEC equ scb$base+5Ch ; Second in BCD (byte, r/w)
44 FE5F = ?ERJMP equ scb$base+5Fh ; BDOS Error Message Jump
45 ; (word, r/w)
46 FE62 = @MXTPA equ scb$base+62h ; Top of User TPA
47 ; (address at 6,7)(word, r/o)
SCBBASE FE00 9# 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 26
28 29 31 32 34 35 36 38 39 41
42 43 44 46
?ERJMP FE5F 6 44#
@AIVEC FE26 3 15#
@AOVEC FE28 3 17#
@BFLGS FE57 5 38#
@BNKBF FE35 3 21#
@CIVEC FE22 3 11#
@COVEC FE24 3 13#
@CRDMA FE3C 4 23#
@CRDSK FE3E 4 25#
@DATE FE58 6 39#
@ERDSK FE51 5 35#
@ERMDE FE4B 5 34#
@FX FE43 4 29#
@HOUR FE5A 6 41#
@LOVEC FE2A 3 19#
@MEDIA FE54 5 36#
@MIN FE5B 6 42#
@MLTIO FE4A 5 32#
@MXTPA FE62 6 46#
@RESEL FE41 4 28#
@SEC FE5C 6 43#
@USRCD FE44 4 31#
@VINFO FE3F 4 26#

End of Appendix F

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
F-2
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix G 
Equates for Mode Byte Bit Fields

Listing G-1. Equates for Mode Byte Fields: MODEBAUD.LIB

; equates for mode byte bit fields

mb$input equ 0000$0001b ; device may do input

mb$output equ 0000$0010b ; device may do output
mb$in$out equ mb$input+mb$output

mb$soft$baud equ 0000$0100b ; software selectable

; baud rates

mb$serial equ 0000$1000b ; device may use protocol

mb$xon$xoff equ 0001$0000b ; XON/XOFF protocol
; enabled

baud$none equ 0 ; no baud rate associated

; with this device
baud$50 equ 1 ; 50 baud
baud$75 equ 2 ; 75 baud
baud$110 equ 3 ; 110 baud
baud$134 equ 4 ; 134.5 baud
baud$150 equ 5 ; 150 baud
baud$300 equ 6 ; 300 baud
baud$600 equ 7 ; 600 baud
baud$1200 equ 8 ; 1200 baud
baud$1800 equ 9 ; 1800 baud
baud$2400 equ 10 ; 2400 baud
baud$3600 equ 11 ; 3600 baud
baud$4800 equ 12 ; 4800 baud
baud$7200 equ 13 ; 7200 baud
baud$9600 equ 14 ; 9600 baud
baud$19200 equ 15 ; 19.2k baud

End of Appendix G

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
G-1
 CP/M System Guide

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
G-2
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix H 
Macro Definitions for CP/M 3
BIOS Data Structures

Listing H-1. Macro Definitions for CP/M 3 BIOS

Data Structures
; Macro Definitions for CP/M3 BIOS Data Structures.

; dtbl <dph0,dph1,...> - drive table

; dph translate$table, - disk parameter header

; disk$parameter$block,
; checksum$size, (optional)
; alloc$size (optional)

; skew sectors, - skew table

; skew$factor,
; first$sector$number

; dpb physical$sector$size, - disk parameter block

; physical$sectors$per$track,
; number$tracks,
; block$size,
; number$dir$entries,
; track$offset,
; checksum$vec$size (optional)

; Drive Table. Contains 16 one word entries.

dtbl macro ?list

local ?n
?n set 0
irp ?drv,<?list>
?n set ?n+1
dw ?drv

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
H-1
 CP/M System Guide

endm

if ?n > 16
.' Too many drives. Max 16 allowed'
exitm
endif

if ?n < 16
rept (16-?n)
dw 0
endm
endif
endm

dph macro ?trans,?dpb,?csize,?asize

local ?csv,?alv
dw ?trans ; translate table address
db 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 ; BDOS Scratch area
db 0 ; media flag
dw ?dpb ; disk parameter block
if not nul ?csize
dw ?csv ; checksum vector
else
dw 0FFFEh ; checksum vector allocated by
endif ; GENCPM
if not nul ?asize
dw ?alv ; allocation vector
else
dw 0FFFEh ; alloc vector allocated by GENCPM
endif
dw 0fffeh,0fffeh,0fffeh ; dirbcb, dtabcb, hash alloc'd
; by GENCPM
db 0 ; hash bank

if not nul ?csize

?csv ds ?csize ; checksum vector
endif
if not nul ?asize
?alv ds ?asize ; allocation vector
endif

endm

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
H-2
CP/M System Guide 

dpb macro ?psize,?pspt,?trks,?bls,?ndirs,?off,?ncks

local ?spt,?bsh,?blm,?exm,?dsm,?drm,?al0,?al1,?cks,?psh,?psm
local ?n
;; physical sector mask and physical sector shift
?psh set 0
?n set ?psize/128
?psm set ?n-1
rept 8
?n set ?n/2
if ?n = 0
exitm
endif
?psh set ?psh + 1
endm
?spt set ?pspt*(?psize/128)

?bsh set 3
?n set ?bls/1024
rept 8
?n set ?n/2
if ?n = 0
exitm
endif
?bsh set ?bsh + 1
endm
?blm set ?bls/128-1
?size set (?trks-?off)*?spt
?dsm set ?size/(?bls/128)-1

?exm set ?bls/1024

if ?dsm > 255
if ?bls = 1024
.'Error, can''t have this size disk with 1k block size'
exitm
endif
?exm set ?exm/2
endif
?exm set ?exm-1
?all set 0
?n set (?ndirs*32+?bls-1)/?bls
rept ?n
?all set (?all shr 1) or 8000h
endm

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
H-3
 CP/M System Guide

?al0 set high ?all

?al1 set low ?all
?drm set ?ndirs-1
if not nul ?ncks
?cks set ?ncks
else
?cks set ?ndirs/4
endif
dw ?spt ; 128 byte records per track
db ?bsh,?blm ; block shift and mask
db ?exm ; extent mask
dw ?dsm ; maximum block number
dw ?drm ; maximum directory entry number
db ?al0,?al1 ; alloc vector for directory
dw ?cks ; checksum size
dw ?off ; offset for system tracks
db ?psh,?psm ; physical sector size shift
; and mask
endm

;
gcd macro ?m,?n
;; greatest common divisor of m,n
;; produces value gcdn as result
;; (used in sector translate table generation)
?gcdm set ?m ;;variable for m
?gcdn set ?n ;;variable for n
?gcdr set 0 ;;variable for r
rept 65535
?gcdx set ?gcdm/?gcdn
?gcdr set ?gcdm - ?gcdx*?gcdn
if ?gcdr = 0
exitm
endif
?gcdm set ?gcdn
?gcdn set ?gcdr
endm
endm

skew macro ?secs,?skf,?fsc

;; generate the translate table
?nxtsec set 0 ;;next sector to fill
?nxtbas set 0 ;;moves by one on overflow

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
H-4
CP/M System Guide 

gcd %?secs,?skf
;; ?gcdn = gcd(?secs,skew)
?neltst set ?secs/?gcdn
;; neltst is number of elements to generate
;; before we overlap previous elements
?nelts set ?neltst ;;counter
rept ?secs ;;once for each sector
db ?nxtsec+?fsc
?nxtsec set ?nxtsec+?skf
if ?nxtsec >= ?secs
?nxtsec set ?nxtsec-?secs
endif
?nelts set ?nelts-1
if ?nelts = 0
?nxtbas set ?nxtbas+1
?nxtsec set ?nxtbas
?nelts set ?neltst
endif
endm
endm

End of Appendix H

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
H-5
 CP/M System Guide

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
H-6
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

Appendix I 
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

I.1.  Boot Loader Module for CP/M 3

The BOOT.ASM module performs system initialization other than and disk
I/O. BOOT loads the CCP for cold starts and it for warm starts. Note that the
device drivers in the Research sample BIOS initialize devices for a polled, and
an interrupt-driven, environment.

Listing I-1. Boot Loader Module for CP/M 3

1 title 'Boot loader module for CP/M 3.0'
2
3 FFFF = true equ -1
4 0000 = false equ not true
5
6 FFFF = banked equ true
7
8 public ?init,?ldccp,?rlccp,?time
9 extrn ?pmsg,?conin
10 extrn @civec,@covec,@aivec,@aovec,@lovec
11 extrn @cbnk,?bnksl
12
13 maclib ports
14 maclib z80
15
16 0005 = bdos equ 5
17
18 if banked
19 0001 = tpa$bank equ 1
20 else
21 tpa$bank equ 0
22 endif
23
24 dseg
25
26 ?init
27 0000 2101002200 lxi h,1 ! shld @civec ! shld @covec ; assign concole to CRT:
28 0009 2102002200 lxi h,2 ! shld @lovec ; assign printer to LPT:
29 000F 2104002200 lxi h,4 ! shld @aivec ! shld @aovec ; assign AUX to CRT1:
30 0018 21EF00CD25 lxi h,init$table ! call out$blocks ; set up misc hardware
31 001E 218700CD00 lxi h,signon$msg ! call ?pmsg ; print signon message
32 0024 C9 ret

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-1
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

33
34 out$blocks:
35 0025 7EB7C847 mov a,m ! ora a ! rz ! mov b,a
36 0029 234E23 inx h ! mov c,m ! inx h
37 outir
38 002C+EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
39 002E EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
40 0030 C32500 jmp out$blocks
41
42
43 cseg ; boot loading must be done from resident memory
44
45 ; This version of the boot loader loads the CCP from a file
46 ; called CCP.com on the system drive (A:).
47
48
49 ?ldccp:
50 ; First time, oad the A:CCP.COM file into TPA
51 0000 AF32DB00 xra a ! sta ccp$fcb+15 ; zero extent
52 0004 21000022EC lxi h,0 ! shld fcb$nr ; start at beginning of file
53 000A 11CC00CD73 lxi d,ccp$fcb ! call open ; open file containing CCP
54 0010 3CCA4A00 inr a ! jz no$CCP ; error if no file...
55 0014 110001CD78 lxi d,0100h ! call setdma ; start of TPA
56 001A 118000CD7D lxi d,128 ! call setmulti ; allow up to 16k bytes
57 0020 11CC00CD82 lxi d,ccp$fcb ! call read ; loat the thing
58 ; now,
59 ; copy CCP to bank 0 for reloading
60 0026 2100010100 lxi h,0100h ! lxi b,0C00h ; clone 3K, just in case
61 002C 3A0000F5 lda @cbnk ! push psw ; save current bank
62 ld$1:
63 0030 3E01CD0000 mvi a,tpa$bank ! call ?bnksl ; select TPA
64 0035 7EF5 mov a,m ! push psw ; get a byte
65 0037 3E02CD0000 mvi a,2 ! call ?bnksl ; select extra bank
66 003C F177 pop psw ! mov m,a ; save the byte
67 003E 230B inx h ! dcx b ; bump pointer, drop count
68 0040 78B1 mov a,b ! ora c ; test for done
69 0042 C23000 jnz ld$1
70 0045 F1CD0000 pop psw ! call ?bnksl ; restore original bank
71 0049 C9 ret
72
73 no$CCP: ; here if we couldn't find the file
74 004A 21AB00CD00 lxi h,ccp$msg ! call ?pmsg ; report this...
75 0050 CD0000 call ?conin ; get a response
76 0053 C30000 jmp ?ldccp ; and try again
77
78
79 ?rlccp:
80 0056 2100010100 lxi h,0100h ! lxi b,0C00h ; clone 3K
81 rl$1:
82 005C 3E02CD0000 mvi a,2 ! call ?bnksl ; select extra bank
83 0061 7EF5 mov a,m ! push psw ; get a byte
84 0063 3E01CD0000 mvi a,tpa$bank ! call ?bnksl ; select TPA
85 0068 F177 pop psw ! mov m,a ; save the byte
86 006A 230B inx h ! dcx b ; bump pointer, drop count
87 006C 78B1 mov a,b ! ora c ; test for done
88 006E C25C00 jnz rl$1

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-2
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

89 0071 C9 ret
90
91 ; No external clock.
92 ?time:
93 0072 C9 ret
94
95 ; CP/M BDOS Function Interfaces
96
97 open:
98 0073 0E0FC30500 mvi c,15 ! jmp bdos ; open file control block
99
100 setdma:
101 0078 0E1AC30500 mvi c,26 ! jmp bdos ; set data transfer address
102
103 setmulti:
104 007D 0E2CC30500 mvi c,44 ! jmp bdos ; set record count
105
106 read:
107 0082 0E14C30500 mvi c,20 ! jmp bdos ; read records
108
109
110 0087 0D0A0D0A43signon$msg db 13,10,13,10,'CP/M Version 3.0, sample BIOS',13,10,0
111
112 00AB 0D0A42494Fccp$msg db 13,10,'BIOS Err on A: No CCP.COM file',0
113
114
115 00CC 0143435020ccp$fcb db 1,'CCP ','COM',0,0,0,0
116 00DC ds 16
117 00EC 000000 fcb$nr db 0,0,0
118
119 00EF 0326CFFF07init$table db 3,p$zpio$3a,0CFh,0FFh,07h ; set up config port
120 00F4 0327CF0007 db 3,p$zpio$3b,0CFh,000h,07h ; set up bank port
121 00F9 012500 db 1,p$bank$select,0 ; select bank 0
122 00FC 00 db 0
123
BANKED FFFF 6# 18
BC 0000
BDOS 0005 16# 98 101 104 107
CCPFCB 00CC 51 53 57 115#
CCPMSG 00AB 74 112#
DE 0002
FALSE 0000 4#
FCBNR 00EC 52 117#
HL 0004
INITTABLE 00EF 30 119#
IX 0004
IY 0004
LD1 0030 62# 69
NOCCP 004A 54 73#
OPEN 0073 53 97#
OUTBLOCKS 0025 30 34# 40
PBANKSELECT 0025 121
PBAUDCON1 000C
PBAUDCON2 0030
PBAUDCON34 0031
PBAUDLPT1 000E

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-3
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

PBAUDLPT2 0032
PBOOT 0014
PCENTDATA 0011
PCENTSTAT 0010
PCON2DATA 002C
PCON2STAT 002D
PCON3DATA 002E
PCON3STAT 002F
PCON4DATA 002A
PCON4STAT 002B
PCONFIGURATION 0024
PCRTDATA 001C
PCRTSTAT 001D
PFDCMND 0004
PFDDATA 0007
PFDINT 0008
PFDMISC 0009
PFDSECTOR 0006
PFDSTAT 0004
PFDTRACK 0005
PINDEX 000F
PLPT2DATA 0028
PLPT2STAT 0029
PLPTDATA 001E
PLPTSTAT 001F
PRTC 0033
PSELECT 0008
PWD1797 0004
PZCTC1 000C
PZCTC2 0030
PZDART 001C
PZDMA 0000
PZPIO1 0008
PZPIO1A 000A
PZPIO1B 000B
PZPIO2 0010
PZPIO2A 0012
PZPIO2B 0013
PZPIO3 0024
PZPIO3A 0026 119
PZPIO3B 0027 120
PZSIO1 0028
PZSIO2 002C
READ 0082 57 106#
RL1 005C 81# 88
SETDMA 0078 55 100#
SETMULTI 007D 56 103#
SIGNONMSG 0087 31 110#
TPABANK 0001 19# 21# 63 84
TRUE FFFF 3# 4 6
?BNKSL 0000 11 63 65 70 82 84
?CONIN 0000 9 75
?INIT 0000 8 26#
?LDCCP 0000 8 49# 76
?PMSG 0000 9 31 74
?RLCCP 0056 8 79#

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-4
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

?TIME 0072 8 92#

@AIVEC 0000 10 29
@AOVEC 0000 10 29
@CBNK 0000 11 61
@CIVEC 0000 10 27
@COVEC 0000 10 27
@LOVEC 0000 10 28

I.2.  Character I/O Handler for Z80 Chip-based System

The CHARIO.ASM module performs all character device, input, output,
and status polling. CHARIO contains character device characteristics table.

Listing I-2. Character I/O Handler for Z80 Chip-based System

1 title 'Character I/O handler for z80 chip based system'
2
3 ; Character I/O for the Modular CP/M 3 BIOS
4
5 ; limitations:
6
7 ; baud rates 19200,7200,3600,1800 and 134
8 ; are approximations.
9
10 ; 9600 is the maximum baud rate that is likely
11 ; to work.
12
13 ; baud rates 50, 75, and 110 are not supported
14
15
16 public ?cinit,?ci,?co,?cist,?cost
17 public @ctbl
18
19 maclib Z80 ; define Z80 op codes
20 maclib ports ; define port addresses
21 maclib modebaud ; define mode bits and baud equates
22
23 0006 = max$devices equ 6
24
25 cseg
26
27 ?cinit:
28 0000 79FE06CA42 mov a,c ! cpi max$devices ! jz cent$init ; init parallel printer
29 0006 D0 rnc ; invalid device
30 0007 692600 mov l,c ! mvi h,0 ; make 16 bits from device number
31 000A E5 push h ; save device in stack
32 000B 292929 dad h ! dad h ! dad h ; *8
33 000E 11F300196E lxi d,@ctbl+7 ! dad d ! mov l,m ; get baud rate
34 0013 7DFE07 mov a,l ! cpi baud$600 ; see if baud > 300
35 0016 3E44D21D00 mvi a,44h ! jnc hi$speed ; if >= 600, use *16 mode
36 001B 3EC4 mvi a,0C4h ; else, use *64 mode
37 hi$speed:

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-5
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

38 001D 323F01 sta sio$reg$4

39 0020 2600112501 mvi h,0 ! lxi d,speed$table ! dad d ; point to counter entry
40 0026 7E323801 mov a,m ! sta speed ; get and save ctc count
41 002A E1 pop h ; recover
42 002B 11E60019 lxi d,data$ports ! dad d ; point at SIO port address
43 002F 7E3C323A01 mov a,m ! inr a ! sta sio$port ; get and save port
44 0034 11FAFF19 lxi d,baud$ports-data$ports ! dad d ; offset to baud rate port
45 0038 7E323601 mov a,m ! sta ctc$port ; get and save
46 003C 213501 lxi h,serial$init$tbl
47 003F C34500 jmp stream$out
48
49 cent$init:
50 0042 214301 lxi h,pio$init$tbl
51
52 stream$out:
53 0045 7EB7C8 mov a,m ! ora a ! rz
54 0048 47234E23 mov b,a ! inx h ! mov c,m ! inx h
55 outir
56 004C+EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
57 004E EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
58 0050 C34500 jmp stream$out
59
60
61 ?ci: ; character input
62
63 0053 78FE06D267 mov a,b ! cpi 6 ! jnc null$input ; can't read from centronics
64 ci1:
65 0059 CD6A00CA59 call ?cist ! jz ci1 ; wait for character ready
66 005F 0D dcr c ! inp a ; get data
67 0060+ED78 DB 0EDH,A*8+40H
68 0062 0E78 DB 0EH,A*8+40H
69 0064 E67F ani 7Fh ; mask parity
70 0066 C9 ret
71
72 null$input:
73 0067 3E1A mvi a,1Ah ; return a ctl-Z for no device
74 0069 C9 ret
75
76 ?cist: ; character input status
77
78 006A 78FE06D283 mov a,b ! cpi 6 ! jnc null$status ; can't read from centronics
79 0070 682600 mov l,b ! mvi h,0 ; make device number 16 bits
80 0073 11E60019 lxi d,data$ports ! dad d ; make pointer to port address
81 0077 4E0C mov c,m ! inr c ; get SIO status port
82 inp a ; read from status port
83 0079+ED78 DB 0EDH,A*8+40H
84 007B ED78 DB 0EDH,A*8+40H
85 007D E601 ani 1 ; isolate RxRdy
86 007F C8 rz ; return with zero
87 0080 F6FF ori 0FFh
88 0082 C9 ret
89
90 null$status:
91 0083 AFC9 xra a ! ret
92
93 ?co: ; character output

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-6
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

94 0085 78FE06CAA6 mov a,b ! cpi 6 ! jz centronics$out

95 008B D2A500 jnc null$output
96 008E 79F5 mov a,c ! push psw ; save character from <C>
97 0090 C5 push b ; save device number
98 co$spin:
99 0091 CDBB00CA91 call ?cost ! jz co$spin ; wait for TxEmpty
100 0097 E16C2600 pop h ! mov l,h ! mvi h,0 ; get device number in <HL>
101 009B 11E60019 lxi d,data$ports ! dad d ; make address of port address
102 009F 4E mov c,m ; get port address
103 00A0 F1 pop psw ! outp a ; send data
104 00A1+ED79 DB 0EDH,A*8+41H
105 00A3 ED79 DB 0EDH,A*8+41H
106 null$output:
107 00A5 C9 ret
108
109 centronics$out:
110 00A6 DB10E620C2 in p$centstat ! ani 20h ! jnz centronics$out
111 00AD 79D311 mov a,c ! out p$centdata ; give printer data
112 00B0 DB10F601D3 in p$centstat ! ori 1 ! out p$centstat ; set strobe
113 00B6 E67ED310 ani 7Eh ! out p$centstat ; clear strobe
114 00BA C9 ret
115
116 ?cost: ; character output status
117 00BB 78FE06CAD7 mov a,b ! cpi 6 ! jz cent$stat
118 00C1 D28300 jnc null$status
119 00C4 682600 mov l,b ! mvi h,0
120 00C7 11E60019 lxi d,data$ports ! dad d
121 00CB 4E0C mov c,m ! inr c
122 inp a ; get input status
123 00CD+ED78 DB 0EDH,A*8+40H
124 00CF ED78 DB 0EDH,A*8+40H
125 00D1 E604C8 ani 4 ! rz ; test transmitter empty
126 00D4 F6FFC9 ori 0FFh ! ret ; return true if ready
127
128
129 cent$stat:
130 00D7 DB102F in p$centstat ! cma
131 00DA E620C8 ani 20h ! rz
132 00DD F6FFC9 ori 0FFh ! ret
133
134 baud$ports: ; CTC ports by physical device number
135 00E0 0C0E3031 db p$baud$con1,p$baud$lpt1,p$baud$con2,p$baud$con34
136 00E4 3132 db p$baud$con34,p$baud$lpt2
137
138 data$ports: ; serial base ports by physical device number
139 00E6 1C1E2C2E db p$crt$data,p$lpt$data,p$con2data,p$con3data
140 00EA 2A28 db p$con4data,p$lpt2data
141
142
143 00EC 4352542020@ctbl db 'CRT ' ; device 0, CRT port 0
144 00F2 0F db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$softbaud
145 00F3 0E db baud$9600
146 00F4 4C50542020 db 'LPT ' ; device 1, LPT port 0
147 00FA 1F db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$softbaud+mb$xonxoff
148 00FB 0E db baud$9600
149 00FC 4352543120 db 'CRT1 ' ; device 2, CRT port 1

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-7
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

150 0102 0F db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$softbaud

151 0103 0E db baud$9600
152 0104 4352543220 db 'CRT2 ' ; device 3, CRT port 2
153 010A 0F db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$softbaud
154 010B 0E db baud$9600
155 010C 4352543320 db 'CRT3 ' ; device 4, CRT port 3
156 0112 0F db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$softbaud
157 0113 0E db baud$9600
158 0114 5641582020 db 'VAX ' ; device 5, LPT port 1 used for VAX interface
159 011A 0F db mb$in$out+mb$serial+mb$softbaud
160 011B 0E db baud$9600
161 011C 43454E2020 db 'CEN ' ; device 6, Centronics parallel printer
162 0122 02 db mb$output
163 0123 00 db baud$none
164 0124 00 db 0 ; table terminator
165
166
167 0125 00FFFFFFE9speed$table db 0,255,255,255,233,208,104,208,104,69,52,35,26,17,13,7
168
169 serial$init$tbl
170 0135 02 db 2 ; two bytes to CTC
171 0136 ctc$port ds 1 ; port address of CTC
172 0137 47 db 47h ; CTC mode byte
173 0138 speed ds 1 ; baud multiplier
174 0139 07 db 7 ; 7 bytes to SIO
175 013A sio$port ds 1 ; port address of SIO
176 013B 1803E104 db 18h,3,0E1h,4
177 013F sio$reg$4 ds 1
178 0140 05EA db 5,0EAh
179 0142 00 db 0 ; terminator
180
181 0143 02130F07 pio$init$tbl db 2,p$zpio$2b,0Fh,07h
182 0147 0312CFF807 db 3,p$zpio$2a,0CFh,0F8h,07h
183 014C 00 db 0
184
185 014D end
BAUD110 0003
BAUD1200 0008
BAUD134 0004
BAUD150 0005
BAUD1800 0009
BAUD19200 000F
BAUD2400 000A
BAUD300 0006
BAUD3600 000B
BAUD4800 000C
BAUD50 0001
BAUD600 0007 34
BAUD7200 000D
BAUD75 0002
BAUD9600 000E 145 148 151 154 157 160
BAUDNONE 0000 163
BAUDPORTS 00E0 44 134#
BC 0000
CENTINIT 0042 28 49#
CENTRONICSOUT 00A6 94 109# 110

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-8
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

CENTSTAT 00D7 117 129#

CI1 0059 64# 65
COSPIN 0091 98# 99
CTCPORT 0136 45 171#
DATAPORTS 00E6 42 44 80 101 120 138#
DE 0002
HISPEED 001D 35 37#
HL 0004
IX 0004
IY 0004
MAXDEVICES 0006 23# 28
MBINOUT 0003 144 147 150 153 156 159
MBINPUT 0001
MBOUTPUT 0002 162
MBSERIAL 0008 144 147 150 153 156 159
MBSOFTBAUD 0004 144 147 150 153 156 159
MBXONXOFF 0010 147
NULLINPUT 0067 63 72#
NULLOUTPUT 00A5 95 106#
NULLSTATUS 0083 78 90# 118
PBANKSELECT 0025
PBAUDCON1 000C 135
PBAUDCON2 0030 135
PBAUDCON34 0031 135 136
PBAUDLPT1 000E 135
PBAUDLPT2 0032 136
PBOOT 0014
PCENTDATA 0011 111
PCENTSTAT 0010 110 112 112 113 130
PCON2DATA 002C 139
PCON2STAT 002D
PCON3DATA 002E 139
PCON3STAT 002F
PCON4DATA 002A 140
PCON4STAT 002B
PCONFIGURATION 0024
PCRTDATA 001C 139
PCRTSTAT 001D
PFDCMND 0004
PFDDATA 0007
PFDINT 0008
PFDMISC 0009
PFDSECTOR 0006
PFDSTAT 0004
PFDTRACK 0005
PINDEX 000F
PIOINITTBL 0143 50 181#
PLPT2DATA 0028 140
PLPT2STAT 0029
PLPTDATA 001E 139
PLPTSTAT 001F
PRTC 0033
PSELECT 0008
PWD1797 0004
PZCTC1 000C
PZCTC2 0030

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-9
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

PZDART 001C
PZDMA 0000
PZPIO1 0008
PZPIO1A 000A
PZPIO1B 000B
PZPIO2 0010
PZPIO2A 0012 182
PZPIO2B 0013 181
PZPIO3 0024
PZPIO3A 0026
PZPIO3B 0027
PZSIO1 0028
PZSIO2 002C
SERIALINITTBL 0135 46 169#
SIOPORT 013A 43 175#
SIOREG4 013F 38 177#
SPEED 0138 40 173#
SPEEDTABLE 0125 39 167#
STREAMOUT 0045 47 52# 58
?CI 0053 16 61#
?CINIT 0000 16 27#
?CIST 006A 16 65 76#
?CO 0085 16 93#
?COST 00BB 16 99 116#
@CTBL 00EC 17 33 143#

I.3.  Drive Table

The DRVTBL.ASM module points to the data structures for each configured
disk drive. The drive table determines which physical disk unit is associated with
which logical drive. The data structure for each disk drive is called an Extended
Disk Parameter Header (XDPH).

Listing I-3. Drive Table

1 public @dtbl
2 extrn fdsd0,fdsd1
3
4 cseg
5
6 0000 00000000 @dtbl dw fdsd0,fdsd1
7 0004 0000000000 dw 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 ; drives C-P non-existant
8
9 0020 end
FDSD0 0000 2 6

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-10
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

FDSD1 0000 2 6
@DTBL 0000 1 6#

I.4.  Z80 DMA single-density Disk Handler

The FD1797SD module initializes the disk controllers for the disks described
in the Disk Parameter Headers and Disk Parameter Blocks contained in this
module. FD1797SD is written for hardware that supports Direct Memory
Access (DMA).

Listing I-4. Z80 DMA Single-density Disk Handler

1 title 'wd1797 w/ Z80 DMA Single density diskette handler'
2
3 ; CP/M-80 Version 3 -- Modular BIOS
4
5 ; Disk I/O Module for wd1797 based diskette systems
6
7 ; Initial version 0.01,
8 ; Single density floppy only. - jrp, 4 Aug 82
9
10 dseg
11
12 ; Disk drive dispatching tables for linked BIOS
13
14 public fdsd0,fdsd1
15
16 ; Variables containing parameters passed by BDOS
17
18 extrn @adrv,@rdrv
19 extrn @dma,@trk,@sect
20 extrn @dbnk
21
22 ; System Control Block variables
23
24 extrn @ermde ; BDOS error mode
25
26 ; Utility routines in standard BIOS
27
28 extrn ?wboot ; warm boot vector
29 extrn ?pmsg ; print message @<HL> up to 00, saves <BC> & <DE>
30 extrn ?pdec ; print binary number in <A> from 0 to 99.
31 extrn ?pderr ; print BIOS disk error header
32 extrn ?conin,?cono ; con in and out
33 extrn ?const ; get console status
34
35
36 ; Port Address Equates
37
38 maclib ports
39

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-11
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

40 ; CP/M 3 Disk definition macros

41
42 maclib cpm3
43
44 ; Z80 macro library instruction definitions
45
46 maclib z80
47
48 ; common control characters
49
50 000D = cr equ 13
51 000A = lf equ 10
52 0007 = bell equ 7
53
54
55 ; Extended Disk Parameter Headers (XPDHs)
56
57 0000 E600 dw fd$write
58 0002 DC00 dw fd$read
59 0004 DB00 dw fd$login
60 0006 BE00 dw fd$init0
61 0008 0000 db 0,0 ; relative drive zero
62 fdsd0 dph trans,dpbsd,16,31
63 000A+A400 DW TRANS ; TRANSLATE TABLE ADDRESS
64 000C+0000000000 DB 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 ; BDOS SCRATCH AREA
65 0015+00 DB 0 ; MEDIA FLAG
66 0016+0000 DW DPBSD ; DISK PARAMETER BLOCK
67 0018+2300 DW ??0001 ; CHECKSUM VECTOR
68 001A+3300 DW ??0002 ; ALLOCATION VECTOR
69 001C+FEFFFEFFFE DW 0FFFEH,0FFFEH,0FFFEH ; DIRBCB, DTABCB, HASH ALLOC'D
70 0022+00 DB 0 ; HASH BANK
71 0023+ ??0001 DS 16 ; CHECKSUM VECTOR
72 0033+ ??0002 DS 31 ; ALLOCATION VECTOR
73
74 0052 E600 dw fd$write
75 0054 DC00 dw fd$read
76 0056 DB00 dw fd$login
77 0058 CD00 dw fd$init1
78 005A 0100 db 1,0 ; relative drive one
79 fdsd1 dph trans,dpbsd,16,31
80 005C+A400 DW TRANS ; TRANSLATE TABLE ADDRESS
81 005E+0000000000 DB 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 ; BDOS SCRATCH AREA
82 0067+00 DB 0 ; MEDIA FLAG
83 0068+0000 DW DPBSD ; DISK PARAMETER BLOCK
84 006A+7500 DW ??0003 ; CHECKSUM VECTOR
85 006C+8500 DW ??0004 ; ALLOCATION VECTOR
86 006E+FEFFFEFFFE DW 0FFFEH,0FFFEH,0FFFEH ; DIRBCB, DTABCB, HASH ALLOC'D
87 0074+00 DB 0 ; HASH BANK
88 0075+ ??0003 DS 16 ; CHECKSUM VECTOR
89 0085+ ??0004 DS 31 ; ALLOCATION VECTOR
90
91 cseg ; DPB must be resident
92
93 dpbsd dpb 128,26,77,1024,64,2
94 0000+1A00 DW ??0005 ; 128 BYTE RECORDS PER TRACK
95 0002+0307 DB ??0006,??0007 ; BLOCK SHIFT AND MASK

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-12
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

96 0004+00 DB ??0008 ; EXTENT MASK

97 0005+F200 DW ??0009 ; MAXIMUM BLOCK NUMBER
98 0007+3F00 DW ??0010 ; MAXIMUM DIRECTORY ENTRY NUMBER
99 0009+C000 DB ??0011,??0012 ; ALLOC VECTOR FOR DIRECTORY
100 000B+1000 DW ??0013 ; CHECKSUM SIZE
101 000D+0200 DW 2 ; OFFSET FOR SYSTEM TRACKS
102 000F+0000 DB ??0014,??0015 ; PHYSICAL SECTOR SIZE SHIFT
103
104 dseg ; rest is banked
105
106 trans skew 26,6,1
107 00A4+01 DB ?NXTSEC+1
108 00A5+07 DB ?NXTSEC+1
109 00A6+0D DB ?NXTSEC+1
110 00A7+13 DB ?NXTSEC+1
111 00A8+19 DB ?NXTSEC+1
112 00A9+05 DB ?NXTSEC+1
113 00AA+0B DB ?NXTSEC+1
114 00AB+11 DB ?NXTSEC+1
115 00AC+17 DB ?NXTSEC+1
116 00AD+03 DB ?NXTSEC+1
117 00AE+09 DB ?NXTSEC+1
118 00AF+0F DB ?NXTSEC+1
119 00B0+15 DB ?NXTSEC+1
120 00B1+02 DB ?NXTSEC+1
121 00B2+08 DB ?NXTSEC+1
122 00B3+0E DB ?NXTSEC+1
123 00B4+14 DB ?NXTSEC+1
124 00B5+1A DB ?NXTSEC+1
125 00B6+06 DB ?NXTSEC+1
126 00B7+0C DB ?NXTSEC+1
127 00B8+12 DB ?NXTSEC+1
128 00B9+18 DB ?NXTSEC+1
129 00BA+04 DB ?NXTSEC+1
130 00BB+0A DB ?NXTSEC+1
131 00BC+10 DB ?NXTSEC+1
132 00BD+16 DB ?NXTSEC+1
133
134
135
136 ; Disk I/O routines for standardized BIOS interface
137
138 ; Initialization entry point.
139
140 ; called for first time initialization.
141
142
143 fd$init0:
144 00BE 21CE00 lxi h,init$table
145 fd$init$next:
146 00C1 7EB7C8 mov a,m ! ora a ! rz
147 00C4 47234E23 mov b,a ! inx h ! mov c,m ! inx h
148 outir
149 00C8+EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
150 00CA C3C100 jmp fd$init$next
151

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-13
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

152 fd$init1: ; all initialization done by drive 0

153 00CD C9 ret
154
155 00CE 040A init$table db 4,p$zpio$1A
156 00D0 CFC217FF db 11001111b, 11000010b, 00010111b,11111111b
157 00D4 040B db 4,p$zpio$1B
158 00D6 CFDD17FF db 11001111b, 11011101b, 00010111b,11111111b
159 00DA 00 db 0
160
161
162 fd$login:
163 ; This entry is called when a logical drive is about to
164 ; be logged into for the purpose of density determination.
165
166 ; It may adjust the parameters contained in the disk
167 ; parameter header pointed at by <DE>
168
169 00DB C9 ret ; we have nothing to do in
170 ; simple single density only environment.
171
172
173 ; disk READ and WRITE entry points.
174
175 ; these entries are called with the following arguments:
176
177 ; relative drive number in @rdrv (8 bits)
178 ; absolute drive number in @adrv (8 bits)
179 ; disk transfer address in @dma (16 bits)
180 ; disk transfer bank in @dbnk (8 bits)
181 ; disk track address in @trk (16 bits)
182 ; disk sector address in @sect (16 bits)
183 ; pointer to XDPH in <DE>
184
185 ; they transfer the appropriate data, perform retries
186 ; if necessary, then return an error code in <A>
187
188 fd$read:
189 00DC 211802 lxi h,read$msg ; point at " Read "
190 00DF 3E880601 mvi a,88h ! mvi b,01h ; 1797 read + Z80DMA direction
191 00E3 C3ED00 jmp rw$common
192
193 fd$write:
194 00E6 211F02 lxi h,write$msg ; point at " Write "
195 00E9 3EA80605 mvi a,0A8h ! mvi b,05h ; 1797 write + Z80DMA direction
196 ; jmp wr$common
197
198 rw$common: ; seek to correct track (if necessary),
199 ; initialize DMA controller,
200 ; and issue 1797 command.
201
202 00ED 222702 shld operation$name ; save message for errors
203 00F0 321102 sta disk$command ; save 1797 command
204 00F3 7832A802 mov a,b ! sta zdma$direction ; save Z80DMA direction code
205 00F7 2A0000229F lhld @dma ! shld zdma$dma ; get and save DMA address
206 00FD 3A00006F26 lda @rdrv ! mov l,a ! mvi h,0 ; get controller-relative disk drive
207 0103 11160219 lxi d,select$table ! dad d ; point to select mask for drive

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-14
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

208 0107 7E321202 mov a,m ! sta select$mask ; get select mask and save it
209 010B D308 out p$select ; select drive
210 more$retries:
211 010D 0E0A mvi c,10 ; allow 10 retries
212 retry$operation:
213 010F C5 push b ; save retry counter
214
215 0110 3A12022113 lda select$mask ! lxi h,old$select ! cmp m
216 0117 77 mov m,a
217 0118 C22D01 jnz new$track ; if not same drive as last, seek
218
219 011B 3A00002114 lda @trk ! lxi h,old$track ! cmp m
220 0122 77 mov m,a
221 0123 C22D01 jnz new$track ; if not same track, then seek
222
223 0126 DB09E602C2 in p$fdmisc ! ani 2 ! jnz same$track ; head still loaded, we are OK
224
225 new$track: ; or drive or unloaded head means we should . . .
226 012D CDA901 call check$seek ; . . read address and seek if wrong track
227
228 0130 011B41 lxi b,16667 ; 100 ms / (24 t states*250 ns)
229 spin$loop: ; wait for head/seek settling
230 0133 0B dcx b
231 0134 78B1 mov a,b ! ora c
232 0136 C23301 jnz spin$loop
233
234 same$track:
235 0139 3A0000D305 lda @trk ! out p$fdtrack ; give 1797 track
236 013E 3A0000D306 lda @sect ! out p$fdsector ; and sector
237
238 0143 219A02 lxi h,dma$block ; point to dma command block
239 0146 010011 lxi b,dmab$length*256 + p$zdma ; command block length and port address
240 outir ; send commands to Z80 DMA
241 0149+EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
242
243 014B DB25 in p$bankselect ; get old value of bank select port
244 014D E63F47 ani 3Fh ! mov b,a ; mask off DMA bank and save
245 0150 3A00000F0F lda @dbnk ! rrc ! rrc ; get DMA bank to 2 hi-order bits
246 0155 E6C0B0 ani 0C0h ! ora b ; merge with other bank stuff
247 0158 D325 out p$bankselect ; and select the correct DMA bank
248
249 015A 3A1102 lda disk$command ; get 1797 command
250 015D CDD501 call exec$command ; start it then wait for IREQ and read status
251 0160 321502 sta disk$status ; save status for error messages
252
253 0163 C1 pop b ; recover retry counter
254 0164 B7C8 ora a ! rz ; check status and return to BDOS if no error
255
256 0166 E610 ani 0001$0000b ; see if record not found error
257 0168 C4A901 cnz check$seek ; if a record not found, we might need to seek
258
259 016B 0DC20F01 dcr c ! jnz retry$operation
260
261 ; suppress error message if BDOS is returning errors to application...
262
263 016F 3A0000FEFF lda @ermde ! cpi 0FFh ! jz hard$error

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-15
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

264
265 ; Had permanent error, print message like:
266
267 ; BIOS Err on d: T-nn, S-mm, <operation> <type>, Retry ?
268
269 0177 CD0000 call ?pderr ; print message header
270
271 017A 2A2702CD00 lhld operation$name ! call ?pmsg ; last function
272
273 ; then, messages for all indicated error bits
274
275 0180 3A1502 lda disk$status ; get status byte from last error
276 0183 212902 lxi h,error$table ; point at table of message addresses
277 errm1:
278 0186 5E235623 mov e,m ! inx h ! mov d,m ! inx h ; get next message address
279 018A 87F5 add a ! push psw ; shift left and push residual bits with status
280 018C EBDC0000EB xchg ! cc ?pmsg ! xchg ; print message, saving table pointer
281 0191 F1C28601 pop psw ! jnz errm1 ; if any more bits left, continue
282
283 0195 218A02CD00 lxi h,error$msg ! call ?pmsg ; print "<BEL>, Retry (Y/N) ? "
284 019B CDF501 call u$conin$echo ; get operator response
285 019E FE59CA0D01 cpi 'Y' ! jz more$retries ; Yes, then retry 10 more times
286 hard$error: ; otherwise,
287 01A3 3E01C9 mvi a,1 ! ret ; return hard error to BDOS
288
289 cancel: ; here to abort job
290 01A6 C30000 jmp ?wboot ; leap directly to warmstart vector
291
292
293 ; subroutine to seek if on wrong track
294 ; called both to set up new track or drive
295
296 check$seek:
297 01A9 C5 push b ; save error counter
298 01AA CDE101 call read$id ; try to read ID, put track in <B>
299 01AD CABE01 jz id$ok ; if OK, we're OK
300 01B0 CDCE01 call step$out ; else step towards Trk 0
301 01B3 CDE101 call read$id ; and try again
302 01B6 CABE01 jz id$ok ; if OK, we're OK
303 01B9 CDD301 call restore ; else, restore the drive
304 01BC 0600 mvi b,0 ; and make like we are at track 0
305 id$ok:
306 01BE 78D305 mov a,b ! out p$fdtrack ; send current track to track port
307 01C1 3A0000B8C1 lda @trk ! cmp b ! pop b ! rz ; if its desired track, we are done
308 01C7 D307 out p$fddata ; else, desired track to data port
309 01C9 3E1A mvi a,00011010b ; seek w/ 10 ms. steps
310 01CB C3D501 jmp exec$command
311
312
313
314 step$out:
315 01CE 3E6A mvi a,01101010b ; step out once at 10 ms.
316 01D0 C3D501 jmp exec$command
317
318 restore:
319 01D3 3E0B mvi a,00001011b ; restore at 15 ms

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-16
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

320 ; jmp exec$command

321
322
323 exec$command: ; issue 1797 command, and wait for IREQ
324 ; return status
325 01D5 D304 out p$fdcmnd ; send 1797 command
326 wait$IREQ: ; spin til IREQ
327 01D7 DB08E640CA in p$fdint ! ani 40h ! jz wait$IREQ
328 01DE DB04 in p$fdstat ; get 1797 status and clear IREQ
329 01E0 C9 ret
330
331 read$id:
332 01E1 21AB02 lxi h,read$id$block ; set up DMA controller
333 01E4 01000F lxi b,length$id$dmab*256 + p$zdma ; for READ ADDRESS operation
334 outir
335 01E7+EDB3 DB 0EDH,0B3H
336 01E9 3EC4 mvi a,11000100b ; issue 1797 read address command
337 01EB CDD501 call exec$command ; wait for IREQ and read status
338 01EE E69D ani 10011101b ; mask status
339 01F0 21110046 lxi h,id$buffer ! mov b,m ; get actual track number in <B>
340 01F4 C9 ret ; and return with Z flag true for OK
341
342
343 u$conin$echo: ; get console input, echo it, and shift to upper case
344 01F5 CD0000B7CA call ?const ! ora a ! jz u$c1 ; see if any char already struck
345 01FC CD0000C3F5 call ?conin ! jmp u$conin$echo ; yes, eat it and try again
346 u$c1:
347 0202 CD0000F5 call ?conin ! push psw
348 0206 4FCD0000 mov c,a ! call ?cono
349 020A F1FE61D8 pop psw ! cpi 'a' ! rc
350 020E D620 sui 'a'-'A' ; make upper case
351 0210 C9 ret
352
353
354 0211 disk$command ds 1 ; current wd1797 command
355 0212 select$mask ds 1 ; current drive select code
356 0213 old$select ds 1 ; last drive selected
357 0214 old$track ds 1 ; last track seeked to
358
359 0215 disk$status ds 1 ; last error status code for messages
360
361 0216 1020 select$table db 0001$0000b,0010$0000b ; for now use drives C and D
362
363
364 ; error message components
365
366 0218 2C20526561read$msg db ', Read',0
367 021F 2C20577269write$msg db ', Write',0
368
369 0227 1802 operation$name dw read$msg
370
371 ; table of pointers to error message strings
372 ; first entry is for bit 7 of 1797 status byte
373
374 0229 3902 error$table dw b7$msg
375 022B 4502 dw b6$msg

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-17
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

376 022D 4F02 dw b5$msg

377 022F 5702 dw b4$msg
378 0231 6A02 dw b3$msg
379 0233 7002 dw b2$msg
380 0235 7C02 dw b1$msg
381 0237 8302 dw b0$msg
382
383 0239 204E6F7420b7$msg db ' Not ready,',0
384 0245 2050726F74b6$msg db ' Protect,',0
385 024F 204661756Cb5$msg db ' Fault,',0
386 0257 205265636Fb4$msg db ' Record not found,',0
387 026A 204352432Cb3$msg db ' CRC,',0
388 0270 204C6F7374b2$msg db ' Lost data,',0
389 027C 2044524551b1$msg db ' DREQ,',0
390 0283 2042757379b0$msg db ' Busy,',0
391
392 028A 2052657472error$msg db ' Retry (Y/N) ? ',0
393
394
395
396 ; command string for Z80DMA device for normal operation
397
398 029A C3 dma$block db 0C3h ; reset DMA channel
399 029B 14 db 14h ; channel A is incrementing memory
400 029C 28 db 28h ; channel B is fixed port address
401 029D 8A db 8Ah ; RDY is high, CE/ only, stop on EOB
402 029E 79 db 79h ; program all of ch. A, xfer B->A (temp)
403 029F zdma$dma ds 2 ; starting DMA address
404 02A1 7F00 dw 128-1 ; 128 byte sectors in SD
405 02A3 85 db 85h ; xfer byte at a time, ch B is 8 bit address
406 02A4 07 db p$fddata ; ch B port address (1797 data port)
407 02A5 CF db 0CFh ; load B as source register
408 02A6 05 db 05h ; xfer A->B
409 02A7 CF db 0CFh ; load A as source register
410 02A8 zdma$direction ds 1 ; either A->B or B->A
411 02A9 CF db 0CFh ; load final source register
412 02AA 87 db 87h ; enable DMA channel
413 0011 = dmab$length equ $-dma$block
414
415
416
417 02AB C3 read$id$block db 0C3h ; reset DMA channel
418 02AC 14 db 14h ; channel A is incrementing memory
419 02AD 28 db 28h ; channel B is fixed port address
420 02AE 8A db 8Ah ; RDY is high, CE/ only, stop on EOB
421 02AF 7D db 7Dh ; program all of ch. A, xfer A->B (temp)
422 02B0 1100 dw id$buffer ; starting DMA address
423 02B2 0500 dw 6-1 ; Read ID always xfers 6 bytes
424 02B4 85 db 85h ; byte xfer, ch B is 8 bit address
425 02B5 07 db p$fddata ; ch B port address (1797 data port)
426 02B6 CF db 0CFh ; load dest (currently source) register
427 02B7 01 db 01h ; xfer B->A
428 02B8 CF db 0CFh ; load source register
429 02B9 87 db 87h ; enable DMA channel
430 000F = length$id$dmab equ $-read$id$block
431

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-18
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

432 cseg ; easier to put ID buffer in common

433
434 0011 id$buffer ds 6 ; buffer to hold ID field
435 ; track
436 ; side
437 ; sector
438 ; length
439 ; CRC 1
440 ; CRC 2
441
442 0017 end
B0MSG 0283 381 390#
B1MSG 027C 380 389#
B2MSG 0270 379 388#
B3MSG 026A 378 387#
B4MSG 0257 377 386#
B5MSG 024F 376 385#
B6MSG 0245 375 384#
B7MSG 0239 374 383#
BC 0000
BELL 0007 52#
CANCEL 01A6 289#
CHECKSEEK 01A9 226 257 296#
CR 000D 50#
DE 0002
DISKCOMMAND 0211 203 249 354#
DISKSTATUS 0215 251 275 359#
DMABLENGTH 0011 239 413#
DMABLOCK 029A 238 398# 413
DPBSD 0000 62 66 79 83 93#
ERRM1 0186 277# 281
ERRORMSG 028A 283 392#
ERRORTABLE 0229 276 374#
EXECCOMMAND 01D5 250 310 316 323# 337
FDINIT0 00BE 60 143#
FDINIT1 00CD 77 152#
FDINITNEXT 00C1 145# 150
FDLOGIN 00DB 59 76 162#
FDREAD 00DC 58 75 188#
FDSD0 000A 14 62#
FDSD1 005C 14 79#
FDWRITE 00E6 57 74 193#
HARDERROR 01A3 263 286#
HL 0004
IDBUFFER 0011 339 422 434#
IDOK 01BE 299 302 305#
INITTABLE 00CE 144 155#
IX 0004
IY 0004
LENGTHIDDMAB 000F 333 430#
LF 000A 51#
MORERETRIES 010D 210# 285
NEWTRACK 012D 217 221 225#
OLDSELECT 0213 215 356#
OLDTRACK 0214 219 357#
OPERATIONNAME 0227 202 271 369#

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-19
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

PBANKSELECT 0025 243 247

PBAUDCON1 000C
PBAUDCON2 0030
PBAUDCON34 0031
PBAUDLPT1 000E
PBAUDLPT2 0032
PBOOT 0014
PCENTDATA 0011
PCENTSTAT 0010
PCON2DATA 002C
PCON2STAT 002D
PCON3DATA 002E
PCON3STAT 002F
PCON4DATA 002A
PCON4STAT 002B
PCONFIGURATION 0024
PCRTDATA 001C
PCRTSTAT 001D
PFDCMND 0004 325
PFDDATA 0007 308 406 425
PFDINT 0008 327
PFDMISC 0009 223
PFDSECTOR 0006 236
PFDSTAT 0004 328
PFDTRACK 0005 235 306
PINDEX 000F
PLPT2DATA 0028
PLPT2STAT 0029
PLPTDATA 001E
PLPTSTAT 001F
PRTC 0033
PSELECT 0008 209
PWD1797 0004
PZCTC1 000C
PZCTC2 0030
PZDART 001C
PZDMA 0000 239 333
PZPIO1 0008
PZPIO1A 000A 155
PZPIO1B 000B 157
PZPIO2 0010
PZPIO2A 0012
PZPIO2B 0013
PZPIO3 0024
PZPIO3A 0026
PZPIO3B 0027
PZSIO1 0028
PZSIO2 002C
READID 01E1 298 301 331#
READIDBLOCK 02AB 332 417# 430
READMSG 0218 189 366# 369
RESTORE 01D3 303 318#
RETRYOPERATION 010F 212# 259
RWCOMMON 00ED 191 198#
SAMETRACK 0139 223 234#
SELECTMASK 0212 208 215 355#

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-20
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

SELECTTABLE 0216 207 361#

SPINLOOP 0133 229# 232
STEPOUT 01CE 300 314#
TRANS 00A4 62 63 79 80 106#
UC1 0202 344 346#
UCONINECHO 01F5 284 343# 345
WAITIREQ 01D7 326# 327
WRITEMSG 021F 194 367#
ZDMADIRECTION 02A8 204 410#
ZDMADMA 029F 205 403#
?CONIN 0000 32 345 347
?CONO 0000 32 348
?CONST 0000 33 344
?PDEC 0000 30
?PDERR 0000 31 269
?PMSG 0000 29 271 280 283
?WBOOT 0000 28 290
@ADRV 0000 18
@DBNK 0000 20 245
@DMA 0000 19 205
@ERMDE 0000 24 263
@RDRV 0000 18 206
@SECT 0000 19 236
@TRK 0000 19 219 235 307

I.5.  Bank and Move Module for CP/M 3 Linked BIOS

The MOVE.ASM module performs memory-to-memory moves and bank-
selects.

Listing I-5. Bank and Move Module for CP/M 3 Linked BIOS
1 title 'bank & move module for CP/M3 linked BIOS'
2
3 cseg
4
5 public ?move,?xmove,?bank
6 extrn @cbnk
7
8 maclib z80
9 maclib ports
10
11 ?xmove: ; ALTOS can't perform interbank moves
12 0000 C9 ret
13
14 ?move:
15 0001 EB xchg ; we are passed source in DE and dest in HL
16 ldir ; use Z80 block move instruction
17 0002+EDB0 DB 0EDH,0B0H
18 0004 EB xchg ; need next addresses in same regs
19 0005 C9 ret

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-21
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

20
21 ; by exiting through bank select
22 ?bank:
23 0006 C5 push b ; save register b for temp
24 0007 171717E618 ral ! ral ! ral ! ani 18h ; isolate bank in proper bit position
25 000C 47 mov b,a ; save in reg B
26 000D DB25 in p$bankselect ; get old memory control byte
27 000F E6E7B0 ani 0E7h ! ora b ; mask out old and merge in new
28 0012 D325 out p$bankselect ; put new memory control byte
29 0014 C1 pop b ; restore register b
30 0015 C9 ret
31
32 ; 128 bytes at a time
33
34 0016 end
BC 0000
DE 0002
HL 0004
IX 0004
IY 0004
PBANKSELECT 0025 26 28
PBAUDCON1 000C
PBAUDCON2 0030
PBAUDCON34 0031
PBAUDLPT1 000E
PBAUDLPT2 0032
PBOOT 0014
PCENTDATA 0011
PCENTSTAT 0010
PCON2DATA 002C
PCON2STAT 002D
PCON3DATA 002E
PCON3STAT 002F
PCON4DATA 002A
PCON4STAT 002B
PCONFIGURATION 0024
PCRTDATA 001C
PCRTSTAT 001D
PFDCMND 0004
PFDDATA 0007
PFDINT 0008
PFDMISC 0009
PFDSECTOR 0006
PFDSTAT 0004
PFDTRACK 0005
PINDEX 000F
PLPT2DATA 0028
PLPT2STAT 0029
PLPTDATA 001E
PLPTSTAT 001F
PRTC 0033
PSELECT 0008
PWD1797 0004
PZCTC1 000C
PZCTC2 0030
PZDART 001C

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-22
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

PZDMA 0000
PZPIO1 0008
PZPIO1A 000A
PZPIO1B 000B
PZPIO2 0010
PZPIO2A 0012
PZPIO2B 0013
PZPIO3 0024
PZPIO3A 0026
PZPIO3B 0027
PZSIO1 0028
PZSIO2 002C
?BANK 0006 5 22#
?MOVE 0001 5 14#
?XMOVE 0000 5 11#
@CBNK 0000 6

I.6.  I/O Port Addresses for Z80 Chip-based System:

PORTS.LIB
This listing is the PORTS.LIB file on your distribution diskette. It contains
the port addresses for the Z80 chip-basedsystem with a Western Digital 1797
Floppy Disk Controller.

Listing I-6. I/O Port Addresses for Z80 Chip-based System

; I/O Port addresses for Z80 chip set
; based system with wd1797 FDC

; chip bases

p$zdma equ 0
p$wd1797 equ 4
p$zpio1 equ 8
p$zctc1 equ 12
p$zpio2 equ 16
p$boot equ 20 ; OUT disables boot EPROM
p$zdart equ 28 ; console 1 and printer 1
p$zpio3 equ 36
p$zsio1 equ 40
p$zsio2 equ 44
p$zctc2 equ 48

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-23
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

; diskette controller chip ports

p$fdcmnd equ p$wd1797+0

p$fdstat equ p$wd1797+0
p$fdtrack equ p$wd1797+1
p$fdsector equ p$wd1797+2
p$fddata equ p$wd1797+3

; parallel I/O 1

p$select equ p$zpio1+0

p$fdint equ p$zpio1+0
p$fdmisc equ p$zpio1+1
p$zpio1a equ p$zpio1+2
p$zpio1b equ p$zpio1+3

; counter timer chip 1

p$baudcon1 equ p$zctc1+0

p$baudlpt1 equ p$zctc1+2
p$index equ p$zctc1+3

; parallel I/O 2, Centronics printer interface

p$cent$stat equ p$zpio2+0

p$cent$data equ p$zpio2+1
p$zpio2a equ p$zpio2+2
p$zpio2b equ p$zpio2+3

; dual asynch rcvr/xmtr, console and serial printer ports

p$crt$data equ p$zdart+0

p$crt$stat equ p$zdart+1
p$lpt$data equ p$zdart+2
p$lpt$stat equ p$zdart+3

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-24
ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules 

; Third Parallel I/O device

p$configuration equ p$zpio3+0

p$bankselect equ p$zpio3+1
p$zpio3a equ p$zpio3+2
p$zpio3b equ p$zpio3+3

; Serial I/O device 1, printer 2 and console 4

p$lpt2data equ p$zsio1+0

p$lpt2stat equ p$zsio1+1
p$con4data equ p$zsio1+2
p$con4stat equ p$zsio1+3

; Serial I/O device 2, console 2 and 3

p$con2data equ p$zsio2+0

p$con2stat equ p$zsio2+1
p$con3data equ p$zsio2+2
p$con3stat equ p$zsio2+3

; second Counter Timer Circuit

p$baudcon2 equ p$zctc2+0

p$baudcon34 equ p$zctc2+1
p$baudlpt2 equ p$zctc2+2
p$rtc equ p$zctc2+3

I.7.  Sample Submit File for ASC 8000-15 System

Digital Research used this SUBMIT file to build the sample BIOS.

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-25
 ACS 8000-15 BIOS Modules

Listing I-7. Sample Submit File for ASC 8000-12 System

; Submit file to build sample BIOS for ACS 8000-15 single-density system
;
rmac bioskrnl
rmac boot
rmac move
rmac chario
rmac drvtbl
rmac fd1797sd
rmac scb
link bnkbios3[b,q]=bioskrnl,boot,move,chario,drvtbl,fd17975d,scb
gencpm

End of Appendix I

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
I-26
Public Entry Points for CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules 

Appendix J 
Public Entry Points for
CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules

Table J-1. Public Entry Points for CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules
Module Public Function Input Parameter Return Value
Name Entry Point
BIOSKRNL
?PMSG Print Message HL points to msg none
?PDEC Print Decimal HL=number none
?PDERR Print BIOS Disk Err none none
Msg Header

CHARIO
?CINIT Char Dev Init C=Phys Dev # none
Dev Parms in
@CTBL
?CIST Char Inp Dev St B=Phys Dev # A=00 if no input
A=0FFH if input
char available
?COST Char Out Dev St B=Phys Dev # A=00 if output busy
A=0FFH if output
ready
?CI Char Dev Input B=Phys Dev # A=next available
input char
?CO Char Dev Output B=Phys Dev #
C=Input Char

MOVE
?MOVE Memory to Memory BC=byte count DE, HL point to
Move DE=start source adr next bytes after move
HL=star dest adr

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
J-1
 Public Entry Points for CP/M 3 Sample BIOS Modules

Module Public Function Input Parameter Return Value

Name Entry Point
?XMOVE Set Banks for Ex- B=Source Bank BC, DE, HL are
tended Move C=Dest Bank unchanged
?BANK Select Bank A=Bank Number All unchanged

BOOT
?INIT System Init none none
?LDCCP Load CCP none none
?RLCCP Reload CCP none none
?TIME Get/Set Time C=000H if get none
C=0FFH if set

End of Appendix J

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
J-2
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix K 
Public Data Items in CP/M 3
Sample BIOS Modules

Table K-1. Public Data Items

Module Public Description
Name Data
BIOSKRNL
@ADRV Absolute logical drive code
@RDRV Relative logical drive code (UNIT)
@TRK Track Number
@SECT Sector Address
@DMA DMA Address
@DBNK Bank for Disk I/O
@CNT Multi-Sector Count
@CBNK Current CPU Bank

CHARIO
@CTBL Character Device Table

DRVTBL
@DTBL Drive Table

End of Appendix K

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
K-1
 CP/M System Guide

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
K-2
CP/M System Guide 

Appendix L 
CP/M 3 BIOS Function
Summary

Table L-1. BIOS Function Jump Table Summary

No. Function Input Output
0 BOOT None None
1 WBOOT None None
2 CONST None A=0FFH if ready
A=00H if not ready
3 CONIN NONE A=Con Char
4 CONOUT C=Con Char None
5 LIST C=Char None
6 AUXOUT C=Char None
7 AUXIN None A=Char
8 HOME None None
9 SELDSK C=Drive 0-15 HL=DPH addr
E=Init Sel Flag HL=00H if invalid dr.
10 SETTRK BC=Track No None
11 SETSEC BC=Sector No None
12 SETDMA BC=.DMA None
13 READ None A=00H if no Err
A=01H if Non-recov Err
A=0FFH if media changed

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
L-1
 CP/M System Guide

No. Function Input Output

14 WRITE C=Deblk Codes A=00H if no Err
A=01H if Phys Err
A=02H if Dsk is R/O
A=0FFH if media changed
15 LISTST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
16 SECTRN BC=Log Sect No HL=Phys Sect No
DE=Trans Tbl Adr
17 CONOST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
18 AUXIST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
19 AUXOST None A=00H if not ready
A=0FFH if ready
20 DEVTBL None HL=Chrtbl
21 DEVINI C=Dev No 0-15 None
22 DRVTBL None HL=Drv Tbl addr
HL=0FFFFH
HL=0FFFEH
23 MULTIO C=Mult Sec Cnt None
24 FLUSH None A=00H if no err
A=01H if phys err
A=02H if disk R/O
25 MOVE HL=Dest Adr HL & DE point to next
DE=Source Adr bytes following MOVE
26 TIME C=Get/Set Flag None
27 SELMEM A=Mem Bank None
28 SETBNK A=Mem Bank None

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
L-2
CP/M System Guide 

No. Function Input Output

29 XMOVE B=Dest Bank None
C=Source Bank
BC=Count
30 USERF Reserved for System Implementor
31 RESERV1 Reserved for Future Use
32 RESERV2 Reserved for Future Use

End of Appendix L

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
L-3
 CP/M System Guide

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
L-4
 Index
Symbols @DATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-6
@DBNK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, 4-8
? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 5-4 ?DEVIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
restrictions on use. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4 @DMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, 4-8
@ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 ?DRTBL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
restriction on use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4 @DTBL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2 ?DVTBL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
$B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22, 6-2 @ERDSK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4
@ADRV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, 4-8 ?ERJMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-7
@AIVEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 3-4 @ERMDE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-5
@AOVEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 3-4 ?FLUSH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
?AUXI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 @FX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4
?AUXIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 ?HOME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
?AUXO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 @HOUR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-6
?AUXOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 ?INIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-10
?BANK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 ?LDCCP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-11
@BFLGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-5 ?LIST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
@BNKBF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4 ?LISTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
?BNKSL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 @LOVEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 3-4
?BOOT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 @MEDIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-5
@CBNK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, 4-8 @MIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-6
?CI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-13 ?MLTIO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
?CINIT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-14 @MLTIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-5
?CIST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-14 ?MOV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
@CIVEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 3-4 ?MOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
@CNT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, 4-8 @MXTPA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-8
?CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-13 ?PDEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-9
?CONIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 ?PDERR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-9
?CONO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 ?PMSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-9
?CONOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 @RDRV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-8
?CONST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 ?READ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
?COST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-14 @RESEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4
@COVEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2, 3-4 ?RLCCP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-11
@CRDMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4 ?SCTRN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
@CRDSK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4 @SEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-6
@CTBL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6 @SECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-8

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-1
?SLDSK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 B
?STBNK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
?STDMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 backspace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
?STSEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 bank
?STTRK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5, 1-7
?TIM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5, 1-7
?TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 banked BIOS
@TRK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7, 4-8 assembling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
@USRCD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4 linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
@VINFO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3, 3-4 preparing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54
?WBOOT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 banked memory
?WRITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9 buffer control block . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
?XMOV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 banked system
?XMOVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7 allocation vector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
BANK field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
A BCD data structures. . . . . . . . . . 3-25
BDOS and BIOS, in Bank 0. . . 1-10
AL0 and AL1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 BDOS and BIOS, in common me-
allocation units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19 mory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
allocation vector. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10, 5-3 common memory . . . . . . . . 1-5, 3-10
See also ALV with Bank 1 enabled. . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
ALV BANK field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23, 3-25
banked system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 bank number
double. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7 current. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
double-bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 bank-switched memory. . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
single-bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 block moves and memory selects. . . . .
assembler source file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
assembly language organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
cross-reference program. . . . . . . . E-1 requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2, 1-9
sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1 Basic Disk Operating System
assembly-time arithmetic. . . . . . . . . 3-2 See BDOS
assignment vector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Basic Input Output System
auto-density support. . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 See BIOS
AUTO DISPLAY parameter . . . . . 5-3 baud rate
automatic login feature. . . . . . . . . . 3-19 current. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
AUTO parameter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 serial device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
AUXIN. . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-7, 3-30, 3-39 BDOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2, 2-1
AUXIST. . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-40 disk I/O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
AUXOST. . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-41 flags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
AUXOUT. . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-7, 3-30, 3-39 Function 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-2
 Function 49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-40, C-3, L-2
Function 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-40, C-3, L-2
JMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-41, C-3, L-2
Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-34, C-3, L-2
fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-35, C-3, L-2
format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-35, C-3, L-2
BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-47, C-3, L-2
assembling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-48, C-4, L-2
calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32, 3-49, C-4, L-2
cold start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32, 3-51, C-4, L-2
customizing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5, 1-12 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32, 3-50, C-4, L-2
debugging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22, 6-1 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32, 3-50, C-4, L-2
disk data structures. . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32, 3-51, C-4, L-3
entry points. . . . . . . . . 2-2, 3-29, 4-10 BIOS functions
error message header. . . . . . . . . . 4-20 list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, C-1
flush buffers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48 summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L-1
media flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 BIOS jump vector . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 3-29
new functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-3 public names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 BIOSKRNL.ASM. . . . . . . 4-1, 4-2, 4-4
routines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 equate statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
subroutine entry points. . 3-29, 4-19 global variables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
subroutines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 modification restriction. . . . . . . . 4-2
BIOS function calls nonbanked system. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-32, C-1, L-1 public utility subroutines. . . . . . . 4-9
1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-33, C-1, L-1 BIOS modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1, 4-3
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-37, C-2, L-1 conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-38, C-2, L-1 external names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-38, C-2, L-1 external reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-38, C-2, L-1 functional summary . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-39, C-2, L-1 BLM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18, 3-20
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-39, C-2, L-1 block
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-41, C-2, L-1 mask. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18, 3-20
9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-42, C-2, L-1 shift factor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18, 3-20
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-43, C-2, L-1 size restriction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-43, C-2, L-1 transfers (memory-to-memory). 2-13
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-43, C-2, L-1 blocking/deblocking. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-44, C-3, L-1 in BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . 3-34, 3-45, 3-48
14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-45, C-3, L-2 blocking logical
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-40, C-3, L-2 128-byte records . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-46, C-3, L-2 BOOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4, 3-30, 3-32

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-3
 entry point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 data structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
JMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 interface routines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
BOOT.ASM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 machine-dependent . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2, I-1 operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
booting CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23 redirection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
boot loader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23 CHARIO.ASM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1 module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
boot ROMs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32 CHARIO module. . . . . . . . . . 4-5, 4-11
BOOT routine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 checksumming
BSH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18, 3-20 full directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Buffer Control Block. . . . . . . 3-10, 3-16 checksum vectors. . . . . . 3-10, 3-14, 5-3
fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 clusters
format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23 See block
buffer definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12 Cold Boot
buffering scheme. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9, 2-11 Loader . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12, 1-15, 3-32
buffers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25 passpoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Blocking/Deblocking. . . . . . . . . 5-10 process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
dirty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48 cold start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12, 5-23, I-1
pending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34 initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
buffer space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9, 2-11 loader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1, 2-6, 5-23
allocation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1, 5-10 common memory. 1-5, 1-12, 3-10, 3-53
hardware-dependent. . . . . . . . . . . 1-6 banked system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
base page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
C BIOS data structures . . . . . . . . . 3-52
CCP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 CONIN. . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-7, 3-30, 3-38
flags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 CONOST. . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-40
loading into TPA. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 CONOUT . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-7, 3-30, 3-38
CCP.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15, 2-5 Console Command Processor
character device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 See CCP
characteristics table. . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5 console output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
interfacing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 CONST. . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 3-30, 3-37
labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 COPYSYS utility. . . . . . . . . . 5-19, 5-24
output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 CP/M 2 BIOS modification. . . . . . C-1
table (@CTBL). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 CP/M 3
character devices See also BIOS
logical to physical redirection. . . 4-5 customizing hardware. . . . . . . . . 1-13
character I/O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 Linked BIOS Bank/Move Module. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-21

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-4
 loading into memory . . . . . . . . . 1-15 DEVINI. . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-35
CPM3.SYS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 DEVTBL. . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-34
file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13, 1-15, 2-6 Direct Memory Access
file format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1 See DMA
loading into memory . . . . . . . . . 5-19 directory
CPMLDR . . . . . . . . 1-6, 2-6, 5-19, 5-22 buffers. . . . . . . 2-11, 3-10, 3-24, 5-10
sign-on message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23 caches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 checksumming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
CPMLDR_BDOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 entries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1, 3-22
CPMLDR_BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 hashing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
CPMLDR.COM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20 hash tables. . . . . . . . . . . 1-6, 1-11, 5-9
CTRL-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
CTRL-Z. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8, 3-36 region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Customizing CP/M 3. . . . . . . . . . . 1-13 search. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
disk
D accesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6, 2-12
data compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
block allocation size . . . . . . . . . . 3-18 controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
buffers. . . . . . . . 1-6, 2-12, 3-24, 5-10 density automatically determined. . . .
record buffers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
record caching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13, A-1, B-1
region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1, 4-1, 4-2
data structures. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25, I-10 organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
in common memory. . . . . . . . . . 3-52 subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10, 3-46
DDT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 disk formats
deblocking buffers . . . . . . . . . . 1-9, 2-11 multiple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
deblocking logical 128-byte records. . . . . Disk Parameter Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 . . . . . . . . . . 2-11, 3-10, 3-14, B-1, I-11
debugger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 banked system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
debugging DPB macro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22, 6-1 fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
with SID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22, 6-1 format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
default value with question mark. . 5-4 Disk Parameter Header. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
density selection . . . . 2-11, 3-10, 3-12, 3-42, B-1, I-11
automatic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-45 DPH macro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
density-sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42 fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
device name format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12 regular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
DEVICE utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8, 4-5 disks
distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-5
 double-density. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 for Mode Byte Bit Fields. . . . . . . G-1
number supported. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 erased character. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
physical sector size. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22 error
reformatting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12, 3-7
DMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-11 handling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 in multisector transfer . . . . . . . . 3-47
buffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 nonrecoverable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 error message
dollar sign ($) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-2 extended. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
DPH error messages
See Disk Parameter Header extended. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
drive in foreign language. . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 long. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
default. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 short. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12, 4-6 Extended Disk Parameter Header
drive code (XDPH) . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3, 4-6, 4-15
absolute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
DRVTBL. . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-35 format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, 4-15 Extent mask. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
DRVTBL.ASM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 F
dynamic file
allocation of space. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 CPM3.SYS format . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
disk definition table . . . . . . . . . . 3-42 random access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
E storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
end-of-file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 first-time initialization code. . . . . . 4-18
condition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7, 3-36 flag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18 global system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
entry points media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
BIOS subroutine. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19 FLUSH. . . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-31, 3-48
BOOT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
BOOT module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 G
flush buffers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48 G command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
MOVE module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21 GENCPM. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6, 1-13, 1-14
WBOOT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33 command input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
entry values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 directory hashing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
equates in banked system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
absolute external . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 in nonbanked system . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-6
 questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 I/O. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
utility . . . . . . . . 2-12, 3-12, 3-25, 5-1 character . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7, 4-5, 4-11
devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
H disk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8, 4-5
handshaking drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
polled. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40, 3-41 multiple sector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
hardware Port Addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-23
initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15, 4-10 ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 redirection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
special DMA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49 simple device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
supported. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12, 1-13 IOBYTE facility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
hardware environment . . 1-3, 1-12, 2-1 I/O redirection bit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
banked system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 J
nonbanked system. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
hash table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17 JMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-5
directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11, 5-9 jump
searches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
head number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 instructions. . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 3-1, 3-30
hexadecimal address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
high-order vector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 4-9
bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
byte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 L
nibble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12 LDRBIOS. . . . . . . . . . . 1-14, 3-32, 5-20
HOME. . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 3-30, 3-41 length restriction. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
I linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
LDRBIOS.ASM
IBM 3740 disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12 assembling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
INIT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18, 4-20 Least Recently Used (LRU) buffering. . .
initialization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10, 2-11
basic system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32 LINK
cold start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32, 4-10 L option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Page Zero. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5, 3-33 LINK-80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54, 4-3
system tracks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24 linker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5 LIST . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-7, 3-30, 3-38
input/output LISTST. . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 3-31, 3-40
See I/O location zero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
interbank moves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-22
intrabank moves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-7
logical nonbanked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
character device combinations. . . . . . . segment table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36 memory-to-memory move. . . . . . . 4-21
device characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 mode
device reassigning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 bits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-10 byte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
read operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46 modules
record blocking/deblocking. . . 2-11 communication between. . . . . . . 1-3
records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4 interactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
sequential sector address. . . . . . 3-46 MOVE . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 2-13, 3-32, 3-49
LOGIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18, 4-19 MOVE.ASM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
L option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
low-order MOVE Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21 entry points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
byte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 MOVES
LRU buffering scheme . . . . . 1-10, 2-11 interbank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
intrabank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
M MULTIO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
macro definitions. . . . . . . . . . 3-26, H-1 . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 2-8, 2-11, 3-31, 3-47
media multiple sector read or write operations.
automatic type determination . . 4-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 multisector transfer. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
flag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14, A-2 N
removable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
memory names
addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 external. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
configurations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
contiguous. . . . . . . . . . 1-7, 1-12, 1-13 user-defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
image. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 nonbanked BIOS
organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 assembling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
selects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 debugging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
top of banked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
memory-mapped video display. . . . 2-7 nonbanked memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
memory organization nonbanked system
banked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6, 1-7, 1-10 allocation vector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5 buffer control block . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
nonbanked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8, 1-11 configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
memory requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9 nonbank-switched memory. . . . . . . 1-1
banked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9 requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1, 1-9

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-8
number of lines per console page. . 5-5 transfer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
translation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
O PORTS.LIB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-23
OFF field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22 printers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
OPEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6 Print Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-1
operating system bank. . . . . . . . . . . 1-10 public
operating system modules data items. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K-1
banked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6 definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
resident. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6 entry points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J-1
output. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5 names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
overlay symbols defined in modules. . . . 4-6
data buffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12 public variables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
directory buffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11 names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
predefined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
P
Q
Page Zero. . . . . . . . . . . 1-4, 1-5, 2-5, 4-5
initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 question
passpoint. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 GENCPM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Cold BOOT routine . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 question mark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
in BIOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 question variable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
password protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 R
P command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
peripheral READ. . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-8, 2-9, 3-31, 3-44,
single. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17, 4-19
types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 Read-Write routines. . . . . . . . 2-11, 2-12
peripheral device register A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4, 2-8
I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 removable disks
reassigning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 BIOS media flag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3
physical removable drives
devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 BIOS media flag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
disk unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-10 directory hashing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1
I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 performance penalty. . . . . . . . . . . A-1
physical record RESERV1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 3-32
buffers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 RESERV2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 3-32
mask. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19, 3-22 Resident System Extension (RSX)
shift factor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19, 3-22 Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
physical sector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8 residual multisector count. . . . . . . 3-47
buffers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11 retry routine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
count. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8 returned values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-9
RMAC. . . . . . . . . . 3-54, 4-3, 5-20, E-1 L command. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
r/o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 sign-on message. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15, 5-23
root module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15, 4-21 single-density
rotational latency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47 disk handler Z80 DMA. . . . . . . . I-11
RSX entry point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9 floppy disk drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Rubout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 skew factor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
r/w. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 skew table
address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
S SKEW macro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
SCB space allocation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
See System Control Block starting
SCB.ASM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 disk transfer address. . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
file. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5, 3-1, 3-2 sector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2, F-1 track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
scratchpad area . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10, 3-15 status polling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I-5
sector subroutine
address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
skew factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 subroutines
SECTRN. . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 3-31, 3-46 empty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
SELDSK. . . . 2-4, 2-9, 2-11, 3-30, 3-42, symbols
B-1 public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
JMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2 system
routine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6, B-1 bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
SELMEM. . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-32, 3-50 components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
separate buffer pools . . . . . . . . 1-9, 2-11 generation (GENCPM) . . 1-8, 3-16
sequential initialization. . . . . . . . . 2-1, 2-5, 4-10
file input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
read. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12 loader program (CPMLDR) . . 1-15
serial devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 printer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
baud rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12 start-up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4, 1-13
SETBNK. . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 2-9, 3-32, 3-50 time and date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
SETDMA . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-8, 2-9, 2-11, System Control Block (SCB)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31, 3-43 error mode variable. . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
SETSEC. 2-2, 2-4, 2-9, 2-11, 3-31, 3-43 external labels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
SETTRK . . . . 2-2, 2-4, 2-9, 2-11, 3-31, fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43 system tracks. . . . . . . . . . . 1-12, 2-5, 2-6
SID. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22, 6-1, 6-4 initialization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
G command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
I command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Sytem Ctonrol Block (SCB)
definition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-10
T X
target system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 XDPH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3, 4-6, 4-15
TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 2-4, 3-32, 3-51 fields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
time of day format. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
clocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10 XMOVE. . . . 2-3, 2-4, 2-13, 3-32, 3-51
function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13 XON/XOFF protocol. . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
top of memory. . . . . . . . . . . 1-6, 1-7, 5-6 XREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E-1
tracing routines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
track address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 Z
Transient Program Area (TPA) . . . 1-2, Z80 LDIR instruction. . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
transient programs. . . . . . . . . . . 1-6, 2-5
TYPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18

U
UNIT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
USERF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3, 3-32
user interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

V
variables
global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5, 4-6, F-1
vectors
allocation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
checksum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
redirection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

W
Warm BOOT routine. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
warm start. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12, I-1
WBOOT. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4, 3-30, 3-33
entry point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
JMP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
routine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
WBOOT routine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
WRITE. . 2-2, 2-4, 2-8, 2-9, 2-11, 3-31,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-45, 4-17, 4-19

DIGITAL RESEARCH™
Index-11