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From: gary@ruby.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Commodore Macro Assembler -- long review
Message-ID: <378@ruby.TEK.COM>
Date: Tue, 18-Aug-87 02:08:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: ruby.378
Posted: Tue Aug 18 02:08:59 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Aug-87 04:44:59 EDT
References: <894@edge.UUCP>
Reply-To: gary@ruby.UUCP (Gary Hanson)
Organization: home
Lines: 81
Keywords: conditional assembly exists

Favorite color: blue

[ if you can see this, there is a bug in your line-eater]
 
   Interesting to see that someone is still using the good 'ol Commodore
Macro Assembler.  I kinda like it; it's quaint, and inexpensive (I think I
paid $12 for it a few years ago - before it got marked up to $30, and then
back down).  Anyway, conditional assembly DOES exist, if you're willing to
put up with some slightly bizarre syntax.  Below is a list of some features
that didn't seem to make it into the documentation that came with the
package. I think that there might be one or two other things hidden in there;
look through the binary till you find the token tables - I think there's
a couple of alternate names for existing pseudo-ops or somesuch. Enjoy.

     -=+=-=+=--=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-

               UNDOCUMENTED COMMODORE ASSEMBLER FEATURES
                      Gary Hanson (rev 16-Aug-85)


       Undocumented Pseudo-ops

  .LIST Turn on listing
  .NOLIST Turn off listing

       
       Undocumented Option
   
  .OPT NOSYM  Turn off symbol table on lineprinter

       This option suppresses the listing of the symbol table on the line-
  printer. The option to enable the symbol table list is .OPT SYM  There is
  no way to get a symbol table on the screen, only the lineprinter.



       Conditional Assembly

  .IFE <expr> assemble if expression equals zero
  .IFN <expr> assemble if expression not equals zero

  Syntax:
 
  .IFE expr <
       (whatever)
  >

     There must be a less-than sign (<) on the line with the  pseudo-op,  and
the  block  to be conditionally assembled must end with a greater-than in the
first character (leave the rest of the line blank).

       Example

  1000 DEBUG = 0
  1010       LDA  33
  1020       STA CHAR
  1030       .IFN DEBUG <
  1040       JSR CHROUT
  1050       RTS
  1060 >
  1070       JMP DOMORE

     The two lines JSR CHROUT / RTS would not be assembled unless  the  value
of the DEBUG flag was nonzero.


       Usage Hints

     When going from the editor to the  assembler,  always  KILL  the  editor
first.   I'm  not sure that this is really necessary, but it seems to avoid a
condition where some of the system pointers get messed up.   Also,  when  the
assembler  asks  whether  you  want a listing, type N to get a listing on the
screen, or <CR> to get a listing on the printer.  Unplug the printer  to  get
no listing.  This is not explained well in the documentation.

     -=+=-=+=--=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-=+=-

    Gary Hanson   Tektronix IDG    ...!tektronix!ruby!gary
                                   gary@zarquon.GWD.TEK.COM

    No mice allowed in my house - that's why I have a cat.