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This chapter looks at some features of DOS Plus that are unique to the BBC Master.
The utility STAR allows you to pass commands to the BBC operating system.
Make sure that you are clear exactly what you are doing when you use the STAR command as incorrect use could lead to serious loss of data.
If you type:
A>STAR RETURN
you will receive the prompt
*
You can then enter a command (such as CAT for example) that is recognised by the BBC operating system. The * prompt will continue to appear until you enter
* RETURN
when you will be returned to the normal DOS Plus prompt.
If you want to use a single * command, such as CAT, and then return directly to DOS Plus, you can type
A>STAR CAT RETURN
If you wish to copy files from BBC format to or from DOS Plus, you can do this with the GETFILE and PUTFILE commands. GETFILE copies from BBC Master filing systems to DOS Plus and PUTFILE copies from DOS Plus to BBC filing systems.
For example:
A>GETFILE :0.fred B:jim RETURN
copies the file fred from ADFS format in drive 0 to DOS Plus format in drive B, and renames it jim
A>PUTFILE A:letter :3.letter /disc RETURN
copies the file letter from DOS format in drive A: to DFS format in drive :3
PCSCREEN allows you to select an IBM screen emulation mode. The main use of this is to reset to the mode after a program has changed it.
Modes 0-6 emulate modes on an IBM Colour Card. Mode 7 is the native BBC 80x25 text mode.
For example:
A>PCSCREEN 7 RETURN
sets you to screen mode 7.
COLOUR allows you to change the screen colours between various options. The command has the form
A>COLOUR x y
The options for x are:
| 0 | – 80 column background | ||
| 1 | – 80 column foreground | ||
| 2 | – GEM background | ||
| 3 | – GEM foreground | ||
| 4 to 7 | – 4 colour modes |
The second number is the physical colour to be displayed. The options are:
| 0 | – black | 8 | – flashing black / white | ||||
| 1 | – red | 9 | – flashing red / cyan | ||||
| 2 | – green | 10 | – flashing green / magenta | ||||
| 3 | – yellow | 11 | – flashing yellow / blue | ||||
| 4 | – blue | 12 | – flashing blue / yellow | ||||
| 5 | – magenta | 13 | – flashing magenta / green | ||||
| 6 | – cyan | 14 | – flashing cyan / red | ||||
| 7 | – white | 15 | – flashing white / black |
These colours remain set throughout a DOS session. The default choices are black on white.
For example:
A>COLOUR 0 2 RETURN
A>COLOUR 1 0 RETURN
This produces black text on a green background.