PRINT#: Your File Scrivener
Tired of displaying everything on the screen? Want to write data directly to a file? Then meet PRINT#, your trusty file scrivener! This essential command lets you send text, numbers, and even the results of calculations straight to an open file on disk or tape. It's like having a typewriter for your files, making data storage and manipulation a breeze!
Syntax
PRINT# <file number>, [<expression1>][;|,] [<expression2>][;|,] ...
Where:
<file number>: The logical file number (1-15) you assigned to the file when you opened it usingOPEN.<expression>: This can be a literal string (enclosed in quotes), a numeric variable, the result of a calculation, or even a combination of these using the+operator for concatenation.;: Separates expressions and outputs them without a space between.,: Separates expressions and outputs them with a tab-sized space between (usually 10 spaces).- Nothing (no separator): Outputs the next expression on a new line.
Applications
The PRINT# command is your go-to tool for:
- Writing data to files: Save game scores, configuration settings, or any other information you want to store persistently.
- Creating log files: Record program events, error messages, or other useful information for later analysis.
- Generating reports: Format and output data in a structured way for printing or further processing.
- Communicating with devices: Send commands or data to printers, modems, or other peripherals.
Code Examples
1. Writing Text to a File:
10 OPEN 1,8,8,"myfile, seq, w" :rem Open "myfile" on disk for writing
20 PRINT#1,"Hello, world!" :rem Write a string to the file
30 CLOSE 1 :rem Always close the file when done
2. Saving Numeric Data:
10 OPEN 1,8,15,"data, s, w"
20 FOR I=1 TO 10
30 PRINT#1, I*I :rem Write squares of numbers to the file
40 NEXT I
50 CLOSE 1
PRINT# in the Wild: The Commodore 64 Data Logger
Imagine you're conducting a science experiment and want to record your measurements. You could use PRINT# to create a log file, storing time-stamped data points for later analysis and visualization.
Don't let your data vanish into thin air! With PRINT#, you can easily capture and preserve your information in files, making your Commodore 64 a powerful tool for data storage and manipulation. It's like having a dedicated scribe for your digital world, tirelessly recording your every command. So open up those files and let PRINT# unleash the full potential of your data!
