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My BASIC Notes

CMD
Abbreviation: C <SHIFT+M>

TYPE: I/O Statement
FORMAT: <file number> [,string]

Action: This statement switches the primary- output device from the TV screen to the file specified. This file could be on disk, tape, printer, or an I/O device like the modem. The file number must be specified in a prior OPEN statement. The string, when specified, is sent to the file. This is handy for titling printouts, etc.

When this command is in effect, any PRINT statements and LIST commands will not display on the screen, but will send the text in the same format to the file.

To redirect the output back to the screen, the PRINT# command should send a blank line to the CMD device before CLOSEing, so it will stop expecting data (called "un-listening" the device).

Any system error (like ?SYNTAX ERROR) will cause output to return to the screen. Devices aren't un-listened by this, so you should send a blank line after an error condition. (See your printer or disk manual for more details.)

EXAMPLES of CMD Statement:

OPEN 4,4: CMD 4,"TITLE" : LIST: REM LISTS PROGRAM ON PRINTER
PRINT#4: CLOSE 4: REM UN-LISTENS AND CLOSES PRINTER

10 OPEN 1,1,1,"TEST" : REM CREATE SEQ FILE
20 CMD 1 : REM OUTPUT TO TAPE FILE, NOT SCREEN
30 FOR L = 1 TO 100
40 PRINT L: REM PUTS NUMBER IN TAPE BUFFER
50 NEXT
60 PRINT#1 : REM UNLISTEN
70 CLOSE 1 : REM WRITE UNFINISHED BUFFER, PROPERLY FINISH