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21 lines
936 B
Markdown
21 lines
936 B
Markdown
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# Use SPC() to print any character !
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## Introduction
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You know how `SPC()` can be used to PRINT a number of space characters. For example `PRINT SPC(10)` will print 10 space characters.
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Why didn't they allow to print something else than space characters ? It would have been interesting (?) to have the ability to repeat a sequence of any character.
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Maybe like `PRINT REPT("*",10)` would print 10 asterisks.
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But Applesoft does not provide such an instruction. So are we doomed to use `PRINT "**********"`?
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Here's a technique that will allow you to repeat any character, even in `FLASH` and `INVERSE` without using additional 6502 routines.
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## Discovery
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Let's see something weird ...
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At the Applesoft prompt, type `FLASH`.
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Then `PRINT SPC(10)`. You should now see 10 flashing space characters.
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Now, press `CTRL-BREAK`. This exits the "flash" mode (do no type `NORMAL` !!).
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Type `PRINT SPC(10)` again. And ...
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WOW ! WHAT IS THAT ??
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