Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 4P Introduction Manual

s$&#>

Custom Manufactured in

USA

By

RADIO

SHACK. A Division ol TANDY

CORPORATION

Tb

Our

Customers

* . ,

Congratulations

on purchasing the Model

4P

Disk System. This computer, a

portable version

of the Model

4,

is botn

powerful

and

efficient.

Using your

4R

you can am a

complete line

of

application

prog rams,

including programs

for;

•

Business

Education

*

Personal finance

Programming

Frtlprlflinrnf*nt

This

includes all Radio

Shack Model

ill

and

Model 4

programs.

How

to use

this

Manual

This manual explains

the important

things

you

need to know

about

the Model 4P:

*

How to set

up

the

Model 4P

*

How to use

important

commands

*

How

to

run

application

programs

How

to

Store information

*

What

to do

in

case of trouble

After

you

finish

reading

this

manual,

you can

immediately

begin

running

any Radio

Shack

Model III

or

Model

4

application

programs

you

have

purchased.

Later, when yuu

become

comfortable

with

ine

Model

aR

you may

want to use more

est

its fea-

tures. You can

then

read the Disk

System

Own-

er'sManuei

which gives complete

details

on the

Model

4P

commands

and

BASIC-

Contents

Chapter )

How

Computers Work I

Chapter 2 Getting to Know Your

Model 4P 5

Chapter

3 Using TRSDOS to Prepare

Diskettes 15

Chapter 4 Runnino. Application Programs 21

Cfjgpfer 5 Learning to Proa ram

with BASIC , 27

Chapter 6 In Case of Trouble

,

31

Chapter

7 And That s Just irie

8eg

inning

„,..,,.

35

iii

Chapter 1

How Computers Work

Ynur disk

system

consists

ni

hwtlwarp. flnrl

software,

TTie

equipment is the hardware. Tlie

instructions

that

lei I the

hardware

what to do

aie progiauis or systems, Wtr retei lu these

programs,

and systems as

software,

As you cart

see, hardware and software are dependent on

each

other.

Computer

Hardware

This picture siiuws Lfm (jails yf I he bardwaiy

and

how

they

relate

to

one another

Keyboard, For

"entering" information

into the

computer.

Screen

and

Printer,

For receiving

information

from the computer

Memory, For storing information and

software

inside

the computer.

The

two kinds

of

memory

•

Random access memory (RAM}

—

for

tem-

po

rary

storage of

information

and

software

that

you enter. When

you turn off

the com-

pi iter, thR mnlents nf HAM disappear

•

Read-only memory (ROM)

- -

for permanent

storage

of essential, built-in

software, such as

the software that telts the computer

what

to

do

when you turn it on. You cannot change

the

contents of ROM.

1

Diskette.

For permanently

storing

information

and

software outside the

computer.

A diskette

has a

magnetic

coating that stores

infonnation

in

much

the same way an

audio

tape stores

sound.

Processor Forgathering,

manipulating,

and

sending

information

within

Ihe computer The

processor

ties

together all other parts of

the hardware.

Computer Software

This picture shows the kinds

of

software

and

how they itjialtj lu ll

ie

hardware;

lungutgn

ico

lc:1irxi

Rragrimi

Application

Programs.

To get the computer to

do something

practical,

such as compile a mail-

ing list,

you need

an

application

program.

Radci

Shack has manv

aoolicalion

programs (or such

tasks as accounting,

educating,

and word

processing.

Languages. A programming

language,

such as

BASIC, is

one

kind

of

application

program. It

has

a set ol codes you can use to

write other

application

programs,

The

Model 4 P comes

with

BASIC,

Disk Operating System. An

application

pro-

gram

seldom

talks to the hardware

directly.

It

talks

through a disk operating

system.

The

Model 4P's disk operating system is

TRSDOS

Version

6.1.1

(or

any later version

of

TRSDOS

e.1

).

This

is

called simply TRSDOS'' C"

Trias

Doss"3

throughout Ihis manual.

TRSDOS is

on

the diskette that comes with

your

Model

4R

To accompisti anything with

your

system, you

need TRSDOS. Far example,

assume

you

want

the computer to prim a fist of your

checking

transactions.

Ybur application program

decides

what to print.

It

then

logvw the

operation

of the

printer

to TRSDOS,

Tfhe

rest of

this manual shows

you how to set up

your

Model

4P and how to store

information,

using the

Model

4R

TRSOOS, and an

applica-

tion

program.

Chapter

2

Getting

to

Know

Your

Model

4P

This

chapter

tells you

rww

to set

up the Mode

1

4R

start

up

your

computer,

and

toad

TRSDOS.

It

also

helps

familiarize

you with the Mortal 4P

keyboard.

Setting

Up

the

Model 4P

The

Model

4P comes

with the

screen

cover

on

so

you

can easily move

the

computer

wherever

you

want.

To

lift

the

computer,

press

down

on

one

end of

The

handle,

then

grasp

the

raised

part

of

the

handle with the other hand as shown

here:

Set the computer

where

you'll

be

using

it, near

a Grounded, 1

20

VAC, 3-crong

outlet

Be

sure

the vents on the computer face up. Loosen the

cover from the screen by pushing

the latches

back as shown here:

Carefully remote

and

set

aside

ihe cover. Then

reach

under

the

main part of the computer and

pul! out the

Keyboard,

Be careful; the Iseyboard

is perrranenlly connected.

6

Drive 1

urrw Lalches

Drfv* Lights.

Open

tha

panel

on the back of the computer

Connectors for the power

cord

and

additional

equipment

are stxjwn below:

Ptiwr

RS232C I O Bus Parallel Printer

Connect the power cord to

the power connec-

tor, Then

plug the

other end

into the

grounded,

120 VAC, 3-prong

outlet.

Because electrical

mtorfengnccQ

and

aurgos can dcslroy data,

do

not

use

an

outlet

that powers other heavy

equipment.

For the

best protection

against electrical

surges,

we

suggest you use a

grounded

power

si rip.

a

good one to use is Radio

Shack's Auto

Control Power

Strip and

Surge

Protector.

Cat-

aloa

#26-1429.

Installing

Other Equipment

If you purchased additional equipment (such as

a printer), connect it to the

appropriate connec-

lur

um

Lid; bajk uf youi Model 4P Be aura In

refer

also

to

the

manual

that

comes

with the

equipment.

ftS-232C Connector Use to connect equ

ir>

ment

such as a modem

or

a

serial printer.

ParaWp/

Printer

Connector

—

Use

to

conned

a

parallel

printer. Connect the

cable so it exits

to

the bottom of the computer

I!Q Bus Connector

—

Use to connect one or

more

hard

disks or

other devices. Connect the

cable

so

it

exits

to

the bottom

of

the: computer.

Handling

Diskettes

Ydu are almost ready to start up your computer,

insert a diskette, and start up TRSDOS. Before

you do.

however,

take

a

minute to read about

how

to

handle diskettes.

Uiskettes are

sensitive, lo avoid losing infor-

mation,

harxlle them with care.

! T.elO|X:

Dos and

Don'ts

oi

Diskette Care

Never

touch

a diskette's

exposed shiny

surfaces.

Never

turn the

computer

on

or

off while a disk-

ette is in a drive. Doing

so can destroy data.

Never insert or remove

a diskette while the

drive

light

Is on.

Never

leave

a diskette

inserted in

a drive

—

either

fully or partially— when

The

computer is

off.

Keep

diskettes

away from heat,

direct

sunlight.

dust,

cigarette

ashes, other

particles,

and mag-

netic fields

Csuch

as transformers,

AC motors.

magnets.

TVs,

radios,

and the comptJtfir's dis-

play

console).

Do not bend

diskettes.

Do

not write on the

diskette

label with

a ball

point

pen or lead pencil,

Use a felt-tep pen only.

Always put the

diskette

back in its protective

envelope

after use,

Store

diskettes

in an upright

position,

never in a

stack. Never

place

anything on

a

diskette.

We recommend

that you keep

your diskettes

either

in

the manual in which

they came or in a

diskette

storage

box. such as those

available

from

Radio Shack.

Write Protecting

a Diskette

Inside

your Disk Sy&tem Owner's

Manual

is a

diskette

labeled

"TRSDOS and

BASIC Inter-

preter;

You

1

1

find a toil, adhesive

tab with

tne

diskette.

Cover the diskette's

write-protect

notch"

with

the

foil

tab.

(Do not pinch the tab

into the notch. 1

When

the

wiitt)-|jruttHj[ nutuli ia covered, you

cannot change the contents of

this "master"

diskette. In the next

chapter,

well have you

ma«

copies of

the master diskette.

Starting Up

the

Model 4P

Turn

on any

additional

equipment

first. Then

press the

Model

4P's power

switch

to

turn

on

the computer. The. switch

illuminates

1o

indicate

the

power

is

on.

Mote: If you

have

a

power

strip,

you

can turn

all

equipment on

at

Hie

same

time by

pressing

the power switch on

the

strip.

Starting Up TRSDOS

In a few seconds, one

ofthc

messages

listed

in

Appendix A is displayed. (Usually, the

message

is

'The Floppy Disk

Drive is

Not Ready"). When

tne drive lights go out,

insert the

TRSDOS and

BASIC

Interpreter

diskette

(TRSDOS

System

HiskflitRt intn Drivs (1 as shnwn below. Be sure

the

label laces the screen and the

read/wrile

window points

into

the drive. After

fully

inserting

the diskette, dose the

drive

latch.

10

Host* WYiK

Window

->

UNI

Wfl1*-P»0tMl

*

1H>

To start up

TRSDOS,

press the

RESET

switch,

then

release

it. iNota:

Never

press

(SHIFT)

,

caps)

,

or

tfjHU

dunnq

startup,) The screen

dis-

plays

the

TRSDDS

starti

ip

massage, wtiicti

is

simitar

to this:

rn-smj*

m _ c„ ,

n phi

lag] l « 1 1 1 i

>

1 uu

J bl

.

fl

I

J

«i ih i Bf

p tt,mt . i j cm

trd i ( r ltd r Cj

r MHI Lin

11

Whenever you

press RESET the

system

returns

to Ihis startup message-

Note:

If the screen shows a "No

sys-

tem'

or

Not a SYSTEM

disk"

messanp.

the

diskette

in Drive does not

contain

the

operating system.

Remove

the

diskette

and insert a system

diskette,

then

press

RESET.

At trie bottom

01

tne startup

message,

TRSDOS

asks:

Dtit

iw/dd/yyv

Enter todays

date in the

format

specified.

For

example, fur

June 14,

19194, type;

D6/14/e4

TRSDOS

displays

the date in expanded

lorm

and Ihen

displays

the TRSDOS

prompt:

TREDQS

Ready

Your Model 4P is

now

under the control

of

TRSDOS

and

is ready

for

use.

The Model 4P

keyboard is much

ilke a type-

wri ler

keyboard , except

tor

a

tew

different keys.

Now's

the

time to find out

vrfiat some

of

these

keysdo.

At 'TRSDOS Ready,' type

anything you

ILke.

When you

reach

the

end of the line, press

(SHIFT

it)

to

erase the

isne.

12

Continue typing, noting

the

uses

of

the tallow-

ing

keys;

(X

1

—

Backspaces

and erases.

CU

—

Moves the cursor

to the next tab

position,

much

like

a

typewriter's

CHE

key .

Tab

posi-

tions

are

at

0. 8.

16.

24, and

so on.

(MPS

—

Lacks

the

alphabet

Keys so you can

enter them in

upper-case

only

for

unlocks

Th*n so you

can

enter them in either upper

or

tower-case).

Some keys

have

a

function

only wrier*

you

are

using

an

application

program, If so, the appli-

cation manual explains

how

to use the keys.

When finished, press

(inter)

.

This

moves the

cursor

to the beginning of

the next

line.

It also

executes a command

or program,

as we'll

sftuw

in

the fallowing

chapters.

At

this time. Ignore

any

messages,

suGh as

"Program

not found."

TflSDOS

Ready" shguirj

be the last line on

your screen.

Turning

Off the Model 4P

Before continuing

to the next chapter,

please

note the proper way

to turn

off

your Model 4P:

1. To avoid losing any

information,

make sure

TRSDOS

Ready" is the last message

displayed.

2. Carefully

remove

any

diskettes

from

the

dhves,

3. Then turn off any additional

equipment.

4. Now turn

off

the Model

4P

Note: If you have all ttie equipment

connected to a power strip,

then

you

can turn it all off at the same time, using

the

switch

on the power

strip.

13