BASIC-11 Language Reference Manual

This document provides a comprehensive reference for the BASIC-11 language, which is an outgrowth of Dartmouth BASIC designed for PDP-11 systems. It covers the following key areas:

• Language Fundamentals: Basic program structure, character sets, and line formatting.
• Core Elements: Detailed explanations of constants (numeric, integer, and string), variables (numeric, integer, string, and subscripted), and expressions (arithmetic, relational, and string).
• Input/Output: Methods for supplying data including INPUT, LINPUT, and READ/DATA/RESTORE statements, as well as printing output using PRINT and formatted output via PRINT USING.
• Control Flow: Control statements for shifting program execution, including conditional and unconditional branches, loops (FOR/NEXT), subroutines (GOSUB/RETURN), and multiple branching (ON GOSUB/ON GO TO).
• Functions: An extensive guide to built-in functions covering trigonometric, algebraic, string manipulation, conversion, and date/time functions, as well as user-defined functions (DEF/FN).
• Data Management: Techniques for working with data files, including sequential and virtual array files, file control (OPEN/CLOSE), and file naming (NAME/KILL).
• Program Segmentation: Advanced topics such as segmenting large programs using the CHAIN and OVERLAY statements, and calling routines written in other languages.
• Commands: A detailed breakdown of commands for program management (LIST, RUN, SAVE, REPLACE, RENAME, RESEQ, COMPILE, LENGTH, etc.).
• Error Messages: A thorough appendix of error messages to aid in debugging.
• Appendices: Useful reference tables, including ASCII character sets and summaries of statements, functions, and commands.