Basic Mode
In Basic Mode, the operation of the CFSound-IV is controlled by the interpreted execution of a user
written program that is written in the ACS Basic language.
BASIC
is the acronym for
B
eginners’
A
ll-
purpose
S
ymbolic
I
nstruction
C
ode – an easy to learn programming language developed by Kemeny & Kurtz
at Dartmouth in 1964. Programs consist of numbered lines with one or more English keywords describing the
operations that the user wants to have performed.
The BASIC interpreter built-in to the CFSound-IV implements most of the language elements for
working with integers, strings and files as well as providing access to the CFSound-IV hardware features such
as contacts, timers, clock and playing sounds. The language elements are outlined in the separate document
“
CFSound-IV Basic Programming”
available for download on the CFSound website.
Programs may be developed two different ways:
1.
Interactively using a terminal emulator such as Windows HyperTerminal connected to the
CFSound-IV’s serial port. Operation is similar to 1. above only via the host PC’s user interface
and serial port. See the “Upgrading the Firmware” section at the end of this manual for a
description of the required cabling and HyperTerminal settings.
This is the preferred development methodology.
2.
Offline using a text editor such as Windows Notepad. The files are then saved onto the SD card
for debugging when inserted into the CFSound.
This methodology is slow, cumbersome and error-prone since it is not interactive and
errors cannot be viewed or addressed in-situ and is not recommended.
Once a program has been interactively developed and tested, it may then be placed or saved onto the SD
card named as CFSOUND.BAS along with any other required files. The CFSound will then load and execute
this file upon power-up, reset or SD card insertion, effectively customizing the unit’s function.
