ALTAIR 8800 micro Users Manual
©
Briel Computers
2010
page
28
Ok, now you know how to store data in memory, but there is a slightly quicker way. What do you do when
there are several bytes you need to program all in the same block of memory? DEPOSIT NEXT will deposit
your data in the current memory location, the auto advance to the next memory location. So, if you were to do
step 4 over again:
Step 4: Press down and release DEPOSIT switch
Now the system deposits $80 to memory location 1 and advances to memory location 2. This makes
programming quicker because now you only have to enter that DATA values and the system will keep track of
the memory location.
To check multiple memory locations in a row is very similar. Enter into the address switches the starting
memory location to look at. Now lift up the EXAM switch. The D0-D7 LED’s will now display the value of
that memory location.
Now if you push DOWN on the EXAM switch you will notice the address will change to the next binary
address and the data will change to the value at that location.
RESET
is used when you need to reset the system from being locked up or in a HALTSYS state. When you
press RESET it will restart the CPU, not the terminal section. This is important because if you have the AUX
switch up and switch 11, it will wait for a terminal response to receive BASIC. If you already have BASIC
loaded and working, then you can simply put AUX down as well as all the address switches. When you RESET
it will start at memory location 0 which is the starting point for BASIC. There may be times when doing a
RESET could erase a byte in memory and you will then need to reload BASIC.
