CHAPTER 9

CONFIGURATION COMMANDS

9.1 Introduction

AEDIT-86 is designed to run within several environments and with various terminals. In some cases-for example, Series IV AEDIT-86 is able to identify the host environ- ment. In other cases, you should specify the characteristics of your particular environment or terminal.

The characteristics of your environment or terminal are specified with configuration commands. The parameters and control sequences that must be specified are listed in Table 9-1.

Configuration commands must be given in a macro file. It is recommended that the required commands for your environment or terminal be included in your default macro file. A configuration command must be terminated with a semicolon (~) or a carriage return. For the Series III, Series IV and ANSI/VT100 family of terminals, only the appropriate hardware identification configuration command, AH = string, is required. Appendix F lists macro files for several non-Intel terminals. If your termi- nal is not included in the list of tested terminals, please refer to your terminal user manual for the terminal characteristics.

AEDIT-86 requires that the terminal meet the following conditions:

•ASCII codes 20H-7EH display some symbol that requires one column space. Carriage return (ODH) and linefeed (OAH) perform their usual functions.

•The following cursor functions have cursor key input codes and CRT cursor output codes: left, right, up, down, home and carriage return. Output codes such as clear. screen, clear rest of screen, clear line, clear rest of line, and direct cursor address- ing are desirable for faster screen plotting, but not required. The codes, shown in Table 9-1, can be changed with the configuration commands.

•The CRT accepts a blankout code that blanks out the former contents of the screen location to which it is output. The default, 20H, can be changed with the configuration commands.

•AEDIT-86 automatically generates a linefeed each time a carriage return is entered. Your terminal should not transmit a linefeed with a carriage return. In some terminals, this feature can be switched on and off.

Table 9- I lists the configuration commands and their meanings. These commands are divided into three groups:

•Terminal attributes and generals

•Input codes-specify codes sent from the keyboard to the terminal (i.e., AEDIT-86)

•Output codes-specify codes to be sent from the terminal (i.e.. AEDIT-86) to the display.

A configuration command may be used to set a value to a specific feature or to indicate that the feature is not available. To indicate that the feature is not available. the command is specified without an associated value, e.g., AFER = ~ .

9-1

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Intel AEDIT-86 manual Chapter Configuration Commands, Introduction
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AEDIT-86 specifications

The Intel AEDIT-86, also known as the Intel 8086, is a notable microprocessor that played a critical role in shaping the computing landscape. Released in 1978, it was Intel's first 16-bit microprocessor, setting the stage for the x86 architecture that continues to influence modern computing.

One of the main features of the AEDIT-86 is its 16-bit architecture, which allows it to process data in larger chunks compared to its 8-bit predecessors. This capability not only improves performance but also increases the amount of memory that can be addressed, allowing for a maximum of 1 MB of RAM. This was a significant advancement at the time, enabling more complex software and operating systems to run efficiently.

The AEDIT-86 is built on a 3-micron process technology, which was innovative for its time and contributed to its performance capabilities. The microprocessor operates at a clock speed of up to 5 MHz, which allowed it to execute more instructions per second than previous generations of processors. This speed, combined with its wide data bus (16 bits), enables the processor to handle a larger volume of information more quickly.

Intel incorporated several key technologies in the AEDIT-86, including segmentation. This feature divides the memory into different segments, making it easier for programs to access data and improving memory management. The AEDIT-86 also supports a minimum of four 64 KB segments, which enhances the organization and access of programs and data in memory.

Another significant aspect of the AEDIT-86 is its compatibility with the existing 8080 and 8085 instruction sets, which facilitated easier migration for developers and helped the processor gain traction in the market. This backward compatibility allowed existing software to be ported to the new platform with minimal modification.

Furthermore, the Intel AEDIT-86 introduced a powerful instruction set that includes both integer and string manipulation commands, paving the way for more versatile programming. The instruction set architecture (ISA) of the AEDIT-86 supports both high-level programming languages and low-level assembly language, offering flexibility for various applications.

In summary, the Intel AEDIT-86 is a groundbreaking microprocessor known for its 16-bit architecture, advanced segmentation technology, and compatibility with earlier instruction sets. Its introduction marked the beginning of the x86 architecture, which has influenced countless processors and computing systems that followed. The AEDIT-86's features and technologies were instrumental in the evolution of personal computing, laying the groundwork for future innovations in the industry.
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