AEDIT-86 User's Guide

AEDIT-86 Variables

The S-variables may be used in the following circumstances:

•In any line-edit prompt, e.g., target-string, replacement-string, GET filename. The

contents are inserted and displayed as an ASCII string. The conversion from <FETS »)( to the ASCII string is done by the line-editing mechanism, regard- less of which command is currently being executed.

•In INSERT and XCHANGE modes. For example, if <FETS ) 1 is typed, the contents of S1 are inserted in the text.

Note that a character that is inserted in this way loses any special meaning it

may otherwise have. For example, ODH is inserted as is and not as a carriage return, or 01 BH ( < ESC) ) does not cause mode termination.

•Under the CALC command. The S-variable may be retrieved as with any line- edit prompt. Also, the S-variable name may be used as is, e.g., SB instead of

<FETS ) B. In this case, the name rather than the value is displayed, e.g., SM rather than AEDIT.MAC. All processing is done by the CALC command and not by the line-editing mechanism. An S-variabJe may be modified only if it appears in CALC with its name on the left side of an assignment statement.

An S-variable is always considered as if all its characters are literalized; i.e., they are interpreted as regular characters even if in other cases they may have a special meaning, e.g., <HEX). Thus an S variable is never searched to determine if it fetches another S variable. However, in any other legal context, input is expanded if it includes a fetch operation of the form <FETS ) x.

When the <FETS) key is pressed, the message <FETS) appears on the message line. This message disappears when the next key is pressed.

6.2 Local Variables

All local variables are read-only numeric variables. Therefore, they cannot be assigned, and they can be used only in the CALC command.

The following is an alphabetic list of positional values:

BOF

Logical value-true if the cursor is at the beginning of file.

COL

The current logical cursor position in the line. (This value is not affected

 

by the setting of Leftcol.)

CURCH

ASCII value of the current character.

CURWD

ASCII value of the two bytes at the current cursor location.

EOF

Logical value-true if the cursor is at the end of file.

INOTHR

Logical value-true, if you are in the OTHER buffer.

ISDEL

Logical value-true if the character at the current position is in the

 

user defined delimiter set.

ISWHTE

Logical value-true if the character at the current position is a white

 

space (space, tab, LF or CR).

LOWCH

If the current character is an uppercase character (41 H to SAH),

 

LOWCH is the ASCII value of the lowercase character. Otherwise,

 

LOWCH is the same as CURCH.

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Intel AEDIT-86 manual Bof, Col, Curch, Curwd, Eof, Inothr, Isdel, Iswhte, Lowch
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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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