Contents

BASin

Sinclair Spectrum BASIC Manual

Sinclair ZX Spectrum: BASIC Programming By Steven Vickers.
Edited by Robin Bradbeer.

Contents

Chapter 1

Introduction
A guide to the ZX Spectrum keyboard and a description of the display.

Chapter 2

Basic programming concepts
Programs, line numbers, editing programs using and , RUN, LIST, GO TO, CONTINUE, INPUT, NEW, REM, PRINT, STOP in INPUT data, ESC (BREAK)

Chapter 3

Decisions
IF, STOP, =, <, >, <=, >=, <>

Chapter 4

Looping
FOR, NEXT, TO, STEP. Introducing FOR-NEXT loops

Chapter 5

Subroutines
GO SUB, RETURN

Chapter 6

READ, DATA, RESTORE

Chapter 7

Expressions
Mathematical expressions using +, -, *, /, scientific notation and variable names.

Chapter 8

Strings
Handling strings and slicing.

Chapter 9

Functions
User-definable functions and others readily available on the ZX Spectrum using DEF, LEN, STR$, VAL, SGN, ABS, INT, SQR, FN

Chapter 10

Mathematical functions
Including simple trigonometry: , PI, EXP, LN, SIN, COS, TAN, ASN, ACS, ATN

Chapter 11

Random numbers
Using RANDOMIZE and RND.

Chapter 12

Arrays
Strings and numeric arrays - DIM.

Chapter 13

Conditions
Logical expressions: AND, OR, NOT.

Chapter 14

The character set
A look at the ZX character set including graphics and how to construct your own graphic characters: CODE, CHR$, POKE, PEEK, USR, BIN

Chapter 15

More about PRINT and INPUT
Some more complicated uses of these commands using separators: ,;', TAB, AT, LINE and CLS.

Chapter 16

Colours
INK, PAPER, FLASH, BRIGHT, INVERSE, OVER, BORDER

Chapter 17

Graphics
PLOT, DRAW, CIRCLE, POINT

Chapter 18

Motion
Animated graphics using PAUSE, INKEY$ and PEEK

Chapter 19

BEEP
The sound capabilities of the ZX Spectrum using BEEP.

Chapter 20

File Storage
How to store your programs on cassette tape: SAVE, LOAD, VERIFY, MERGE.

Chapter 21

The ZX Printer
LLIST, LPRINT, COPY

Chapter 22

Other equipment
Connecting the ZX Spectrum to other machines and devices.

Chapter 23

IN and OUT
Input/output ports and their uses: IN, OUT

Chapter 24

The memory
A look at the internal workings of the ZX Spectrum: CLEAR

Chapter 25

The system variables

Chapter 26

Using machine code
Introducing USR with a numeric argument

Appendix A

The character set

Appendix B

Reports

Appendix C

A description of the ZX Spectrum for reference
The BASIC

Appendix D

Example programs

Appendix E

Binary and hexadecimal

Original edition published in 1982 by Sinclair Research Limited.
Subsequently converted to ASCII text and published in 1995 by Chris Owen on behalf of Amstrad plc.
HTML version by Pete Robinson.
This version reformatted and modified for BASin by Paul E Collins and published in 2004.

This manual is freely distributable but must not be distributed without this notice.

© Copyright 1995 Amstrad plc - all rights reserved.