I need help learning ASM

krazylegodrummer56 · Power User Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 404

Kerm I tried the shift right click and didn't get a "open command window here " choice

_player1537 · Guru-in-Training Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 2957

Haha, you use the DCS SDK _with_ Souvik's program. I mean, you could just do it from the command line if you _really_ felt like it, but Souvik's program is supposed to keep you from that.

It looks like (I've never used it before), you click the "Open File" button, and find your source (.z80 or .asm) code and use it. And, it would seem that it compiles the program for you. Also, the best way to figure stuff out is to read the first few posts and click random buttons Razz

I'm just doing that right now, without the clicking part. Razz

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KermMartian · Posted: 24 Nov 2011 01:51:29 am Post subject:

Krazy: You shift-right clicked on the "asm" folder? Alternatively, you can just open the command prompt, use cd <foldername> to get to the asm folder, and run the same compile command.
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souvik1997 · Guru-in-Training Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 2870

I don't understand what is so confusing about my GUI, but you're welcome to post in its topic if you have a problem with it. After the wizard downloads the SDK and installs it, you just click on "Open File", browse to your .asm source file, and it will assemble it for you. From there, you can either open the compiled program in WabbitEmu or open the "exec" directory in Windows Explorer, which is where the compiled .8xp is.
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KermMartian · Posted: 24 Nov 2011 03:01:54 pm Post subject:

I'm with you, Souvik; I thought it was quite foolproof to use. Smile

I suspect that Krazy's difficulties might be something with unpacking the DCS SDK itself, though, rather than something specific to your program. I look forward to his feedback about what's confusing him.
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krazylegodrummer56 · Power User Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 404

Souvik- now that is a bit better explained I now get it thanks for that tip(AKA the window opens and asks for the file to be selected, didn't get that on the page.)

Kerm- I am still new to figuring out the different ways the instructions that are said and explained. Are you talking about the command prompt built onto the computer, and using that to program ASM?

Also how do you start programming ASM for the first time?
And can you program ASM on your calculator instead of on the computer?

KermMartian · Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:54:28 am Post subject:

Krazy, I'm talking about the command prompt built into the computer. You use that to compile your ASM programs, but not to write them. In TI-BASIC, you write your source code, and then run that directly. With ASM, you write your source code, and then you need to run that through an assembler, which turns what you wrote into a .8xp program. That's what the Doors CS SDK does for you, but you need to tell it when you want to assemble something and wheat you want to assemble. You can specify that from the command prompt, or you can use Souvik's program. Yes, you can write ASM on your calculator, but it's much harder to do so than write it on your computer. Besides speed and simplicity, one major advantage of writing ASM programs on the computer is that you can test your programs in an emulator, and if you have an error in your program, the emulator will crash instead of your real calculator.
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krazylegodrummer56 · Power User Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 404

Thanks for that info Kerm. Can I write ASM in notepad or microsoft word?

ben_g · New Member Joined: 22 Nov 2011 Posts: 77

you should write it in notepad (or an other editor that saves your code as plian text). Word isn't meant for programming, and it saves in binary format, which assemblers can't read.

Ashbad · Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:14:31 pm Post subject:

Never write any code in Word. Not even meant for programming, and never will be. Notepad is good *if you can't use anything else*. I suggest using Notepad++ with DeepThought's z80 Assembly language file (adds syntax coloration to z80 assembly code).
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KermMartian · Posted: 25 Nov 2011 08:56:17 pm Post subject:

As ben_g and Ashbad say, you should use a plaintext editor. Ben_g and Krazy (and other ASM coders): if you're using Notepad instead of Notepad++, stop now and fix it. Benryves also likes Programmer's Notepad, but I haven't personally tried it.
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krazylegodrummer56 · Power User Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 404

Thing is I can't download squat. Thats why I'm wondering what you can use to write ASM code that would already be on the computer.

_player1537 · Guru-in-Training Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 2957

I can only assume that you mean "install" instead of "download", seeing as you are able to get online and download the DCS SDK Wink

Here is a portable version of Notepad++.
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KermMartian · Posted: 26 Nov 2011 09:30:48 pm Post subject:

benryves · Posted: 26 Nov 2011 11:21:39 pm Post subject:

And, for the sake of balance, here's Programmer's Notepad which I much prefer. Smile

krazylegodrummer56 · Power User Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 404

I have tried to get programmers notepad and notepad++ but can't get them installed

thanks player I was able to get notepad++ portable.

(now how to start an asm program???)

KermMartian · Posted: 27 Nov 2011 02:57:49 am Post subject:

The Doors CS SDK presents the skeleton of a simple program for you, if I recall correctly. Page 2 of the DCS SDK PDF has what you need for a simple Doors CS program:

krazylegodrummer56 · Power User Joined: 20 Nov 2011 Posts: 404

Thanks Kerm now i can go and and start learning ASM.

Using the notepad++ portable, what do you have to save the document as?