SpartaDOS X Reference Manual

The Command Processor — Commands

Execute a program which requires that no cartridges are installed (such as DISKRX, EXPRESS, most binary files, etc.)
 

There are four possible environments a command can run under. They are:

1		with internal BASIC present (via BASIC command)
2		with a CARtridge present (via CAR command)
3		with the SpartaDOS X library enabled (just type the program or command name)
4		with no cartridges present (via the X command)

The first three modes use the SpartaDOS X library to perform various DOS functions, including loading and running the command. The fourth mode, however, cannot use the library without moving or disabling the screen! Thus, the following features are disabled when commands are run with this command:

• The search path is not used — you must specify the exact location of the file if it is not in the current directory of the current drive.
• The mini-buffers are not used — single byte get/put will be very slow (this is extremely ram since most programs that use single get byte and put byte are in BASIC or use a cartridge)
• Since the library is disabled, only standard binary files are loadable — SpartaDOS external commands such as FIND and can not be run.
• I/O redirection is severely hampered because it must use the library. In doing this the screen will flicker rapidly.

The general rule of thumb is: "If a program does not work with a cartridge installed, prefix the command with the X command, otherwise, just type the command."

X.COM remains resident in memory while the program called is running, so MEMLO will be slightly higher until the program is exited to the command processor.

Executing a cold start (a jump to $E477) while using X.COM will disable the SpartaDOS X cartridge and the external cartridge, if present.

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