USER MANUAL –
EBM System/800

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VIDEO SETTINGS

Note that the EBM System/800's HELP feature does not detail video settings. This is because these settings exist outside of the EBM System/800. You would not expect a modern computer to tell you how to adjust your flatscreen monitor! All of the EBM System/800's video settings are detailed on this page.

ALT+ENTER – Toggle Windowed Mode and Full Screen Mode.

CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+PGUP/PGDN – Enter Half Screen Width Mode, and dock to the left or right for a low-distraction working environment.

CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT – Increase/decrease pixel width/height.

CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+0 – This is the zero key on the main part of your computer keyboard. Cycle through 3 Monochrome Colour Modes – white, amber and green on black. The Executive Edition also cycles through 3 Inverse Colour Modes, e.g. black on amber, each with the option of a black border.

CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+COMMA/PERIOD – These are the comma and period keys, which also have < and > above them on most keyboards. Decrease or increase the intensity of the Visible Scanline Mode. The scanline value ranges from 0 (off) to 10 – disable the effect by turning down to the lowest setting. Executive Edition goes up to 11.

Special Video Settings

Some video options can be controlled only by editing the S800.ini file. Type EDIT INI in Terminal Mode and edit the file in Editor Mode. If the required line is not present, add it under the [VIDEO] header. Reboot the System/800.

To force the System/800 to open in a particular window mode, enter e.g. WINDOW=RIGHT. Values are FULL for full screen, LEFT/RIGHT (half-screen docked), or WINDOW.

To set the border width around the screen, enter e.g. BORDER=4 with a value from 1 to 7. The value defines the border width in characters.

TERMINAL MODE

ESC+BACKSPACE/DELETE – Restore.

UP ARROW – Repeat command.

CTRL+C – Copy current line to clipboard.

CTRL+SHIFT+C – Copy entire screen to clipboard.

CTRL+V – Paste clipboard to command line.

AUTOSAVE – Set or disable autosave, can state seconds.

MODULE – List installed Modules.

CLEAR – Clear Terminal screen.

RESET – Reset the System/800.

EXIT – Exit the System/800.

TERMINAL MODE: FILE MANAGEMENT

In these examples, let's assume you have several source code files or text files in folder C:\project\game\maze

Type F1 to ensure you are in Terminal Mode. Note that CTRL slows text output, ESC halts text output.

Type FOLDER to view the working folder.

Type DIR to view the working folder's files and folders. Folders are in [square brackets]. Type DIR then a file extension to filter by type, e.g. DIR TXT to output only .txt files.

Type LIST to view all loaded files. Type LIST then a file extension to filter by type, e.g. LIST TXT to output only loaded .txt files.

If you are in C:\project, type IN "game" to move to C:\project\game. You can enter multiple folders, e.g. IN "game\maze"

To jump to any folder from anywhere, type the full path, e.g. IN "C:\project\game\maze"

To exit a folder, type OUT. To return to the previous folder, type BACK.

You can load files individually by entering the folder and typing LOAD "myFile" Type LOAD ALL to load all files in the working folder, or navigate to the folder containing the folder and type LOAD "myFolder"

Files with the .8ws extension are automatically loaded into Worksheet Mode. To force a .8ws file to load as text in Editor Mode, type LOAD EDITOR "myFile.8ws"

Type LOAD INI to load the EBM System/800's settings file from any folder.

Type CLOSE ALL to close all open documents and worksheets. If there are unsaved files, you will be asked to enter Y or N. Files will close only on confirmation.

STATUS BAR

The Status Bar at the foot of your Editor Mode and Worksheet Mode screens provides information such as data and filenames to the left, and coordinates and keyboard lock states to the right.

Keyboard Lock State Indicators

INS/OVR – Insert/Overtype Mode. Toggled with the INSERT key.
NUM – Number Lock Mode. Toggled with the NUM LOCK key. Highlights when set.
CAP – Capital Letter Lock Mode. Toggled with the CAPS LOCK key. Highlights when set.
SCR – Scroll Lock Mode. Toggled with the SCROLL LOCK key. Highlights when set.

Status Bar Display Modes

In Editor Mode, type CTRL+F2 to cycle through the four Status Bar display modes: full view with three-character Keyboard Lock State Indicators; full view with compact Keyboard Lock State Indicators; filename view; and a second filename view with language shown to the right.

In Worksheet Mode, type F3 to briefly display the current worksheet filename, and type CTRL+F3 to toggle the two Status Bar display modes: cell view with three-character Keyboard Lock State Indicators, and cell view with compact Keyboard Lock State Indicators.

Hide and Show Keyboard Lock State Indicators

Each of the four indicators can be hidden or shown independently, separately for Editor Mode and Worksheet Mode. Perhaps you routinely toggle Number Lock Mode in Worksheet Mode and not in Editor Mode?

In Terminal Mode, type:

STATUSBAR EDITOR/WS INS/NUM/CAP/SCR SHOW/HIDE

For example:

STATUSBAR WS SCR HIDE – hide the SCR indicator in Worksheet Mode
STATUSBAR EDITOR CAP SHOW – show the CAP indicator in Editor Mode
STATUSBAR WS INS HIDE – hide the INS/OVR indicator in Worksheet Mode

All indicators are shown by default. Hide settings are saved to the S800.ini file under the [SYSTEM] header, for example STATUSBAR-WS-SCR=HIDE.

SCREENSAVER

The Screensaver Module is installed by default. It activates after N minutes of computer keyboard inactivity. Type any key to resume.

ALT+SPACE – Activate the screensaver immediately. Works in any mode.

Type F1 to enter Terminal Mode to control the screensaver using Terminal Commands.

INSTALL SCREENSAVER / UNINSTALL SCREENSAVER – Install/uninstall the module.

SCREENSAVER – Show current style and time in minutes.

SCREENSAVER A-Q – Set style. Some styles are super-minimal to minimise CRT and OLED burn-in. Selecting a style previews the style.

SCREENSAVER 1-60 – Set timeout in minutes.

Message Text

Styles A and B display a message inside a boxed frame. The default message is EBM SYSTEM/800.

SCREENSAVER "MESSAGE" – Set the message text. 40 character limit. Lower case letters will display in upper case.

SCREENSAVER "" – Clear back to the default message text.

The message text can also be set by editing the S800.ini file. Type EDIT INI in Terminal Mode and edit the file in Editor Mode. Under the [SYSTEM] header, add or edit e.g. SCREENSAVER-TEXT=<AIDEN SMITH IS SKILL>. Reboot the System/800.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

A project is a list of document and worksheet filenames in a text file with extension .8pr

Type F1 to ensure you are in Terminal Mode.

PROJECT "ProjectName.8pr" – Load all documents and worksheets in a previously saved project. You may have to navigate to the folder containing the .8pr file.

PROJECT SAVE "ProjectName.8pr" – Save all open documents and worksheets as a project.

PROJECT PICO8 "Name" – Create a complete new Pico-8 project in a single step. See the Pico-8 section below.

You can also save the project in Editor Mode.

CTRL+K – Save project. At least one document must be open. You may be prompted to enter a name for the .8pr file.

CTRL+SHIFT+K – Save project with new name.

Saving the project does not save the actual document or worksheet files. To close a project, just close all open files.

LAUNCH

Assemble, compile or launch your coding project at the press of a key. This feature is available all modes.

Define your launch command in the .ini file under the header [LAUNCH], for example:

9=<"C:\Program Files (x86)\PICO-8\pico8.exe" -run %FILE%>

In this example, type F9 and the currently active document will launch in Pico-8. Note that %FILE% is optional, and will be replaced by the path to the currently active document file.

Before launching, the System/800 saves all unsaved documents and writes a timestamped backup of each into a backups subfolder. To change what is saved, add a line for any digit under the [LAUNCH] header, for example:

9-AUTOSAVE=ONE

Type ALL to save every unsaved document, which is the default, ONE to save only the active document, or OFF to launch without saving.

For multi-line commands, define your text in a Windows .bat batch file and call the batch file in your .ini file launch text.

In the Executive Edition, you can assign all ten digit keys. launch key F9 will still launch the command defined for digit 9, but you can also type ALT with the digit key to launch any of up to ten defined commands.

System/800 AS DEFAULT TEXT EDITOR

You can use the EBM System/800 as a Notepad replacement by configuring Windows to open text files directly in the System/800. Double-clicking a text file will open it in Editor Mode. You can even open several files at once.

The process is extremely straightforward, and will work with any kind of text file, e.g. .txt and .cpp files. Note that at present .8ws spreadsheet files will open as text documents.

Making File Extensions Visible

EBM recommend that you force Windows to show file extension. In Windows 10, open any folder, select View, then check File name extensions. In Windows 11, open any folder, select View, then Show, then check File name extensions.

Setting the System/800 as the Default Application

Right-click any file with the relevant extension, for example any .txt file. Select Open with.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT choose the System/800 here.

Select Choose another app. If you do not see this option, select Show more options.

IMPORTANT: In the dialog box, check Always use this app before you select the System/800.

If you do not see the System/800, select More apps or Look for another app. Find the s800.exe file and select it.

If you installed the System/800 using the default settings, you will find s800.exe at C:\Program Files (x86)\S800

Repeat this process for all relevant file extensions.

Opening Text Files in the System/800

Double-click on a file to open. The System/800 will launch, and will open the file in Editor Mode. If the System/800 is already running, the System/800 will switch to the file in Editor Mode.

To open multiple files, select the files, then right-click on the files and choose Open.

PICO-8

Both editions of the EBM System/800 include a Module for working with Pico-8 projects. To load the Pico-8 Module, type F1 to ensure you are in Terminal Mode, then type INSTALL PICO8

A Pico-8 project involves at least two files. A .p8 file is loaded into the Pico-8, and this file calls one or more .lua files, which you edit in the System/800's Editor Mode. However, you will likely also use a project file to load all of your project files into the computer, as well as change settings.

ANY SIMPLER METHOD WILL LIKELY LEAD TO LOSS OF DATA whether you use the System/800 or any other text editor.

The easiest way to create a Pico-8 project is by using the PROJECT command in the System/800's Terminal Mode. In Terminal Mode, first use IN or FOLDER to navigate to the folder where you want your project to appear. Then type the command with a name of your choosing:

PROJECT PICO8 "DonkeyKong13"

The System/800 creates a folder containing a Pico-8 .p8 "cartridge" file, three Lua files (init.lua, update.lua and draw.lua, one for each of the main Pico-8 functions), and a System/800 project file. The command changes the working directory to the location of this new folder.

The System/800 installs the Pico-8 Module, opens the three Lua files in its Editor Mode, and assigns F9 to run your cartridge. Type F2 to switch to Editor Mode and write your code, then type launch key F9 to run it in Pico-8. In the Executive Edition, you can also type launch key ALT+9

The .p8 cartridge is the master file, loaded directly by the Pico-8. It holds no code aside from the lines that the System/800 uses to load/execute the one or more Lua files, using the #include directive:

#include init.lua
#include update.lua
#include draw.lua

This list of files can be changed to include other files, which you can create in the System/800's Editor Mode and save into the project folder. The cartridge also stores your graphics, sound and music, which is why opening the .p8 file in a text editor external to the Pico-8 can lead to loss of data.

The .8pr file is your System/800 project file. It records which files belong to the project. To return to your project, use Terminal Mode to navigate to the project folder and load the project file, for example:

IN "DonkeyKong13"
PROJECT "DonkeyKong13.8pr"

The three Lua files reopen in the System/800's Editor Mode.

Your project's F9 launch command is stored inside the project's own .8pr file, under a [LAUNCH] header, not in your .ini file. Creating a project does not change the launch settings in your .ini file. While the project is open, its launch settings override your global launch settings. When you close the project, your global launch settings are restored.

You may add entries to your project file assigning launch commands to other digit keys. Digits other than F9 work only via the digit key together with ALT, e.g. you might assign a launch command to launch a sprite editing package by typing ALT+8

The F9 launch assumes that Pico-8 is installed in its default location, C:\Program Files (x86)\PICO-8 If you have installed your executable elsewhere, edit the 9= line under the [LAUNCH] header in the project's .8pr file.

Counting Tokens

Pico-8 limits a cartridge to a fixed number of code tokens and characters. The System/800 can provide a count of these. In Editor Mode, with a Pico-8 file active, hold ESC and type P, or type CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+P

The System/800 locates your project's .p8 cartridge file, follows its #include files and adds up the tokens. The result is output in the status bar, together with the number of files counted. The .p8 file itself is included in this total, as this file can optionally hold code.

The bar at the top of the screen shows the name and path of the project's .p8 file. To control which file on your computer is to be the project's .p8 cartridge file, add or edit this line in your .8pr file:

MAIN=<DonkeyKong13.p8>

If a block of code is highlighted, only the highlighted text is counted.



Liberal use of GOTO is encouraged.