GSX Programming with PolyPascal

Søren Haagerup, March 2013

In this guide, we will show how to write Pascal programs utilizing GSX for the Piccoline.

Prepare a floppy disk

We need the following files on the floppy:

• To make it bootable (copy from a distribution disk):
  • ccpm.sys
• To use graphics (copy from a distribution disk):
  • graphics.cmd
  • assign.sys
  • dd75xhm1.sys (required for the standard graphics settings in the emulator - other files might be needed for different setups)
• To use PolyPascal (copy from the PolyPascal disk):
  • ppas.cmd
  • ppas.erm
  • ppas.hlp
  • ppasrc.hlp
• To use GSX from PolyPascal (copy from the PolyPascal disk):
  • gsx.pas

We have made it all available as an disk image for you to download: GSX_PolyPascal_Example.img.bz2

Write a Pascal program requiring graphics

Here, we have implemented the program on page 9 of Piccolinien 04/1985. This is saved as test.pas (also included on the disk).

How to run the program

Figure 1. Start the graphics

Figure 2. Start PolyPascal

• Start graphics by writing graphics
• Start PolyPascal by writing ppas
• Load the program by load test (the program is called test.pas)
• Run the program by writing run (it will first compile)

Screenshots from the sample program

Figure 3. Initialize parameters

Figure 4. Waiting screen

Figure 5. A nice drawing

Edit the source

Edit the source by typing edit in the PolyPascal shell. Leave the edit environment by Ctrl + K, Ctrl + D.

Figure 6. Edit mode of PolyPascal

Peter Haagerup & Søren Haagerup 2012-2024