IBM PC - Software - Programming Languages - 6024002

IBM Personal Computer Macro Assembler (6024002)

Item number:          6024002

Announcement date:    1981-12-01
Availability date:    1982-02
Announcement letter:  281-127  THE IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER IS ENHANCED


From the announcement:

       The IBM Personal Computer Macro Assembler can provide
increased performance and function over the high-level languages.
Programs written in Assembler language are compiled into executable
machine code that may run several times faster than equivalent
BASIC interpreter routines. Additionally, the Assembler permits the
programmer to design detailed program functions that are often
impossible in a higher-level language. Assembler-produced programs,
called "object" files, may be called from programs written in the
following IBM Personal Computer languages: BASIC, Pascal, and
FORTRAN.

...

       The Macro Assembler and the FORTRAN compiler operate under
the control of the IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System
(DOS). They require input to be a source file created using a text
editor such as the EDLIN utility on the DOS Diskette. The output is
a relocatable program which must be converted to one which is ready
for loading and execution using a program such as the Linker on the
DOS Diskette.

...

       The Macro Assembler operates with the IBM Personal Computer
Disk Operating System (DOS). As on larger computers, programs
written in Assembler language are assembled into executable machine
code that may run several times faster than equivalent high-level
language routines.  Additionally, the Assembler permits the
programmer to design detailed program functions that are often
impossible in a higher-level language. Assembler-produced programs,
called "object" files, may be called from programs written from the
following IBM Personal Computer languages: BASIC, Pascal, and
FORTRAN.
       Highlights
.  Relocatable object modules
.  Definition of macros to generate commonly-used instruction
   sequences
.  Two versions: 96KB macro and 64KB subset
.  Listing provided of each module
   -   Machine language of each instruction
   -   Start and end addresses
   -   Name, length, class of each segment
   -   Public and local names and their attributes
   -   Line numbers
   -   Alphabetic cross-reference of variables
.  Compatible with IBM Personal Computer BASIC, Pascal, and FORTRAN
   programs
       Installation/operation: The Assembler language program is
created using a text editor such as the EDLIN utility program that
is packaged with DOS. The Macro Assembler is then used to assemble
the program. Next, the DOS Linker translates the Assembler
relocatable output into a load module, ready for loading and
execution. While this process must take place on a 64KB or larger
diskette system, the load module itself could be run on a diskette
system with as little as 32KB memory. When a load module is
designed for use as a subroutine of a higher-level language program
(IBM Personal Computer BASIC, Pascal, or FORTRAN), the appropriate
instructions must be included in the calling program.
       Packaging: Both versions of the Macro Assembler are
coresident on one diskette. A reference manual is packaged with the
diskette.
       Publications: IBM Personal Computer Macro Assembler manual.
The correct procedures for writing, assembling, linking and running
an Assembler program are described in the Macro Reference Manual. A
complete instruction set reference is included. Details about the
Linker program and EDLIN are included in the IBM Personal Computer
Disk Operating System manual.
       Prerequisites: A minimum 96KB, one diskette drive system is

required to produce an assembler language object module using the
full Macro Assembler version. A subset version is provided to
assemble programs on a 64KB system. This version does not support
macros, repeat functions (REPT, IRP, IRPC), record pseudo-ops, or
structure pseudo-ops.
       Both Assembler versions must be executed under control of
the IBM Personal Computer Disk Operating System (DOS). The DOS
Linker program  (on the DOS Diskette) is also required for the
linkage editor process. A text editing program (EDLIN) for entry of
the Assembler source program is resident on the DOS Diskette.
       Customer responsibilities: The customer is responsible for
making backup copies of the diskettes shipped with the product.


Page created: 2021-08-21   Page last updated: 2021-08-21