TI-BASIC Tutorial - Displaying Text

**exfyre** · 08-27-2009, 03:05 PM

Introduction
TI-BASIC is the built-in program language that comes with the TI-83/84+ calculators
Optional Resources
1. TI-83 Plus Flash Debugger -> for running programs
2. TI Graph link -> For writing & saving programs
-or-
a TI-83/84 Plus calculator -> writes and runs programs

Displaying Text
There are three different commands for text display. These are:

Code:

:Disp
:Output(
:Text(

Each of these has its different uses. Here is some detailed information on each.
Note: It is often common practice to leave off the closing parenthesis of functions like Output( and Text( as this saves one byte of RAM.
":Disp"

Code:

Disp expr[, expr, expr...]
Always starts at the next line.
Displays the value to the homescreen.
Can display any type of value.
Does not wrap text to the next line.
Each new argument is written to a new line

":Output("

Code:

Output(y, x, expr
top left is 1,1
bottom right is 8, 16
Displays the value to the homescreen.
Can display any type of numerical or string value.
Wraps text to the next line.

":Text("

Code:

Text(y, x, expr[,expr, expr...]
top left is 0,0
bottom right is 94, 62
Displays the value to the homescreen.
Can display any type of numerical or string value.
Returns an error if x or y are off the screen

Classic "Hello World" Programs using each command:

Code:

:ClrHome
:Disp "Hello World"

Code:

:ClrHome
:Output(1,1,"Hello World"

Code:

:ClrDraw
:Text(0,0,"Hello World"

If you'll notice, in that last code snippet, the command ClrDraw was used instead of ClrHome. This is because Text( uses the graph screen instead of the homescreen to display values.

NOTE: Most Text( characters are between 3 and 5 pixels wide and 4 pixels in height. All Disp and Output( characters take up one 'block'. The homescreen is about 16 blocks wide by 8 blocks in length. Similar ratio as the below series of lines.
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Bit o' Vars
Before I start my next tutorial, some might want to experiment a bit. If you've never used a TI calculator, there are some things you need to know.
For one, there are only 27 storable variables for single numeric values, A through Z and Theta. There are only 10 string variables and 10 Matrix variables and 10 picture variables. You cannot create your own variables. You can, however, create as many lists as you want with their own unique names. Lists are arrays of numbers (numbers only).

Examples:

Code:

:ClrHome
:0→X
:Disp X
:100→X
:Output(1,2,X

The previous code will clear the screen, store 0 to X, display X, store 100 to X, and then output X at the location 1,2
The result looks like this:

Code:

Jordan · 08-27-2009, 03:16 PM

The first of its kind on here! Very cool, I still have my TI from school. +rep

**Vswe** · 08-27-2009, 03:37 PM

I planned to create 5 TI tutorials tomorrow, is that just a coincidence?

EDIT: Actually today since it's past midnight here

Jordan · 08-27-2009, 03:42 PM

Has to be, looking forward to them though.

**exfyre** · 08-27-2009, 04:38 PM

lemme know what your gonna put in your tutorials and ill see if i can try and cover other things than what you will be covering.

**WingedPanther** · 08-28-2009, 03:30 AM

This brings back the good old days: programming on my TI-81 (in 1990). Maybe I should put up some programs for the HP 48 GX. Dueling calculator codes!