A. A word from the author

My name is Grant Elliot. I've been programming in BASIC for three years,but I have finally gotten around to learning assembly. I own a TI-85 and TI-89, and I use to have a TI-83 in Statistics class. I have also started an alliance known as Programmers Anonymous. Check out or webpage at www.crosswinds.net/~proganon (soon to be pa.ticalc.org with any luck). Remember to check out our archive and PUD sections.

This set of lessons is set up to accommodate people with or without experience in programming (in any language). Section 2 is set up mainly for those who are completely new to BASIC. This is simply a general overview of the features with which you will be working. In time, we will dive into detailed examinations of these features. Those of you who have programmer in BASIC before can feel free to skip this section.

B. Conventions in this document

This document was written to be viewed with portrait settings. If you are in landscape, please switch.

For symbols not available in most fonts, I will use similar symbols. These include:

The store command (arrow), for which I will write ->
Theta, will looks like θ
Not equal, for which I will write <>
The conversion symbol, for which I will write >

I will write functions in CAPS. You need not enter them in your calculator like this (but if you do, the calculators will fix it in the next compile).

Tips and important information will appear in bold

Arguments will be written in italics.

C. What is TI-BASIC?

TI-BASIC is Texas Instruments' way of allowing the user to customize what his or her calculator can do. It is not to be confused with computer forms of BASIC, because they are not as similar as you might think. Think of TI-BASIC as a better form of PASCAL (a much, much better form). Texas Instruments claims that BASIC (when I am referring to computer BASIC, I will specify) is not meant for games, but if that were true, we wouldn't have most of the functions they have given us. TI-BASIC is fairly easy to learn, but takes time to master. Hopefully, this tutorial will get you on your way.

D. Important definitions

Argument - a value or variable given to a function which controls the way the function behaves ex abs(expr)
Parsing - used to describe both dividing and combining of lists, matrices, strings, etc.
Sprite - picture (usually smaller than full screen)
Syntax - the correct usage, including arguments, or a command.