Pdp-12 Lap 6-Dial Programmer's Reference Manual

This document serves as a comprehensive programmer’s reference manual for the LAP6-DIAL system, designed for use with the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-12 computer. The manual provides detailed instructions on the system's core components: an editor, a filing system, and an assembler.

Key aspects of the manual include:

• System Overview: An introduction to DIAL, covering hardware requirements and general system operation, including the use of magnetic tapes and disks for file management.
• The Editor: Detailed procedures for entering text/command modes, manipulating the display using the cursor, character editing, line insertion/deletion, and handling large programming files.
• Assembly Language: A breakdown of DIAL assembly syntax, including rules for tags, operators, operands, comments, symbol usage, and the application of various pseudo-operators to direct the assembly process.
• DIAL Monitor Commands: A guide to the command set used for controlling the system, such as assembling, listing, saving/loading binary files, and managing the file index.
• Peripheral Interchange Program (PIP): Instructions on how to use the PIP utility to transfer files between various I/O devices, including disks, tapes, and paper tape readers.
• System Initialization: Step-by-step procedures for building and starting the DIAL-MS system.
• Appendices: A collection of reference materials including assembly error message definitions, command summaries, character sets, instruction sets for PDP-8 and LINC modes, and memory allocation maps.