During the execution of a computer program, the instruction sequence is represented inside the machine by binary instructions. However, the programmer specifies instructions symbolically. The conversion from a symbolic representation of a program to its binary representation inside the computer is performed by another computer program. This is referred to as the assembly process, and the program which performs the conversion is called an assembler.
An assembler is a program that accepts a program written in assembly language as input and produces its machine language equivalent. Each instruction word in an assembly language program is translated to only one instruction in machine language.
A command consists of a command name followed by zero or more parameters. Several commands, along with all required parameters, may be written on the same line.
The command name consists of one or more parts separated by hyphens ("-"). Each part of the command name may be abbreviated as long as the command can be distinguished from all other command names.
The standard editing characters are available while typing commands.
The collection of parameters is done in a standardized way as follows:
Parameters are separated by either a comma or any number of spaces or a combination of comma and spaces.
Parameters may be null in which case a default value is assigned.
When a parameter is missing (as opposed to null) it is asked for, and the command processor expects you to supply the required parameter plus more parameters if you wish.
When a parameter syntax error is detected, an error message is printed and the parameter is asked for.
Excess parameters are ignored.
Commands can be given directly to the SINTRAN III command processor by preceding them with an @ sign.
The HELP command lists available commands on the terminal. Only those commands that have as a subset are listed. If is null then all available commands are listed.
These commands are used to set/reset various internal flags which control the format and extent of the assembly listing. A LIST command with an empty parameter will cause the listing mode to be set to its default (initial) value. A NO-LIST command with an empty parameter will cause all output, except error messages, to be suppressed.
PRINT-MACRO <macro name> <output file>
This command prints the currently defined macros on the specified output file. Parameters are named P1, P2, etc. The default output file is the terminal and the default file type is .SYMB. If is null, all macros are printed. Otherwise, only the specified macro is printed.
TABLE-SIZES <size parameter>
This command enables the user to change the size of any of the tables allocated in the assembler's dynamic work area. If the new table size is accepted, the old size is printed on the terminal and the assembler is initialized.