Commodore 64 DOS Wedge Commands
This page contains a summary of DOS Wedge commands found on the web. Notable sources include Commodore DOS Wedges, An Overview: Jim Butterfield, the Wikipedia DOS Wedge entry, THE COMMODORE 64 MACRO ASSEMBLER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM, Gaelyne’s Survival Guide for New C64/128 Users, and the Wikipedia Commodore DOS entry.
The primary wedge commands must always be prefixed with > or @ and must appear in the first column of the screen.
Drive Status: @
Returns then clears the current drive status or drive error.
Example: @
Deactivate DOS Wedge: @Q
Deactivates the DOS wedge.
Example: @Q
Reactivate DOS Wedge: SYS 52224
Reactivates the DOS wedge.
Example: SYS 52224
Device: @(device_number)
Set the default device number (8, 9, 10, 11, etc) for two or more device systems, where a device is a single or dual disk drive chassis. All subsequent DOS commands will use this default device.
Example: @0
Directory: @$(drive_number):(filename)(*)([volume])
Shortcut: $(drive_number)
Displays the disk directory in drive (drive_number) without overwriting a BASIC program in memory. If using a dual disk drive chassis then (drive_number) must be specified and must be either zero (0) or one (1). For a single drive chassis, a (drive_number) of 0 may be specified or may be omitted altogether. If (filename) is specified, only that file, if present, will be displayed. Wildcards are allowed; use ? to match any single character; and * to match any stream of characters. For example, @$0:D* will return only programs whose file names start with the letter D. @$0:??? will return programs with exactly three characters in their file names. If ([volume]) is specified (where volume is the character id of that volume), then only those files contained on that volume will be displayed. A ([volume]) is any character enclosed in square brackets.
Example: @$0
Reset: @U
Reset DOS. Note: THE COMMODORE 64 MACRO ASSEMBLER DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM states @UJ and @UI(drive) will reset DOS. But this does not seem to be the case.
Example: @U
Initialize: @I(drive_number):
Initialize drive (drive_number). Causes drive and drive electronics to shake hands. Should be done each time a disk is inserted into the drive.
Example: @I0:
Format: @N(drive_number):(disk_name),(disk_ID)
Performs a low level format of the disk in drive (drive_number). In the example, the disk in drive 0 is formatted and given the ID of “JB” with a disk header of “DISKNAME”. Use a different ID for each of your disks. Omitting ID will perform a quick format.
Example: @N0:DISKNAME,JB
QuickFormat: @N(drive_number):(disk_name)
Performs a quick format of the disk in drive (drive_number). In the example, the disk in drive 0 is formatted and given a disk header of “DISKNAME”.
Example: @N0:DISKNAME
Delete (Scratch): @S(drive_number):(file_name)(*)([volume])
Deletes the file specified by (file_name) on the disk in drive (drive_number). Wildcards are allowed; A command of @S0:C* will remove all files which start with the letter C. A command of @S0:* will remove all files. If ([volume]) is specified (where volume is the character id of that volume), then only those files contained on that volume will be displayed. A ([volume]) is any character enclosed in square brackets.
Example: @S0:FILENAME
Validate: @V(drive_number):
Validates the disk in in drive (drive_number). Rebuilds the map of free blocks and removes incomplete files. Incomplete files will appear prefixed by an asterix. These files must be removed using @V0 as soon as possible. Do not attempt to delete these files.
Example: @V0:
Rename: @R(drive_number):(new_file)=(old_file)([volume])
Renames the file specified by (old_file) to (new_file). If ([volume]) is specified (where volume is the character id of that volume), then only those files contained on that volume will be displayed. A ([volume]) is any character enclosed in square brackets.
Example: @R0:ICE=WATER
Copy: @C(drive_number):(new_file)=0:(existing_file)([volume])
Copies the existing file specified by (existing_file) to a new file name (new_file), on the same disk (or another disk in the same two-drive chassis). Copying to another disk without a two-drive chassis is not supported by this command and requires a 3′rd party utility program. This command also supports concatenation of files. If ([volume]) is specified (where volume is the character id of that volume), then only those files contained on that volume will be displayed. A ([volume]) is any character enclosed in square brackets.
Example: @C0:DOG=0:CAT
Contatenate: @C(drive_number):(new_file)=0:(file_1),0:(file_2)([volume])
Creates a new file specfied by (new_file) from the concatenation of the files (file_1) and (file_2). If ([volume]) is specified (where volume is the character id of that volume), then only those files contained on that volume will be displayed. A ([volume]) is any character enclosed in square brackets.
Example: @C0:FIGHT=0:DOG,0:CAT
Duplicate Disk: @D(dest_drive_number)=(src_drive_number)
Duplicates the disk in (src_drive_number) onto (dest_drive_number). only to be used on dual drives (two drives in the same chassis) and not two single drives. Duplication across drive chassis (for example, across single drives) is not supported by this command and requires a 3′rd party utility program. The example will copy the disk in drive 1 to drive 0 in a single drive chassis.
Example: @D0=1
Load BASIC File: /(drive_number):(file_name)
Loads a BASIC program specified by (file_name) into RAM. This command can only be used to load BASIC programs or machine code programs that are booted from BASIC. The file’s owm load address is ignored and instead the file is loaded at the current “Start of BASIC Text” area. For a single drive chassis, a (drive_number) of 0 may be specified or may be ommitted altogether.
Example: /FILENAME
Load & Run BASIC File: ↑(drive_number):(file_name)
Loads and runs the BASIC program specified by (file_name). This command can only be used to load BASIC programs or machine code programs that are booted from BASIC. The file’s owm load address is ignored and instead the file is loaded at the current “Start of BASIC Text” area. For a single drive chassis, a (drive_number) of 0 may be specified or may be ommitted altogether.
Example: ↑FILENAME
Load Machine Code File: %(drive_number):(file_name)
Loads a machine code program specified by (file_name) into RAM at its own load address. For a single drive chassis, a (drive_number) of 0 may be specified or may be ommitted altogether.
Example: %FILENAME
Save BASIC File: ←(drive_number):(file_name)
Saves a BASIC program. For a single drive chassis, a (drive_number) of 0 may be specified or may be ommitted altogether.
Example: ←FILENAME
Verify File: '(drive_number):(file_name)
Verifies that a file has been saved correctly. For a single drive chassis, a (drive_number) of 0 may be specified or may be ommitted altogether.
Example: 'FILENAME