Directives

Directive
Meanings
​
Output controls
.cpu
Select CPU type. Available values are: 8080, 8008, Z80, 6502, M6800, CDP1802, M6809, C65816
.engine
Controls machine type for emulation (only in online ASM80). Available values are: PMI, PMD, JPR, KIM, SBCZ80, SBC6502, SBC09, ZXS and CPM
.pragma srec
Makes S19 file in addition to the HEX
.pragma sna
Makes SNA file instead of HEX (only for Z80)
.pragma tap
Makes TAP file instead of HEX (only for Z80)
.pragma prg
Makes C64's PRG file instead of HEX (only for 6502) [read more]  .PRAGMA PRG ;says “make .PRG instead of .HEX” .ORG $0810 ;or higher .ENT $ ;for “enter here”
.pragma com
Makes CP/M COM file instead of HEX (only for Z80/8080) [read more]
.pragma html
Makes HTML listing (instead of LST)
.pragma segment
Make separate HEX files for cseg, dseg and eseg (without this pragma are all of them in one HEX)
.pragma hexlen,X
Make HEX records X bytes long (e.g. .pragma hexlen,8 will make very short HEX line). Usable when some software needs exact length of a HEX record.
.pragma nofloat
All float numbers are stripped down to the integer (just drop all the digits after the decimal point)
.pragma float
Leave FP numbers intact
.pragma roundfloat
All FP numbers are rounded to their nearest integer
.binfrom addr
Starting address for binary download, default is 0. (Only valid for "Download BIN" function in IDE)
.binto addr
Last address for binary download (this address WILL NOT BE INCLUDED in binary file) Default is 65536. (Only valid for "Download BIN" function in IDE)
.error message
Throws an error during compile phase.
​
Data definition
db (aliases: defb, fcb)
Define Byte. The argument is a comma separated list of string literals or numeric expressions. The string literals are inserted in the object code, and the result of the numeric expression is inserted as a single byte, truncating it if needed. You can use DUP for entering N same values: DB 10 DUP (123) means "10 times value 123"
dw (aliases: defw, fdb)
Define Word. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as a two byte word and the result inserted in the proper "endianity". You can use DUP for entering N same values: DW 10 DUP (123) means "10 times value 123"
dd
Define Double Word. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as a four bytes and the result inserted in the proper "endianity".
df
Define Float number. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as an IEEE-754 32bit floating point number and the result inserted in the proper "endianity".
dff
Define double precision Float number. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as an IEEE-754 64bit floating point number and the result inserted in the proper "endianity".
ds (aliases: defm, defs, rmb)
Define Space. Take one argument, which is the amount of space to define, in bytes.
fill value, length
Fill memory with a value. Take two arguments, the first is a value, the second is length of filled block (byte count).
bsz length(alias: zmb)
Fill memory with a given count of zeros.
.cstr
When you need write a zero-ended string (C style), you can use DB "Hello",0 - or simple .cstr "Hello"
.pstr
Similar as .cstr, but there is no trailing zero. .pstr is a Pascal-style string: first byte is length, then string. So .pstr "Hello" is equal to DB 5, "Hello".
.istr
Strings are often defined as simple ASCII, where the last byte has bit 7 set to 1. So .istr "Hello" is the same as DB "Hell","o"+0x80
.include filename
Include a file. The file is readed and the result is the same as if the file were copied in the current file instead of the INCLUDE line. The file included may contain INCLUDE directives, and so on. INCLUDE directives are processed before the assembly phases, so the use of IF directives to conditionally include different files is not allowed.
.include filename:block
Include a part of a file, or better say: the block with given name from a file. The file is searched for the .block name ... .endblock sequence. and the result is the same as if the block were copied in the current file instead of the INCLUDE line.
You can use the placeholder "this" as a file name. In that case parser will use the same file for looking, e.g. .include this:common includes the "common" block from the same file.
.incbin filename
Include a binary file. No parsing, no compiling, just a bunch of DBs.
​
Code control
org addr
ORiGin. Establishes the origin position where to place generated code. Several ORG directives can be used in the same program, but if the result is that code generated overwrites previous, the result is undefined.
.ent addr
ENTer point for debugging. I.e. .ent $
.align N
The .align directive causes the next data generated to be aligned modulo N bytes.
.phase addr
Continue to produce code and data for loading at the current address but assemble instructions and define labels as if they originated at the given address. Useful when producing code that will be copied to a different location before being executed.
.dephase
End phase block.
​
Preprocessor
equ (alias: =)
EQUate. Must be preceded by a label. The argument must be a numeric expression, the result is assigned to the label. I.e. VIDRAM equ $4000
.set
Variable equate. Must be preceded by a label. The argument must be a numeric expression, the result is assigned to the label. The main difference between .set and equ is that the EQU cannot be redefined, but .SET can be overwrited later in the source code
​
Conditional blocks
.if cond
Contional assembly. The argument must be a numeric expression, a result of 0 is considered as false, any other as true. If the argument is true the following code is assembled until the end of the IF section is encountered, else is ignored. The IF section is ended with a ENDIF directive. IFs can be nested (from version 2.5.2).
.ifn cond
IF NOT
.else
The IF branch, valid for false condition.
.endif
End of the IF block
​
Macros and blocks
.macro macro_name
Defines a macro, see the chapter about macros.
.rept count
Repeat a block of code substituing arguments. See the chapter about macros.
.endm
End of MACRO definition or REPT cycle.
.block
Start of logical block. All labels, defined in this block, are local. It means you can’t reference them from outside the block. If you want to define a label globally, simply prefix it with ‘@’, like @LABEL: Good idea is to enclose INCLUDEd code into block. Block can have its own name, e.g. .block serial It is usable with .include directive to include only specific block from a file. Just use .include library.a80:serial - syntax is file:block - with a colon as a separator.
.endblock
End of BLOCK.
​
Segments
​
Segments has its own independent ORG pointers, so you can e.g. defined, that data segment begins at 8000h. You can mix data and code together as you need, but assembler keeps code in one chunk, data in another etc.
.cseg
Following code is a program (code segment - default)
.dseg
Following source code is a data (data segment)
.eseg
Following source code belongs to third segment (extended)
.bsseg
Following source code is a not-initialized segment. ASM allows only DS and such directives, which does not generate any content
​
6809 directives
setdp
Allows the user to set which memory page the assembler will use for the direct page addressing mode.  if "SETDP $D0" is encountered, the assembler will then use direct addressing for any address in the range of $D000 to $D0FF. This directive does not actually affect the contents of the direct page register.
.pragma 6309
Enables HD6309 added instructions in the 6809 assembler sources
​
65816 directives
.m8
Accumulator is 8bit
.m16
16bit accumulator
.x8
index register is 8bit
.x16
16bit index

Machines

Macros

Last modified 3yr ago

Directive	Meanings
	Output controls
.cpu	Select CPU type. Available values are: 8080, 8008, Z80, 6502, M6800, CDP1802, M6809, C65816
.engine	Controls machine type for emulation (only in online ASM80). Available values are: PMI, PMD, JPR, KIM, SBCZ80, SBC6502, SBC09, ZXS and CPM
.pragma srec	Makes S19 file in addition to the HEX
.pragma sna	Makes SNA file instead of HEX (only for Z80)
.pragma tap	Makes TAP file instead of HEX (only for Z80)
.pragma prg	Makes C64's PRG file instead of HEX (only for 6502) [read more] .PRAGMA PRG ;says “make .PRG instead of .HEX” .ORG $0810 ;or higher .ENT $ ;for “enter here”
.pragma com	Makes CP/M COM file instead of HEX (only for Z80/8080) [read more]
.pragma html	Makes HTML listing (instead of LST)
.pragma segment	Make separate HEX files for cseg, dseg and eseg (without this pragma are all of them in one HEX)
.pragma hexlen,X	Make HEX records X bytes long (e.g. .pragma hexlen,8 will make very short HEX line). Usable when some software needs exact length of a HEX record.
.pragma nofloat	All float numbers are stripped down to the integer (just drop all the digits after the decimal point)
.pragma float	Leave FP numbers intact
.pragma roundfloat	All FP numbers are rounded to their nearest integer
.binfrom addr	Starting address for binary download, default is 0. (Only valid for "Download BIN" function in IDE)
.binto addr	Last address for binary download (this address WILL NOT BE INCLUDED in binary file) Default is 65536. (Only valid for "Download BIN" function in IDE)
.error message	Throws an error during compile phase.
	Data definition
db (aliases: defb, fcb)	Define Byte. The argument is a comma separated list of string literals or numeric expressions. The string literals are inserted in the object code, and the result of the numeric expression is inserted as a single byte, truncating it if needed. You can use DUP for entering N same values: DB 10 DUP (123) means "10 times value 123"
dw (aliases: defw, fdb)	Define Word. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as a two byte word and the result inserted in the proper "endianity". You can use DUP for entering N same values: DW 10 DUP (123) means "10 times value 123"
dd	Define Double Word. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as a four bytes and the result inserted in the proper "endianity".
df	Define Float number. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as an IEEE-754 32bit floating point number and the result inserted in the proper "endianity".
dff	Define double precision Float number. The argument is a comma separated list of numeric expressions. Each numeric expression is evaluated as an IEEE-754 64bit floating point number and the result inserted in the proper "endianity".
ds (aliases: defm, defs, rmb)	Define Space. Take one argument, which is the amount of space to define, in bytes.
fill value, length	Fill memory with a value. Take two arguments, the first is a value, the second is length of filled block (byte count).
bsz length(alias: zmb)	Fill memory with a given count of zeros.
.cstr	When you need write a zero-ended string (C style), you can use `DB "Hello",0` - or simple `.cstr "Hello"`
.pstr	Similar as .cstr, but there is no trailing zero. .pstr is a Pascal-style string: first byte is length, then string. So `.pstr "Hello"` is equal to `DB 5, "Hello"`.
.istr	Strings are often defined as simple ASCII, where the last byte has bit 7 set to 1. So `.istr "Hello"` is the same as `DB "Hell","o"+0x80`
.include filename	Include a file. The file is readed and the result is the same as if the file were copied in the current file instead of the INCLUDE line. The file included may contain INCLUDE directives, and so on. INCLUDE directives are processed before the assembly phases, so the use of IF directives to conditionally include different files is not allowed.
.include filename:block	Include a part of a file, or better say: the block with given name from a file. The file is searched for the .block name ... .endblock sequence. and the result is the same as if the block were copied in the current file instead of the INCLUDE line. You can use the placeholder "this" as a file name. In that case parser will use the same file for looking, e.g. .include this:common includes the "common" block from the same file.
.incbin filename	Include a binary file. No parsing, no compiling, just a bunch of DBs.
	Code control
org addr	ORiGin. Establishes the origin position where to place generated code. Several ORG directives can be used in the same program, but if the result is that code generated overwrites previous, the result is undefined.
.ent addr	ENTer point for debugging. I.e. .ent $
.align N	The .align directive causes the next data generated to be aligned modulo N bytes.
.phase addr	Continue to produce code and data for loading at the current address but assemble instructions and define labels as if they originated at the given address. Useful when producing code that will be copied to a different location before being executed.
.dephase	End phase block.
	Preprocessor
equ (alias: =)	EQUate. Must be preceded by a label. The argument must be a numeric expression, the result is assigned to the label. I.e. VIDRAM equ $4000
.set	Variable equate. Must be preceded by a label. The argument must be a numeric expression, the result is assigned to the label. The main difference between .set and equ is that the EQU cannot be redefined, but .SET can be overwrited later in the source code
	Conditional blocks
.if cond	Contional assembly. The argument must be a numeric expression, a result of 0 is considered as false, any other as true. If the argument is true the following code is assembled until the end of the IF section is encountered, else is ignored. The IF section is ended with a ENDIF directive. IFs can be nested (from version 2.5.2).
.ifn cond	IF NOT
.else	The IF branch, valid for false condition.
.endif	End of the IF block
	Macros and blocks
.macro macro_name	Defines a macro, see the chapter about macros.
.rept count	Repeat a block of code substituing arguments. See the chapter about macros.
.endm	End of MACRO definition or REPT cycle.
.block	Start of logical block. All labels, defined in this block, are local. It means you can’t reference them from outside the block. If you want to define a label globally, simply prefix it with ‘@’, like @LABEL: Good idea is to enclose INCLUDEd code into block. Block can have its own name, e.g. .block serial It is usable with .include directive to include only specific block from a file. Just use .include library.a80:serial - syntax is file:block - with a colon as a separator.
.endblock	End of BLOCK.
	Segments
	Segments has its own independent ORG pointers, so you can e.g. defined, that data segment begins at 8000h. You can mix data and code together as you need, but assembler keeps code in one chunk, data in another etc.
.cseg	Following code is a program (code segment - default)
.dseg	Following source code is a data (data segment)
.eseg	Following source code belongs to third segment (extended)
.bsseg	Following source code is a not-initialized segment. ASM allows only DS and such directives, which does not generate any content
	6809 directives
setdp	Allows the user to set which memory page the assembler will use for the direct page addressing mode. if "SETDP $D0" is encountered, the assembler will then use direct addressing for any address in the range of $D000 to $D0FF. This directive does not actually affect the contents of the direct page register.
.pragma 6309	Enables HD6309 added instructions in the 6809 assembler sources
	65816 directives
.m8	Accumulator is 8bit
.m16	16bit accumulator
.x8	index register is 8bit
.x16	16bit index