183 AUTO automatic Purpose When typing a BASIC program into the computer it is common to make the first line of the program line number 10, the second line 20 etc. To save having to type in the line number each time, the command AUTO can be used to make the computer ‘offer’ each line number automatically. Used on its own the command AUTO will offer first line 10 and then lines 20, 30, 40 etc. The command AUTO 455 would instead start the process at line number 455, followed by lines 465, 475, 485 etc. Another option allows the user to select the step size. Thus the command AUTO 465,2 would cause the computer to offer lines 465, 467, 469, 471 etc. The larges step size is 255.
To escape from AUTO mode the user must press the key marked ESCAPE . AUTO mode will be abandoned if the computer tries to generate a line number greater than 32767. Examples AUTO AUTO 220 AUTO 105,5 Syntax AUTO [ [ , ]] AUTO is a command allowing the user to enter lines without first typing in the number of the line. Because AUTO is a command it cannot form part of a multiple statement line. AUTO mode can be left by pressing ESCAPE or generating a line number exceeding 32767. Description AUTO may have up to two arguments. The first optional argument gives the starting line number and the second optional argument gives the increment between line numbers.