Description

Arabic BASIC is a BASIC extension that is provided on most Arabic MSX1/MX2 computers or with an Arabic cartridge.

However, this extension is not available on the Arabic versions of the Spectravideo SVI-728 and SVI-738 computers. These machines include instead a 16kB ROM allowing to use MSX-BASIC directly in Arabic language.

Note: The extra instructions linked to a built-in software (CALL CALENDAR, CALL FATEEN, CALL MENU, CALL PAINT, CALL SBASIC, CALL SFILES, CALL SWP, CALL TEDIT) are not part of the Arabic BASIC instructions.

Versions

There are several versions of this extension:

Sakhr versions

• 1.00 on Sakhr AH-200, Sakhr AX-100, Arabic/English Sakhr AX-200
• 1.01 on Al Fateh 100, Al Fateh 123, Sakhr AX-170, Sakhr AX-230, Sakhr AX-330, Sakhr AX-660, Sakhr AX-990, probably on Arabic/French Sakhr AX-200
• 1.01 or 1.02 on Sakhr AX-150
• 2.00 on Sakhr AX-350 with menu different from AX-350II menu (needs to be checked)
• 2.01 on Sakhr AX-500
• 2.02 on Sakhr AX-350II and most Sakhr AX-350 (same firmware menu as AX-350II menu)
• 2.03 on Sakhr AX-370 with built-in version of Arabic Sakhr Basic (Arabic/English toggle: F7 key)

Note: The two following cartridges (128kB Megaroms) can be used only on Arabic machines, they are designed for the programmers who want to easily toggle between Arabic and English when using MSX-BASIC (by pressing F7):

• Arabic Sakhr Basic - MSX1 version (صخر بيسيك)
• Arabic Sakhr Basic - MSX1/2 version (صخر بيسيك)

Bawareth Perfect versions

Known versions on Bawareth Perfect MSX1 and Bawareth Perfect MSX2:

• 1987 versions (3.21 - 3.30) - similar to Sakhr 1.01 with some differences
• 1990 version - many extra instructions, compared to 1987 versions

Most Sakhr MSX2 instructions are not available on Bawareth Perfect MSX2.

Barq version

The Arabic Barq Basic (برق - بيسيك) cartridge can be used to add Arabic BASIC to a non-Arabic MSX computer. This 32kB ROM contains only a little part of the Sakhr MSX1 instructions.

Instructions

Arabic BASIC modifies the working of the cursor on text screens, the SCREEN instruction for the printer type and adds a variable number of new instructions:

• 19 or 20 new instructions on Sakhr MSX1 computers
• 30 or 31 new instructions on Sakhr MSX2 computers
• 19 new instructions on Bawareth Perfect machines with 1987 version of Arabic Basic
• 28 new instructions on Bawareth Perfect machines with 1990 version of Arabic Basic
• 8 new instructions with the Barq cartridge.

(*) Not available on Sakhr AH-200, AX-100 and AX-200 (Arabic/English version)
(**) Only on Sakhr AX-350 with firmware v.2.02, AX-350II and AX-370