Commodore PETSCII character sets - Aivosto

1 2014 Aivosto Oy PETSCII character setsPET ascii , CBM ASCIIPETSCII ( Commodore 64)p. 2 C64, C16, C128 PETSCII ( Commodore VIC-20)p. 5 PETSCII ( Commodore PET)p. 8 Commodore PET 8032 PETSCII (Original version)p. 11 First Commodore PET 2001 (1977) Commodore 64 screen display codes (POKE)p. 14 Thick vs. narrow charactersp. 15 Commodore PETSCII control charactersp. 16 The PETSCII character sets , also known as PET ascii or CBM ascii , were 8-bit character sets used by Commodorecomputers of the 1970s and 1980s. Originally introduced with Commodore PET 2001 in 1977, PETSCII was modifiedand reused in several later Commodore each version of PETSCII , there were two alternative character sets available: an upper case set (graphics mode) and alower case set (text/business mode). The upper case set supported upper case letters along with digits and symbols. Thelower case set supported both upper and lower case letters, but less symbols.

2 The current set was selected by either theuser or a , both character sets consisted of 127 visually unique characters. In upper case, there were 62 standard ascii characters and 65 additional graphic characters. In lower case there were 87 ascii and 38 graphic characters. Several ofthe 127 unique characters were duplicated, resulting in each set containing a total of 192 visible characters. Characterorder was ideal for the PET keyboard layout: holding down the SHIFT key would produce the character whose PETSCII value was base character + 128. Later on, the sets were adjusted a bit, ending with 123 unique characters (61 ascii , 62graphical) in upper case and 125 ones (87 ascii + 38 graphical) in lower case for Commodore addition to the visible characters, the sets also supported a number of invisible control characters. Support for thesecontrol codes varied from device to device. Control characters were used for special keys, cursor movement, editing,color selection and the like.

3 If typed between quotes "..", control characters became visible in program listings. Therethey appeared in reverse field (see the Sym column in the character charts).At least four different versions of PETSCII have existed, not counting any regional ) The 1977 version defaulted to upper case letters. In business mode, lower case letters were available with ) Business mode soon changed. Upper and lower case were swapped. Lower case could now be typed without ) VIC-20 replaced the backslash (\) by the pound ( ). Area hex 60-7F now duplicated different characters than characters were still similar to PET, but they all appeared stretched on ) With Commodore 64, the characters became thicker in order to look better on TV. 1-pixel lines were converted to2-pixel lines. This caused 4 pairs of line drawing characters, which used to be 1 pixel off each other, to become we consider visible characters only, the 1977 version of PETSCII was downwards compatible with ascii -1963,which was the initial (and long forgotten) version of the ascii standard.

4 Control characters differed, though. Because ofthis, PETSCII has never been compatible with any version of ascii . Thus, the names PET ascii and CBM ascii arerather though PETSCII is not fully compatible with either ascii or Unicode, the following charts list matchingcharacters in these standard character sets where was used in main memory, keyboard input, storage and printing. A completely different representation for thesame characters was used for screen memory. For this purpose Commodore computers used screen display codes. Thesecodes could be "poked" to screen RAM area instead of using PETSCII . As with PETSCII , poke codes too came in upperand lower case sets , which meant each Commodore computer used a total of 4 non-standard character images from C64. Sym=Symbol for control inside quotes. 2014 Aivosto Oy ( Commodore 64) character sets 1 & 2C64, C16, C128 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c0 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c16 SPACE3248648096112 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c128 SymC64C16C12840cC12880cBLACK144 SHIFT+SPC1601761922082242401 CURSOR DOWN173349658197113 ORANGEDKPUR129 CURSOR UP145161177193209225241 ULON2 REVERSE ON183450668298114 FSHONULOFF130 REVERSE OFF146162178194210226242 STOP3 HOME193551678399115 RUN131 CLEAR1471631791952112272434 DEL2036526884100116 FSHOFF132 INST148164180196212228244 WHITE52137536985101117F1133 BROWNDKYEL149165181197213229245622385470 86102118F3134 PINKYELGRNPINK150166182198214230246 BELL72339557187103119F5135 DKGRYPINKDKGRYDKCYN151167183199215231247 LOCKCASE8 TAB SET/CLEAR2440567288104120F7136 MEDGRYBLGRNMEDIUMGRAY1521681842002162322 48 UNLOCKCASETAB92541577389105121F2137 LGTGRNLGTBLULIGHTGREEN153169185201217233 249 LINE FEED102642587490106122F4138 LGTBLUDKBLULIGHTBLUE15417018620221823425 0 UNLOCKCASE11

5 ESC2743597591107123F6139 LGTGRYLGTGRNLIGHTGRAY1551711872032192352 51 LOCKCASE12 RED2844607692108124F8 HLPF8140 PURPLE156172188204220236252 RETURN13 CURSOR RIGHT2945617793109125 SHIFT+RETURN141 CURSOR LEFT157173189205221237253 LOWER CASE14 GREEN3046627894110126 UPPER CASE142 YELLOW158174190206222238254 FSHON15 BLUE3147637995111127 FSHOFF143 CYAN159175191207223239255-0-1-2-3-4-5-6- 7-8-9-A-B-C-D-E-F00102030405060708090A0B 0C0D0E0F0duplicate areaduplicate area3 character images from C64. Sym=Symbol for control inside quotes. 2014 Aivosto Oy ( Commodore 64) character set 1C64, C16, C128 Upper case (graphics mode)SymC64C16C12840cC12880c0 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c16 SPACEu+002032u+003048u+004064u+005080u+2 50096112 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c128 SymC64C16C12840cC12880cBLACK144 SHIFT+SPCu+0020160u+250c176u+2500192208u +0020224u+250c2401 CURSOR DOWNu+008417u+002133u+003149u+004165u+00 5181u+266097u+25cf113 ORANGEDKPUR129 CURSOR UPu+008d145u+258c161u+2534177u+2660193u+ 25cf209u+258c225u+2534241 ULON2 REVERSE ON18u+002234u+003250u+004266u+005282u+25 0298114 FSHONULOFF130 REVERSE OFF146u+2584162u+252c178u+2502194210u+25 84226u+252c242 STOP3 HOME19u+002335u+003351u+004367u+005383u+ 250099u+2665115 RUN131 CLEAR147u+2594163u+2524179u+2500195u+266 5211u+2594227u+25242434 DELu+000820u+002436u+003452u+004468u+005 484100116 FSHOFF132 INST148u+2581164u+258e180196212u+2581228 u+258e244 WHITE521u+002537u+003553u+004569u+005585 101u+256d117F1133

6 BROWNDKYEL149u+258e165u+258d181197u+256d 213u+258e229u+258d245622u+002638u+003654 u+004670u+005686102u+2573118F3134 PINKYELGRNPINK150u+2592166182198u+257321 4u+2592230246 BELLu+0007723u+002739u+003755u+004771u+0 05787103u+25cb119F5135 DKGRYPINKDKGRYDKCYN151167183199u+25cb215 231247 LOCKCASE8 TAB SET/CLEARu+008824u+002840u+003856u+00487 2u+005888104u+2663120F7136 MEDGRYBLGRNMEDIUMGRAY152168184200u+26632 16232248 UNLOCKCASETABu+0009925u+002941u+003957u+ 004973u+005989u+256e105121F2137 LGTGRNLGTBLULIGHTGREEN153u+25e4169u+2583 185u+256e201217u+25e4233u+2583249 LINE FEEDu+000a1026u+002a42u+003a58u+004a74u+ 005a90u+2570106u+2666122F4138 LGTBLUDKBLULIGHTBLUE154170u+2713186u+257 0202u+2666218234u+2713250 UNLOCKCASE11 ESCu+001b27u+002b43u+003b59u+004b75u+005 b91u+256f107u+253c123F6139 LGTGRYLGTGRNLIGHTGRAY155u+251c171u+25961 87u+256f203u+253c219u+251c235u+2596251 LOCKCASE12 RED28u+002c44u+003c60u+004c76u+00a392108 124F8 HLPF8140 PURPLE156u+2597172u+259d188204220u+25972 36u+259d252 RETURN13 CURSOR RIGHT29u+002d45u+003d61u+004d77u+005d93u +2572109u+2502125 SHIFT+RETURN141 CURSOR LEFT157u+2514173u+2518189u+2572205u+2502 221u+2514237u+2518253 LOWER CASEu+000e14 GREEN30u+002e46u+003e62u+004e78u+219194u +2571110u+2592126 UPPER CASEu+000f142 YELLOW158u+2510174u+2598190u+2571206u+25 92222u+2510238u+2598254 FSHON15 BLUE31u+002f47u+003f63u+004f79u+21909511 1127 FSHOFF143 CYAN159u+2582175u+259a191207223u+2582239 u+2592255-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-A-B-C-D-E- F00102030405060708090A0B0C0D0E0F0duplica te areaduplicate area4 character images from C64.

7 Sym=Symbol for control inside quotes. 2014 Aivosto Oy ( Commodore 64) character set 2C64, C16, C128 Lower case (text mode)SymC64C16C12840cC12880c0 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c16 SPACEu+002032u+003048u+004064u+007080u+2 50096u+0050112 SymC64C16C12840cC12880c128 SymC64C16C12840cC12880cBLACK144 SHIFT+SPCu+0020160u+250c176u+2500192u+00 50208u+0020224u+250c2401 CURSOR DOWNu+008417u+002133u+003149u+006165u+00 7181u+004197u+0051113 ORANGEDKPUR129 CURSOR UPu+008d145u+258c161u+2534177u+0041193u+ 0051209u+258c225u+2534241 ULON2 REVERSE ON18u+002234u+003250u+006266u+007282u+00 4298u+0052114 FSHONULOFF130 REVERSE OFF146u+2584162u+252c178u+0042194u+00522 10u+2584226u+252c242 STOP3 HOME19u+002335u+003351u+006367u+007383u+ 004399u+0053115 RUN131 CLEAR147u+2594163u+2524179u+0043195u+005 3211u+2594227u+25242434 DELu+000820u+002436u+003452u+006468u+007 484u+0044100u+0054116 FSHOFF132 INST148u+2581164u+258e180u+0044196u+0054 212u+2581228u+258e244 WHITE521u+002537u+003553u+006569u+007585 u+0045101u+0055117F1133

8 BROWNDKYEL149u+258e165u+258d181u+0045197 u+0055213u+258e229u+258d245622u+002638u+ 003654u+006670u+007686u+0046102u+0056118 F3134 PINKYELGRNPINK150u+2592166182u+0046198u+ 0056214u+2592230246 BELLu+0007723u+002739u+003755u+006771u+0 07787u+0047103u+0057119F5135 DKGRYPINKDKGRYDKCYN151167183u+0047199u+0 057215231247 LOCKCASE8 TAB SET/CLEARu+008824u+002840u+003856u+00687 2u+007888u+0048104u+0058120F7136 MEDGRYBLGRNMEDIUMGRAY152168184u+0048200u +0058216232248 UNLOCKCASETABu+0009925u+002941u+003957u+ 006973u+007989u+0049105u+0059121F2137 LGTGRNLGTBLULIGHTGREEN153169u+2583185u+0 049201u+0059217233u+2583249 LINE FEEDu+000a1026u+002a42u+003a58u+006a74u+ 007a90u+004a106u+005a122F4138 LGTBLUDKBLULIGHTBLUE154170u+2713186u+004 a202u+005a218234u+2713250 UNLOCKCASE11 ESCu+001b27u+002b43u+003b59u+006b75u+005 b91u+004b107u+253c123F6139 LGTGRYLGTGRNLIGHTGRAY155u+251c171u+25961 87u+004b203u+253c219u+251c235u+2596251 LOCKCASE12 RED28u+002c44u+003c60u+006c76u+00a392u+0 04c108124F8 HLPF8140 PURPLE156u+2597172u+259d188u+004c204220u +2597236u+259d252 RETURN13 CURSOR RIGHT29u+002d45u+003d61u+006d77u+005d93u +004d109u+2502125 SHIFT+RETURN141 CURSOR LEFT157u+2514173u+2518189u+004d205u+2502 221u+2514237u+2518253 LOWER CASEu+000e14 GREEN30u+002e46u+003e62u+006e78u+219194u +004e110u+2592126 UPPER CASEu+000f142 YELLOW158u+2510174u+2598190u+004e206u+25 92222u+2510238u+2598254 FSHON15 BLUE31u+002f47u+003f63u+006f79u+219095u+ 004f111127 FSHOFF143 CYAN159u+2582175u+259a191u+004f207223u+2 582239u+2592255-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-A-B- C-D-E-F00102030405060708090A0B0C0D0E0F0d uplicate areaduplicate area5 Differences to C64: Stretched characters with narrow lines.

9 character pairs A5-B4, A7-AA, C0-C3, C2-DD differ from each other (also in duplicated areas). 2014 Aivosto Oy ( Commodore VIC-20) character sets 1 & 2016 SPACE3248648096112128 BLACK144 SHIFT+SPC1601761922082242401 CURSOR DOWN173349658197113129 CURSOR UP1451611771932092252412 REVERSE ON183450668298114130 REVERSE OFF146162178194210226242 STOP3 HOME193551678399115 RUN131 CLEAR1471631791952112272434 DEL2036526884100116132 INST148164180196212228244 WHITE52137536985101117F11331491651811972 1322924562238547086102118F31341501661821 9821423024672339557187103119F51351511671 83199215231247 LOCK CASE82440567288104120F713615216818420021 6232248 UNLOCK CASE92541577389105121F213715316918520121 7233249102642587490106122F41381541701862 02218234250112743597591107123F6139155171 18720321923525112 RED2844607692108124F8140 PURPLE156172188204220236252 RETURN13 CURSOR RIGHT2945617793109125 SHIFT+RETURN141 CURSOR LEFT157173189205221237253 LOWER CASE14 GREEN3046627894110126 UPPER CASE142 YELLOW15817419020622223825415

10 BLUE3147637995111127143 CYAN159175191207223239255-0-1-2-3-4-5-6- 7-8-9-A-B-C-D-E-F00102030405060708090A0B 0C0D0E0F0duplicate areaduplicate area6 Differences to C64: Stretched characters with narrow lines. character pairs A5-B4, A7-AA, C0-C3, C2-DD differ from each other (also in duplicated areas). 2014 Aivosto Oy ( Commodore VIC-20) character set 1 Upper case (graphics mode)016 SPACEu+002032u+003048u+004064u+005080u+2 50096112128 BLACK144 SHIFT+SPCu+0020160u+250c176u+2500192208u +0020224u+250c2401 CURSOR DOWNu+008417u+002133u+003149u+004165u+00 5181u+266097u+25cf113129 CURSOR UPu+008d145u+258c161u+2534177u+2660193u+ 25cf209u+258c225u+25342412 REVERSE ON18u+002234u+003250u+004266u+0052829811 4130 REVERSE OFF146u+2584162u+252c178194210u+2584226u +252c242 STOP3 HOME19u+002335u+003351u+004367u+00538399 u+2665115 RUN131 CLEAR147u+2594163u+2524179195u+2665211u+ 2594227u+25242434 DELu+000820u+002436u+003452u+004468u+005 484100116132 INST148u+2581164u+258e180196212u+2581228 u+258e244