[Howto] How to convert BASIC files into PC-readable format

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The information in this article applies to the following versions of VICE:

• all versions

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PROBLEMEXPOSITION

You have a BASIC program for any of the machines supported by VICE in one file. Anyway, if you open this file you don't get the source but some hieroglyphs.

CAUSE

Commodore used a "compressed" format for the BASIC program, where every BASIC command was stored in one byte only, and the line numbers where stored binary, too, primarily for speed reasons.

SOLUTION

Just use PETCAT (part of VICE) to convert the file into readable format: Try

• petcat myprogram.prg > myprogram.txt

if myprogram.prg is your runnable file, and myprogram.txt is a not yet used file which will hold the readable version of your file.

STATUS

This document is for information purpose only. The behaviour reported is intentional. This document applies to the VICE versions listed at the beginning of this article.

REVISION

• September 18, 2002: Original release of this document