Difference between revisions of "VT52"

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Very popular video terminal by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]].
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The  '''VT52''' was a very popular [[video terminal]] by [[Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]], introduced 1975. The [[cathode ray tube|CRT]] displays 24 lines of 80 characters in both upper and lower case.
  
 
[[Image:vt52.jpg|thumb|right|VT52 terminal]]
 
[[Image:vt52.jpg|thumb|right|VT52 terminal]]
  
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It uses a custom processor with a [[microcode]]d instruction set.
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It uses a custom processor built from [[transistor-transistor logic|TTL]] parts to execute 1024 words of 8-bit wide [[microcode]].  The [[data path]] is 7 bits wide, as is the 2048-word [[Random Access Memory|RAM]].  The predecessor VT50 is almost identical, except there is only 512 words of microcode, 1024 words of RAM, the CRT display 12 lines, and text is upper case only.
  
 
A VT52-compatible terminal emulator was used in the [[Atari]] [[Atari TOS|TOS]] [[operating system]].
 
A VT52-compatible terminal emulator was used in the [[Atari]] [[Atari TOS|TOS]] [[operating system]].
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{{semi-stub}}
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==Escape sequences==
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Due to its popularity, the VT52 escape sequences became a de facto standard for microcomputers for a while, before VT100 and ANSI took over.
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{| class="wikitable"
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! Name || Sequence || Description
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|-
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| Line Feed || LF || Move cursor down.  On last line, scroll text up.
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|-
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| Cursor Down || ESC B || Move cursor down.  On last line, do not scroll.
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|-
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| Reverse Line Feed || ESC I || Move cursor up.  On first line, scroll text down.
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|-
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| Cursor Up || ESC A || Move cursor up.  On first line, do not scroll.
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|-
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| Cursor Right || ESC C || Move cursor right.  On last column, stay there.
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|-
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| Cursor Left || ESC D, or BS || Move cursor left.  On first column, stay there.
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|-
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| Home || ESC H || Move cursor to top line, first column.
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|-
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| Carriage Return || CR || More cursor to first column.
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|-
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| || TAB || Move cursor to next tab stop.
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|-
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| Direct Cursor Addressing || ESC Y <line> <column> || Move cursor.
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|-
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| Erase to End of Line || ESC K || Erase from cursor position to end of line.
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|-
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| Erase to End of of Screen || ESC J || Erase from cursor position to end of screen.
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|-
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| Ring the Bell || BEL || Sound the buzzer
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|-
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| Identify Terminal Type || ESC Z || Respond e.g. "ESC K" for a plain VT52.
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|-
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| Enter Hold Screen Mode || ESC [ ||
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|-
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| Exit Hold Screen Mode || ESC \ ||
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|-
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| Enter Alternate Keypad Mode || ESC = ||
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|-
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| Exit Alternate Keypad Mode || ESC > ||
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|-
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| Enter Graphics Mode || ESC F ||
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|-
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| Exit Graphics Mode || ESC G ||
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|-
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| colspan="3" | Extensions from Digital Research
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|-
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| Erase and Home || ESC E || Erase screen and move cursor to top line, first column.
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|-
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| Erase Current Line || ESC l ||
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|-
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| Erase to Beginning of Line || ESC o ||
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|-
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| Erase to Beginning of Screen || ESC d ||
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|-
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| Insert Line || ESC L ||
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|-
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| Save Cursor Position || ESC j
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|-
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| Restore Cursor Position || ESC k ||
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|-
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| Reverse Video || ESC p ||
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|-
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| Normal Video || ESC q ||
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|-
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| Set Foreground Color || ESC b <color> ||
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|-
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| Set Background Color || ESC c <color> ||
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|-
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| Enable Cursor || ESC e ||
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|-
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| Disable Cursor || ESC d ||
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|-
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| Enable Line Wrap || ESC v ||
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|-
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| Disable Line Wrap || ESC w ||
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|}
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
  
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* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt52/ VT52] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]]
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt52/EK-VT5X-OP-001_DECscope_Users_Manual_Mar77.pdf DECscope Users' Manual] (EK-VT5X-OP-001)
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt52/EK-VT52-MM-002_maint_Jul78.pdf VT52 DECscope Maintenance Manual] (EK-VT52-MM-002)
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** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt52/MP00035_VT52schem.pdf VT52 Field Maintenance Print Set] (MP00035)
 
* [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/vt52-simulator/tree/master/rom Microcode ROM images]
 
* [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/vt52-simulator/tree/master/rom Microcode ROM images]
 
* [https://github.com/fritzm/vt52/tree/master/data Character generator ROM image]
 
* [https://github.com/fritzm/vt52/tree/master/data Character generator ROM image]
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* [https://github.com/larsbrinkhoff/terminal-simulator/tree/master/vt52 VT52 hardware simulation]
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{{Nav DEC Terminals}}
  
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{{stub}}
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[[Category: DEC Video Terminals]]

Latest revision as of 12:26, 16 January 2024

The VT52 was a very popular video terminal by DEC, introduced 1975. The CRT displays 24 lines of 80 characters in both upper and lower case.

VT52 terminal

It uses a custom processor built from TTL parts to execute 1024 words of 8-bit wide microcode. The data path is 7 bits wide, as is the 2048-word RAM. The predecessor VT50 is almost identical, except there is only 512 words of microcode, 1024 words of RAM, the CRT display 12 lines, and text is upper case only.

A VT52-compatible terminal emulator was used in the Atari TOS operating system.

Escape sequences

Due to its popularity, the VT52 escape sequences became a de facto standard for microcomputers for a while, before VT100 and ANSI took over.

Name Sequence Description
Line Feed LF Move cursor down. On last line, scroll text up.
Cursor Down ESC B Move cursor down. On last line, do not scroll.
Reverse Line Feed ESC I Move cursor up. On first line, scroll text down.
Cursor Up ESC A Move cursor up. On first line, do not scroll.
Cursor Right ESC C Move cursor right. On last column, stay there.
Cursor Left ESC D, or BS Move cursor left. On first column, stay there.
Home ESC H Move cursor to top line, first column.
Carriage Return CR More cursor to first column.
TAB Move cursor to next tab stop.
Direct Cursor Addressing ESC Y <line> <column> Move cursor.
Erase to End of Line ESC K Erase from cursor position to end of line.
Erase to End of of Screen ESC J Erase from cursor position to end of screen.
Ring the Bell BEL Sound the buzzer
Identify Terminal Type ESC Z Respond e.g. "ESC K" for a plain VT52.
Enter Hold Screen Mode ESC [
Exit Hold Screen Mode ESC \
Enter Alternate Keypad Mode ESC =
Exit Alternate Keypad Mode ESC >
Enter Graphics Mode ESC F
Exit Graphics Mode ESC G
Extensions from Digital Research
Erase and Home ESC E Erase screen and move cursor to top line, first column.
Erase Current Line ESC l
Erase to Beginning of Line ESC o
Erase to Beginning of Screen ESC d
Insert Line ESC L
Save Cursor Position ESC j
Restore Cursor Position ESC k
Reverse Video ESC p
Normal Video ESC q
Set Foreground Color ESC b <color>
Set Background Color ESC c <color>
Enable Cursor ESC e
Disable Cursor ESC d
Enable Line Wrap ESC v
Disable Line Wrap ESC w

External links


v • d • e DEC Terminals and Printers
Hardcopy Terminals - DECwriter • DECwriter II • DECwriter III • DECwriter IV

CRT Terminals - VT05 • VT52 • VT100 • VT220 • VT240 • VT320

Monitors - VR201

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