Editing Integer BASIC (section)

===Program editing===
Like most BASIC implementations of the era, Integer BASIC acted as both the language interpreter as well as the line editing environment. When BASIC was running, a {{code|>}} [[command prompt]] was displayed where the user could enter statements.{{sfn|Raskin|1978|p=11}}{{efn|To make it clear which BASIC was running, Applesoft used the {{code|]}} prompt.}} Unlike later [[home computer]] platforms, BASIC was not the default environment when the Apple II started, it normally started in the [[machine code monitor|monitor]]. BASIC was started by pressing {{key press|Ctrl|B}}{{key press|Return}}.{{sfn|Raskin|1978|p=12}}

Statements that were entered with leading numbers are entered into the program storage for "deferred execution",{{sfn|Raskin|1978|p=46}} either as new lines or replacing any that might have had the same number previously.{{sfn|Raskin|1978|pp=49-55}} Statements that were entered without a line number were referred to as commands, and ran immediately.{{efn|In what MS referred to more descriptively as "[[Direct mode|immediate mode]]".}} Line numbers could be from 0 to 32767,{{sfn|Raskin|1978|p=48}}{{efn|Helmers says the lowest line number is 1.{{sfn|Helmers|1978|p=24}}}} and lines could contain up to 128 characters.{{sfn|Raskin|1978|p=118}}

Integer BASIC also included the {{code|AUTO}} command to automatically enter line numbers at a given starting number like {{code|AUTO 100}}, adding 10 to the last number with every new line. {{code|AUTO 300,5}} would begin numbering at line 300 by fives; 300, 305, etc. Automatic numbering was turned off by entering {{code|MAN}}.{{sfn|Raskin|1978|pp=65-67}}

One interesting feature of the editor was that a section of the screen could be set aside as the "window", where live updates took place. This was normally the entire screen, but it could be limited to a smaller area by {{code|POKE}}ing values into memory locations 32 through 35.{{sfn|Raskin|1978|p=124}} This feature could be used to create an editable text area while the rest of the screen was in graphics mode.{{sfn|Wozniak|1977|loc="This mixed mode provides a 40 by 40 color graphics grid plus four lines of scrolling text at the bottom of the screen."}}