To delete a character when editing use the delete key (Ascii  character 127).   The character will either be deleted or reprinted to show what character you just deleted.  This behavior is controlled by the set scope OS/8 command.  The reprinting was done because CRT type terminals were rare (and expensive) in the early history of the PDP8  many people used hard copy terminals (printers with keyboards).  Since the characters printed couldn't actually be removed from the paper the reprinting of the characters as you deleted them allowed the operator to keep track of their editing.

To stop a running program use ^C (control-c).

For most commands the syntax is DEV:OUTPUT_FILE<DEV:INPUT_FILE.  If multiple output or input files are needed they are separated by commas.  The filename is up to 6 letters name followed by period (.)  and  up to 2 letter extension.  Many programs will automatically add the correct extension.  If the program allows wild cards * matches anything, and ? matches 1 character.  The * may not have characters following or preceding it except the period.

Valid
FILE.PA
A?????.P?
*.PA
*.*
Invalid
A*.PA

The standard device names are: (# is drive number: e.g. 0 or 1)
SYS:    System device
DSK:    Default device (may not be set)
RKA#:   First partition of RK05 drive #
RKB#:   Second partition of RK05 drive #
RXA#:   RX01 drive #
DTA#:   DECtape drive #
TTY:    Terminal
LPT:    Printer (not yet supported by java interface)
PTP:    Paper tape punch (not yet supported by java interface)
PTR:    Paper tape reader (not yet supported by java interface)

The standard extensions are:
.SV    Core image file (executable)
.FT    8k Fortran source file
.SB    8k SABR source file
.PA    PAL8 source file
.BN    Absolute binary file (Paper tape image)
.RL    Relocatable binary file
.MP    Load map file
.LS    Listing
.TM    Temporary file
 

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Feel free to contact me, David Gesswein djg@pdp8online.com with any questions, comments on the web site, or if you have related equipment, documentation, software etc. you are willing to part with.  I am interested in anything PDP-8 related, computers, peripherals used with them, DEC or third party, or documentation. 

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