BACS1024 Introduction to Computer Systems

Assembly Language Program - Part I

1. Assembly, Linking and Executing Assembly Language Program
2. Basic Elements in Assembly Language Program
3. Assembly Language Program Structure
4. Data Definition
5. Assembly Language Instructions
6. Bitwise Logical Operations
7. ASCII Table

1. Assembly, Linking and Executing Assembly Language Program

Step 1:
Edit
(Editor) .ASM .LST

Step 3: Step 4:
Step 2:
Link Load
Assembler .EXE (Loader) Memory
(Linker)
(Assembler) .OBJ

.CRF

Figure: Assembly, Linking and executing Assembly Language Program

1) Step 1: Edit
 Tools used: Editor (E.g.: Microsoft Visual C++ Express Edition 2005, notepad,
DosBox)
 Objective: Convert text into source file (.ASM)
 Output: .ASM file (Source file. Contains source code)

2) Step 2: Assembling
 Tools used: Assembler
 Act as a compiler
 Convert source file (.ASM) to object file (.OBJ) and optionally error listing file
(.LST) and cross reference file (.CRF)
 Assembler used = Two pass assembler
 Objective: To resolve forward reference to addresses in program
 Pass 1: Read .ASM & construct SYMBOL TABLE (with names & labels) to
determine the number of codes generated for each instruction.
 Pass 2: Complete the object code for each instruction into symbol table.

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 Output: .OBJ file (Object file. Contain machine language), .LST file (Error
listing file. Contains error diagnostic) & .CRF file (Cross reference file
contains references for large program).

3) Step 3: Linking
 Tools used: Linker.
 Read object file (.OBJ)
 Check references
 Combine procedure from link library with object file (.OBJ)
 Objective: Convert object file (.OBJ) to executable file (.EXE)
 Functions:
 Combine separated module
 Generate .EXE file
 Outputs: .EXE file (Executable file. Contains executable code), .MAP file and
.LIB file

4) Step 4: Executing
 Tools used: Loader.
 Creates PSP (Program segment prefix).
 Objective: Read executable file (.EXE) into memory for execution.

2. Basic Elements in Assembly Language Program

1) Constants
a) Numeric constant
 Can be written in any base
 Debug program: HEX (default base)
 Assembly Language editor: DEC (default base)
 Specified by radix suffices
 B = Binary (Or Y = Binary
 D = Decimal (Or T = Ten)
 H = Hexadecimal
 R = real value for HEX or DEC constant
 E.g.: VAR1 DB 2
VAR2 DB 2AH
VAR3 DB 10101010B
b) Character constant
 Enclosed using single quote (' ') or double quote (“ ”)
 E.g.: VAR4 DB "A"
VAR5 DB 'B'
c) String constant
 Enclosed using single quote (' ') or double quote (“ ”)
 E.g.: VAR6 DB "HRLLO WORLD$"
VAR7 DB 'HELLO WORLD',"$"

2) Comments
 Used to improve the program clarity.

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a) Single line comment

 Begin with a semicolon (;)
 E.g.: MOV AX,BX ; comment
b) Multi-lines comment
 Begin and end with delimiter
 E.g.: COMMENT + xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
+ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
3) Reserved words
 Has special meaning for special purpose
a) Instruction (e.g.: MOV, ADD, MUL)
b) Directives (e.g.: END, SEGMENT)
c) Operator (e.g.: FAR, SIZE)
d) Predefined symbols (e.g.: @DATA, @MODEL)

4) Identifiers
 To represent an item / act as a marker
 Rules:
 1st char MUST be a letter / underscore / special character
 1st char cannot be a dot
 1st char cannot be a digit
 No casa-sensitive
a) Data label
 Refer to data item
 E.g.: NUM DB 0 ; NUM = data identifier
b) Code label
 Refer to instruction / procedure / segment
 E.g.: SUM: ADD AL,BL ;SUM = instruction identifier

5) Statements
 General format:
[Identifier] Operation [operand(s)] [;comment]

a) Instructions
 Definition: Executable code
 E.g.: L10: MOV AL,BL
b) Directive
 Definition: Acted upon by the assembler
 E.g.: NUM DB 1

6) Directives
a) Memory model
 Objective: Provide space for object code & optimize execution
 Format: .MODEL mem-model
b) Stack segment
 Default size = 1024 bytes

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 Format: .STACK
 Characteristic: Can be override
c) Data segment
 Format: .DATA
 Declaration: MOV AX,@data
MOV DS,AX
d) Code segment
 Format: .CODE
e) PROC directive
 Initiation: PROC FAR
 Ending : ENDP
f) END directive
 Objective: End of entire program
 E.g.: END MAIN
 Procedure:
MOV AX,4C00H
INT 21H
 Same as:
MOV AH,4CH
INT 21H

3. Assembly Language Program Structure

Program structure Description

.MODEL SMALL  .MODEL = define program size

.STACK 64  SMALL = uses data segment & 1 code
segment
.DATA  .STACK = define stack segment
;data definition  64 = defined size. The default size is
.CODE 1024.Since it is reusable, therefore 64 or
100 bytes shall be sufficient.
MAIN PROC
 .DATA = define data segment (for
MOV AX,@DATA variables & constants)
MOV DS,AX  .CODE = define code segment (for all
instructions
;codes
 MAIN PROC = MAIN start up procedure
 MOV AX@DATA = @DATA retrieves value
MOV AX,4C00H from current machine to AX register
INT 21H  MOV DS,AX = The value of AX is moved
to / used to define the data segment
MAIN ENDP address
END MAIN

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 MOV AX,4CH = When it is followed by INT

21H, it is used to terminate program
execution
 MAIN ENDP = end the PROC
 END MAIN = end the MAIN

Commands for program execution

ALT + ENTER To change screen size

MOUNT C C:\8086 To establish connection

C: To change directory
EDIT FILE1.ASM To edit source file (to ASM file)
Or
notepad / notepad++ / etc.
MASM FILE1.ASM; To assemble source code (to OBJ file)
LINK FILE1.OBJ; To link object file (to EXE file)
FILE1.EXE To execute the exe file (program)
Note: For efficiency: File name max to 7 char/num

4. Data Definition

1) Format
[name] directive initializer

2) Storage size / directive

a) DB (Define byte) = 1 byte (8 bits)
b) DW (Define word) = 2 bytes (16 bits)
c) DD (Define double word) = 4 bytes (32 bits)
d) DQ (Define quad word) =8 bytes (64 bits)

3) Initializer: 0, ? or value

4) Sample date stored in memory

Data Definition Data stored in memory Data stored in register
(FFH = 255D) (Reversed byte sequence) (Normal byte sequence)

Single element /
initializer AX = 2 bytes
A DB 10 var Data seg Offset
(DS) address (SI)
; A =0AH AX = 0AH
00H 00H 0AH
B DW 10
; B =000AH 00H AH AL
C DD 10 (1 byte) (1 byte)
00H
; C =00 00 00 0AH

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00H
D DQ 10
;D = 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 0AH 00H
AX = 310AH
00H 31H 0AH
00H AH AL
(1 byte) (1 byte)
D 0AH 0007H

00H

00H

00H

C 0AH 0003H

00H 0002H

B 0AH 0001H

A 0AH 0000H

5. Assembly Language Instructions

1) MOV instruction
 Objective: Copy data from a location to another
 Rule : Agreed size
 Format : MOV reg/mem, reg/mem/imm
 E.g.: MOV AX,BX
MOV AX, VAR1
MOV VAR2,BX

2) XCHG instruction
 Objective: Swap the contents of two memory location
 Format : XCHG reg/mem, mem/reg
 E.g.: XCHG AX,BX
XCHG AX,VAR1
XCHG VAR2,BX

3) ADD / SUB instruction

 Rule : - Operands of same size
- No memory to mememory
 Format: ADD/SUB destination, source
 E.g.: ADD AL,BL
ADD AX,VAR1
ADD VAR1,BL

4) INC / DEC instruction

 Characteristic: + / operand by 1

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 Format : INC / DEC reg/mem

 E.g.: INC VAR1
INC SI
DEC AX

5) MUL / DIV instruction

 Rule : - Perform on unsigned data
- No mem to mem
 Format: MUL./DIV reg/mem
 MUL instruction
6 (Multiplicand)
X 3 (Multiplier)
18 (Product)
 If multiplier = 1 byte, product in AX
 If multiplier = 2 bytes, product in DX, AX
 E.g.:
MOV AL, 2 ;AL=02H (multiplicand)
MOV BL, 3 ;BL=03H (multiplier)
MUL BL ; AX=AL* BL
; AX=0006H
 DIV instruction
41 (Quotient)
2 )83 (Divisor) ) (Dividend)
82
(Remainder)
 If divisor = 1 byte, product in AX (R,Q)
 If divisor = 2 bytes, product in DX, AX (R, Q)
MOV AL,83 ;AL=83 (dividend)
MOV BL,2 ;BL=2 (divisor)
DIV BL ;RQ→ AX =0141H =(R)(Q)

6) SHL / SHR instruction

 Characteristic: Shift 1 bit to LEFT / RIGHT
 Format : SHL / SHR destination, 1 / CL
 E.g.: MOV AL, 5 ; AL = 5D=5H = 0000 0101B
SHL AL,1 ; AL = 0000 1010B = 0AH

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6. Bitwise Logical Operations

1) Format
AND / OR/ XOR destination / source
NOT register / memory

2) Instructions
1 1 0 0
AND 1 0 1 0
1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0
OR 1 0 1 0
1 1 1 0

1 1 0 0
XOR 1 0 1 0
0 1 1 0

NOT 1 0
0 1

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7. ASCII Table

HEX ASCII HEX ASCII HEX ASCII HEX ASCII HEX ASCII HEX ASCII HEX ASCII HEX ASCII

00 20 40 @ 60 ` 80 Ç A0 á C0 └ E0 α

01 ☺ 21 ! 41 A 61 a 81 ü A1 í C1 ┴ E1 ß

02 ☻ 22 “ 42 B 62 b 82 é A2 ó C2 ┬ E2 Γ

03 ♥ 23 # 43 C 63 c 83 â A3 ú C3 ├ E3 π

04 ♦ 24 $ 44 D 64 d 84 ä A4 ñ C4 ─ E4 Σ

05 ♣ 25 % 45 E 65 e 85 à A5 Ñ C5 ┼ E5 σ

06 ♠ 26 & 46 F 66 f 86 å A6 ª C6 ╞ E6 µ

07 • 27 ‘ 47 G 67 g 87 ç A7 º C7 ╟ E7 τ

08 ◘ 28 ( 48 H 68 h 88 ê A8 ¿ C8 ╚ E8 Φ

09 ○ 29 ) 49 I 69 i 89 ë A9 ⌐ C9 ╔ E9 Θ

0A ◙ 2A * 4A J 6A j 8A è AA ¬ CA ╩ EA Ω

0B ♂ 2B + 4B K 6B k 8B ï AB ½ CB ╦ EB Δ

0C ♀ 2C , 4C L 6C l 8C î AC ¼ CC ╠ EC ∞

0D ♪ 2D - 4D M 6D m 8D ì AD ¡ CD ═ ED φ

0E ♫ 2E . 4E N 6E n 8E Ä AE « CE ╬ EE ε

0F ☼ 2F / 4F O 6F o 8F Å AF » CF ╧ EF ∩

10 ► 30 0 50 P 70 p 90 É B0 ░ D0 ╨ F0 ≡

11 ◄ 31 1 51 Q 71 q 91 æ B1 ▒ D1 ╤ F1 ±

12 ↕ 32 2 52 R 72 r 92 Æ B2 ▓ D2 ╥ F2 ≥

13 ‼ 33 3 53 S 73 s 93 ô B3 │ D3 ╙ F3 ≤

14 ¶ 34 4 54 T 74 t 94 ö B4 ┤ D4 ╘ F4 ⌠

15 § 35 5 55 U 75 u 95 ò B5 ╡ D5 ╒ F5 ⌠

16 ▬ 36 6 56 V 76 v 96 û B6 ╢ D6 ╓ F6 ÷

17 ↨ 37 7 57 W 77 w 97 ù B7 ╖ D7 ╫ F7 ≈

18 ↑ 38 8 58 X 78 x 98 ÿ B8 ╕ D8 ╪ F8 °

19 ↓ 39 9 59 Y 79 y 99 Ö B9 ╣ D9 ┘ F9 ∙

1A → 3A : 5A Z 7A z 9A Ü BA ║ DA ┌ FA ·

1B ← 3B ; 5B [ 7B { 9B ¢ BB ╗ DB █ FB √

1C ∟ 3C < 5C \ 7C | 9C £ BC ╝ DC ▄ FC ⁿ

1D ↔ 3D = 5D ] 7D } 9D ¥ BD ╜ DD ▌ FD ²

1E ▲ 3E > 5E ^ 7E ~ 9E ₧ BE ╛ DE ▐ FE ■

1F ▼ 3F ? 5F _ 7F ⌠ 9F ƒ BF ┐ DF ▀ FF