The SC4020 order code consisted of single 36-bit word instructions in seven different instruction formats. The addresses are with respect to the SC4020's 1024 by 1024 plotting area.
| Opcode in Octal |
Format | Name | Operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | 1 | PLOT | Plot C at (X,Y) |
| 02 | 1 | EXPOSE HEAVY | Set to Expose Heavy Mode. Plot C at (X,Y) |
| 04 | 1 | EXPOSE LIGHT | Set to Expose Light Mode. Plot C at (X,Y) |
| 07 | 2 | IGNORE REST OF RECORD | |
| 12 | 2 | STOP TYPE | Return to Plotting Mode |
| 20 | 1 | TYPE SPECIFIED POINT | Type C at (X,Y). Enter Typing Mode |
| 22 | 5 | TYPE CURRENT POINT | Type Ci from current point. Enter Typing Mode |
| 30 | 3 | GENERATE X AXIS | vector(X,Y,I,Y) where I=complement(S) |
| 32 | 3 | GENERATE Y AXIS | vector(X,Y,X,S) |
| 37 | 2 | STOP SC4020 | |
| 41 | 2 | SELECT MF CAMERA | |
| 42 | 2 | SELECT HC CAMERA | |
| 43 | 2 | SELECT BOTH CAMERAS | |
| 44 | 2 | EXPAND IMAGE | |
| 45 | 2 | REDUCE IMAGE | |
| 46 | 4 | ADVANCE FILM | Advance Film if I=0 |
| 46 | 4 | ADVANCE REPEAT | Advance Film and repeat N times if I=1 |
| 50 | 2 | PROJECT FORM | |
| 56 | 2 | RESET | Equivalent to Advance Film, Stop typing, Expose heavy |
| 6 | DRAW VECTOR | vector (X,Y,X+SX*DX,Y-SY*DY);
SX=+1 if bit 18 =1 else -1; SY=+1 if bit 19 =1 else -1; |