SheerPower® 4GL
A Guide to the SheerPower Language
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7.1.8 USING Option

The USING option is used to format text. The print mask indicates the format for the data in the print list.

FORMAT:


        USING print_mask

The print_mask consists of fields or directives and text. The text can precede or follow a field or directive. The print mask tells how to print the expressions in the print list.

Example 7-14 USING option in PRINT statement - print_mask 

  let a$  = "#.## ##.##" //<---- two fields 
  print using "amount = #.##": 1.9 
  print using a$: 1.93, -1.93 
  end
 
        
amount = 1.90 
1.93 -1.93

The USING Print List

Expressions in the print list with the USING option are separated by commas. A trailing semicolon is allowed. The expressions are printed according to the format. However, a trailing semicolon causes SheerPower to leave the cursor at the end of the print line.

Example 7-15 PRINT USING 

  print using "###.## ###.##": 22.88, 45;
  print " and others." 
  end
 
        
22.88  45.00 and others.

7.1.9 Fields

Fields are made up of format characters. The format characters tell SheerPower how to print the expressions in the print list.

7.1.9.1 String Format Characters

# character

The # is used to indicate a character position---a place in the format where a character can occur. For example:

Example 7-16 String format characters in PRINT USING 

  print using '#### ##': 'Test', 'Hi' 
  end
 
        
Test Hi

In the above example, there are two fields. When the first string is printed, the word "Test" occupies all four character positions. When the second expression is printed (Hi), only two character positions are used.

If the string expression being printed is smaller than the field, the expression will be printed centered within the field.

Example 7-17 String format characters in PRINT USING 

  print using '#### ####': 'Test', 'Hi' 
  print '123456789' 
  end
 
        
Test  Hi 
123456789

If the string expression is longer than the field, SheerPower generates an exception.

7.1.9.2 Numeric Format Characters

# character

The # can also be used to specify digits. Each # represents one numeric digit position.

Example 7-18 Numeric format characters in PRINT USING 

   print using "##": 19 
   end
 
        
19

If more positions than the numeric expression contains are indicated, the expression will be right-justified and padded with spaces.

Example 7-19 Numeric format characters in PRINT USING 

  print '1st 2nd 3rd' 
  print using "### ### ###": 193, 19, 1 
  end
 
        
1st 2nd 3rd 
193  19   1

SheerPower prints a minus sign in front of negative numbers. SheerPower does not print a sign in front of positive numbers.

Example 7-20 Numeric format characters in PRINT USING - negative and positive numbers 

  print '1st 2nd 3rd' 
  print using "### ### ###": 193, 19, -1
  end
 
        
1st 2nd 3rd 
193  19  -1

If more positions to the left of the decimal point than the expression contains are indicated, the expression will be printed with leading spaces.

Example 7-21 Numeric format characters in PRINT USING 

  print using "###.##": 1.9 
  end
 
        
1.90

If more positions to the right of the decimal point than the expression contains are indicated, the expression will be printed with trailing zeros.

Example 7-22 Numeric format characters in PRINT USING 

  print '--1-- --2--' 
  print using "##.## ##.##": 1.3, 1.25 
  end
 
        
--1-- --2-- 
 1.30  1.25

< character

The less than sign left-justifies text within a field. The less than sign must appear at the beginning of a field. The less than sign counts as a character position. In this example, justification occurs only in the second field.

Example 7-23 < character in PRINT USING 

  print using "#### <###": 'Test', 'Hi' 
  print '123456789' 
  end
 
        
Test Hi 
123456789

In the above example, there are two fields. When the first string is printed, the word "Test" occupies all four character positions. The less than sign (<) causes SheerPower to left-justify the second expression.

> character

The greater than sign is used to right-justify text within a field. The greater than sign must appear at the beginning of a field. The greater than sign counts as a character position.

Example 7-24 > character in PRINT USING 

  print using "#### >###": 'Test', 'Hi' 
  print '123456789' 
  end
 
        
Test   Hi 
123456789

In the above example, there are two fields. The greater than sign (>) causes SheerPower to right-justify the second expression.

@ character

The @ indicates one character position with no translation.

Example 7-25 @ character in PRINT USING 

  print using '####': 0001 
  print using '@@@@': 0001 
  end
 
        
   1 
0001

. character

You can include a decimal point in a number by putting a period or decimal point in the format.

Example 7-26 . character in PRINT USING 

  print using "###.##": 19.3 
  end
 
        
19.30

, character

Include commas in your numbers by putting commas in the format.

Example 7-27 , character in PRINT USING 

  a$ = "##,###.##"
  print using a$: 28290.06 
  print using a$: 8290.06 
  print using a$: 290.06 
  end
 
        
28,290.06 
 8,290.06 
   290.06

Commas cannot be used in exponential format.

% character

The % character pads on the left with zeros.

Example 7-28 % character in PRINT USING 

  print '-1- -2- -3-' 
  print using "%%% %%% %%%": 193, 19, 1 
  end
 
        
-1- -2- -3- 
193 019 001

* character

The * character pads on the left with asterisks. This symbol can be used to set up check amounts.

Example 7-29 * character in PRINT USING 

  print using '***,***.**': 19.42 
  end
 
        
*****19.42

If the expression is smaller than the format, SheerPower will right justify the expression and pad it with asterisks.

Example 7-30 * character in PRINT USING 

  print '-1- -2- -3-' 
  print using "*** *** ***": 193, 19, 1 
  end
 
        
-1- -2- -3- 
193 *19 **1

+ character

A plus sign causes SheerPower to print a leading plus or minus sign. SheerPower will print a plus sign in front of positive numbers and a minus sign in front of negative numbers.

The "+" sign adds a character position to the format. The character position is used for the sign of the number.

Example 7-31 + character in PRINT USING 

  print ' -1-  -2-  -3-' 
  print using "+### +### +###": 193, 19, -1 
  end
 
        
 -1-  -2-  -3- 
+193  +19   -1

- character

The - character prints a leading or trailing minus sign for negative numbers, and a leading space for positive numbers. The "-" adds a character position to the format. The character position is used to print the minus sign or space.

Example 7-32 - character in PRINT USING 

  print ' -1-  -2-  -3-' 
  print using "-### -### -###": 193, 19, -1 
  end
 
        
-1-  -2-  -3- 
193   19   -1

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