| ! |
Exclamation.
ProvideX accepts an exclamation mark as a
substitute for the REM Directive; e.g., ! this remark.
An exclamation mark as the leading character
of a string also denotes one of Best Software
Canada Ltd.'s embedded bitmaps; e.g., !STOP. |
| " |
Quotes.
Standard quotation marks enclose string
literals. A leading quotation mark can also
be used at the start of a statement as a
substitute for the INVOKE Directive.For example:
"NOTEPAD
is the same as
INVOKE
"NOTEPAD
|
| $ |
Dollar
sign.
A dollar sign at the end of a
variable name marks a string variable; e.g.,
CUST$. Dollar signs can also enclose
hexadecimal values, for example $8A$. |
| ' |
Apostrophe.
Single quotation marks
(apostrophes) enclose system parameters and
mnemonics, for instance 'TL' and 'CS'. The Apostrophe
Operator, is used to indicate a control
object property. |
| ; |
Semicolon.
Directives and entry points are separated by
semicolons in program statements. |
| * |
Asterisk.
ProvideX includes a number of
auxiliary applications. These utility names
are preceded by an asterisk; e.g., *CMD,
*UPB, and the *[ ] search
utility described below. An asterisk may have
specific meaning in the syntax of some
directives or functions; e.g., as a wildcard
character to denote a global
occurrence. |
| % |
Percent
Sign.
A percent sign before a
variable name denotes a global variable
or function; e.g., %DEPT. A percent sign following
a variable name indicates that the
variable is an integer; e.g., DEPT%.
A variable name having both leading and
trailing percent signs denotes a global
variable for integer values; e.g., %DEPT% |
| *[ ] |
Asterisk
+ Square Brackets.
The search utility
(for searching programs) is invoked by
enclosing a search string within square
brackets preceded by an asterisk.; e.g.,
->*[print]
0090 REM
Printing
0100 PRINT
DAY
0120 PRINT
"Today's date is ",DAY
0610 IF
LEN(X$)>100 THEN PRINT "TOO
LONG"; GOTO 0210
->*[26]
0110 SETDAY
"02/26/99"
The search is
not case-sensitive.
*[ ]=[ ] Global search
and replace can be used to make
changes in programs; e.g.,
*[CST$]=[CUST$] changes all instances of
CST$ to CUST$.
|
-:
->
-} |
Prompts.
When your ProvideX prompt is a dash with a
colon, that indicates that your current
program has not been saved. After you save
your program, the prompt reverts to an arrow.
Under WindX, the prompt is a dash and a right
brace. |
| / or
\ |
Slashes.
ProvideX accepts either slash (forward or
back) as a substitute for the LIST Directive; e.g., / 30 is the
same as LIST 30. |
| xxxx: |
String–trailing
colon. Use a trailing colon to
denote that your string is a line label
(statement reference or entry point); e.g.,
0110 IF
UPDATE$="Y" GOSUB CUSTOMER
...
2000
CUSTOMER:
2010 INPUT
'CS',@(5,5),"Enter customer
number",CST
2020 ! REST
OF ROUTINE ...
2200 RETURN
|
| ? |
Question
Mark. ProvideX accepts a
leading question mark as a substitute for the
PRINT Directive; e.g., ? CUST$ is the
same as PRINT CUST$. ProvideX also places a
question mark between a line number and
program statement to denote a syntax error. |
| ` |
Back
Apostrophe. ProvideX accepts
the back apostrophe as a substitute for the EDIT Directive. |