Introduction to Using PxPlus

!

Exclamation

PxPlus accepts an exclamation mark as a substitute for the REM directive.

Example:

     !this remark

An exclamation mark as the leading character of a string also denotes one of Sage Software'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.

Example:

     "NOTEPAD is the same as INVOKE "NOTEPAD

$

Dollar Sign

A dollar sign at the end of a variable name marks a string variable.

Example:

     CUST$

Dollar signs can also enclose hexadecimal values.

Example:

     $8A$

'

Apostrophe

Single quotation marks (apostrophes) enclose system parameters and mnemonics; e.g. 'TL' and 'CS'. The Apostrophe Operator is used to indicate a control object property.

;

Semi-colon

Directives and entry points are separated by semi-colons in program statements.

*

Asterisk

PxPlus 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.

Example:

     %DEPT

A percent sign following a variable name indicates that the variable is an integer.

Example:

     DEPT%

A variable name having both leading and trailing percent signs denotes a global variable for integer values.

Example:

     %DEPT%

*[ ]

Asterisk + Square Brackets

The search utility (for searching programs) is invoked by enclosing a search string within square brackets preceded by an * (asterisk).

Example:

     ->*[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. See Search and Replace.

Example:

     *[CST$]=[CUST$] changes all instances of CST$ to CUST$.

If square brackets are part of the search string, use curly braces { } to enclose the search string.

Example:

     {[26]}

-:

->

-}

Prompts

When your PxPlus prompt is a dash with a colon, this 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

PxPlus accepts either slash (forward or back) as a substitute for the LIST directive.

Example:

     /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).

Example:

     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

PxPlus accepts a leading question mark as a substitute for the PRINT directive.

Example:

     ?CUST$ is the same as PRINT CUST$

PxPlus also places a question mark between a line number and program statement to denote a syntax error.

`

Back Apostrophe

PxPlus accepts the back apostrophe as a substitute for the EDIT directive.