Formatting Variables and Array Elements
The Variable Format (VF) command is used to format variables and array elements. The VF
command is specified by:
VF
m.n
where m is the number of digits to the left of the decimal point (0 thru 10) and n is the number of
digits to the right of the decimal point (0 thru 4).
A negative sign for m specifies hexadecimal format. The default format for VF is VF 10.4
Hex values are returned preceded by a $ and in 2's complement.
:V1=10 Assign
V1
:V1= Return
V1
0000000010.0000 Default
format
:VF2.2 Change
format
:V1= Return
V1
10.00 New
format
:VF-2.2
Specify hex format
:V1= Return
V1
$0A.00 Hex
value
:VF1 Change
format
:V1= Return
V1
9 Overflow
Local Formatting of Variables
PF and VF commands are global format commands that effect the format of all relevant returned
values and variables. Variables may also be formatted locally. To format locally, use the
command, {Fn.m} or {$n.m} following the variable name and the ‘=’ symbol. F specifies
decimal and $ specifies hexadecimal. n is the number of digits to the left of the decimal, and m is
the number of digits to the right of the decimal. For example:
Examples:
:V1=10 Assign
V1
:V1= Return
V1
0000000010.0000 Default
Format
:V1={F4.2} Specify
local
format
0010.00 New
format
:V1={$4.2}
Specify hex format
$000A.00 Hex
value
:V1="ALPHA"
Assign string "ALPHA" to V1
:V1={S4}
Specify string format first 4 characters
ALPH
The local format is also used with the MG* command.
Converting to User Units
Variables and arithmetic operations make it easy to input data in desired user units such as inches
or RPM.
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Chapter 7 Application Programming
DMC-1600
