FORMAT [(rep)]
parameter
|
This document covers the following topics:
For an explanation of the symbols used in the syntax diagram, see Syntax Symbols.
Related Statements: AT END OF
PAGE | AT TOP OF
PAGE | CLOSE
PRINTER | DEFINE PRINTER |
DISPLAY |
EJECT |
NEWPAGE |
PRINT |
SKIP |
SUSPEND IDENTICAL SUPPRESS
| WRITE |
WRITE TITLE |
WRITE TRAILER
Belongs to Function Group: Creation of Output Reports
The FORMAT statement is used to specify input and output
parameter settings.
Settings specified with a FORMAT statement override (at
compilation time) default settings in effect for the session that have been set
by a GLOBALS command, SET GLOBALS statement, or by the Natural administrator.
These settings may in turn be overridden by parameters specified in a
DISPLAY,
INPUT,
PRINT,
WRITE,
WRITE TITLE, or
WRITE TRAILER
statement.
The settings remain in effect until the end of a program or until
another FORMAT statement is encountered.
A FORMAT statement does not generate any executable code in
the Natural program. It is not executed in dependence of the logical flow of a
program. It is evaluated during program compilation in order to set parameters
for compiling DISPLAY, WRITE, PRINT and
INPUT statements. The settings defined with a FORMAT
statement are applicable to all DISPLAY, WRITE,
PRINT and INPUT statements which follow.
| Syntax Element | Description |
|---|---|
(rep) |
Report Specification:
The notation
A value in the range If For information on how to control the format of an output report created with Natural, see Controlling Data Output (in the Programming Guide). |
| parameter |
Parameter(s):
The parameters can be specified in any order and must be separated by one or more spaces. A single entry must not be split between two statement lines. Field sensitive parameter settings applied here will only be
regarded for variable fields used in a See also Applicable Parameters below. |
See the Parameter Reference for a detailed description of the session parameters which may be used.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
AD
|
Attribute Definition |
AL
|
Alphanumeric Length for Output |
CD
|
Color Definition |
DF
|
Date Format |
DL |
Display Length for Output |
EM
|
Edit Mask |
ES
|
Empty Line Suppression |
FC
|
Filler Character |
FL
|
Floating Point Mantissa Length |
GC
|
Filler Character for Group Heading |
HC
|
Header Centering |
HW
|
Heading Width |
IC
|
Insertion Character |
IP
|
Input Prompting Text |
IS
|
Identical Suppress |
KD
|
Key Definition |
LC
|
Leading Characters |
LS
|
Line Size |
MC
|
Multiple-Value Field Count (Can only be used in reporting mode.) |
MP
|
Maximum Number of Pages of a Report, see Note below. |
MS
|
Manual Skip |
NL
|
Numeric Length for Output |
PC
|
Periodic Group Count (Can only be used in reporting mode.) |
PM
|
Print Mode |
PS
|
Page Size, see Note below. |
SF
|
Spacing Factor |
SG
|
Sign Position |
TC
|
Trailing Characters |
UC
|
Underlining Character |
ZP
|
Zero Printing |
Note:
The parameters MP and
PS do not take effect for a specific I/O statement, but
apply to the complete output created for the report. If multiple settings for
MP and PS are performed, the last
definition is used.
See also Underlining Character for Titles and Headers - UC Parameter (in the Programming Guide).
** Example 'FMTEX1': FORMAT
************************************************************************
DEFINE DATA LOCAL
1 EMPLOY-VIEW VIEW OF EMPLOYEES
2 NAME
2 CITY
2 POST-CODE
2 COUNTRY
END-DEFINE
*
FORMAT AL=7 /* Alpha-numeric field output length
FC=+ /* Filler character for field header
GC=* /* Filler character for group header
HC=L /* Header left justified
IC=<< /* Insert characters
IS=ON /* Identical suppress on
TC=>> /* Trailing character
UC== /* Underline character
ZP=OFF /* Zero print off
*
LIMIT 5
READ EMPLOY-VIEW BY NAME
DISPLAY NOTITLE
NAME 3X CITY 3X POST-CODE 3X COUNTRY
END-READ
*
END
NAME+++++++ CITY+++++++ POSTAL+++++ COUNTRY++++
ADDRESS++++
=========== =========== =========== ===========
<<ABELLAN>> <<MADRID >> <<28014 >> <<E >>
<<ACHIESO>> <<DERBY >> <<DE3 4TR>> <<UK >>
<<ADAM >> <<JOIGNY >> <<89300 >> <<F >>
<<ADKINSO>> <<BROOKLY>> <<11201 >> <<USA>>
<<BEVERLE>> <<90211 >>