ICAM Virtual Machine V19 - Kxcad.net

4.4.1.6 String Format Specification
Virtual Machine Reference, Model Customization
The Macro Language, String Format Specification
String formatting is used to read and write variables to external files, and to write information to
the verification listing. Output string formatting converts variables to a text string. Input string
formatting extracts information from a text string and loads it into variables.
Output String Format Specifications
String formatting is used to transfer different data types into a text format depending upon
certain control characters in the format string. The format processing described below is used by
the $FSWRIT function, and also by the ERROR and WRITE commands.
A format string is made up of two separate parts. The first part is a character string that may or
may not have certain control characters. The second part is a list of arguments that are to be
formatted into the first part of the format string. The number of arguments required for the
second part depends upon the number of control characters in the first.
The following sections describe the action taken when certain control characters are found in the
first part of the format string. Each control character may require a different type of argument in
the second part of the format string. The type required will be described in the pertinent section.
The exclamation character (!) is used as an attention character to indicate that the characters to
follow are to be validated as formats for different argument types. If an exclamation character is
required on the output string, specify two exclamation characters (!!). All formats should be
placed in open and close parentheses. For example, “!(s4.3s)”.
Numeric Output Format
(!
� �
�� X�� V
��� �s�
n
�.
�
n
�s�
)
�� e��
�� f��
�� e��
V Output as variable length string (default)
X Output as fixed length string
+ Output + sign for positive numbers
s Suppress leading/trailing zeros
e One digit must appear left or right of decimal
n Maximum number of digits left or right of decimal
. Always output decimal
f Omit decimal point for whole numbers
This format is used to place a value into the character string using a given “format”. This format
requires a numeric argument for each occurrence of the format. This value can be any numeric
value. The macro processor will take this value and format it using the specified “format”. The
“format” can be in the following appearance.
The “V” or “X” character provides for optional fixed length output. When using the X format,
leading and trailing zeroes that are converted to blanks will remain significant. This is useful
when outputting tables of values that should be aligned. The default is variable length output.
The V format character can be omitted.
ICAM Technologies Corporation – Proprietary 139