AMPERSAND
LESS THAN SIGN
LEFT FRENCH BRACE
PARENTHESES
& AMPERSAND
Description:
The & joins two fields, starting the second field at exactly the end of the defined length of the field on the left.
Examples:
Then: aa(10)="Smith" ; bb(10)="Joe" ; cc(20)=bb&aa ; show cc
would yield:
Joe Smith
because the fields are joined (concatenated) at the defined length of the field on the left, regardless of how much of that field is filled.
Then: aa(8,mdy/)=@td ; show aa&4
would yield:
10/04/97ACME (assuming field 4="ACME")
< LESS THAN SIGN
Description:
The < joins two fields by pushing the field on the right towards the left until there is exactly one space between the two fields. This operator is often called the "push left" operator.
Examples:
Then: aa(10)="Smith" ; bb(10)="Joe" ; cc(20)=bb&aa ; show cc
would yield:
Joe Smith
because the fields are joined, leaving 1 space between the data, regardless of how much of each field is filled.
Then: aa(10)="123" ; bb(10)=" XYZ" ; cc(20)=aa<bb ; show cc
would yield:
123 XYZ
Again, 1 and only 1 space is left between the joined fields, because that is the way the push left operator "<" works.
{ FRENCH BRACE
Description:
The { joins and pushes left, leaving no spaces. Because this operator works in the same manner as the "push left" operator but leaves no spaces between the joined fields, it is called the "squeeze left operator".
Examples:
Then: aa(10)="Joe" ; bb(10)="Smith" ; show aa{bb
would yield:
JoeSmith
( ) PARENTHESES
Description:
The set of ( ) groups and orders evaluations for the purpose of clarity and precedence of operation.
Examples:
If: ((3 gt aa) and (4 eq "C")) or (BALDUE gt "0" or 19 co bb)
Then: show "@ Customer has outstanding balance."