Guardian Procedure Calls Reference Manual

Summary of Repeatable Edit Descriptors
Repeatable edit descriptors direct the formatter to obtain the next data list element and perform a
conversion between internal and external representation. They can be preceded by modifiers or
decorations that alter the interpretation of the basic edit descriptor. Modifiers and decorations
apply only to output conversion. They are allowed but ignored for input.
The repeatable edit descriptors are:
Alphanumeric (ASCII)A
Binary (base 2) integerB
Exponential formD,E
Fixed formF
General (E or F format depending on magnitude of data) I Integer (base b)G
LogicalL
Mask formattingM
Octal (base 8) integerO
Hexadecimal (base 16) integerZ
Summary of Modifiers
Modifiers are codes that are used to alter the results of the formatting prescribed by the edit
descriptors to which they are attached. They are:
Field blanking (if null, or zero)BN, BZ
Fill-character specificationFL
Left and right justificationLJ, RJ
Overflow-character modifierOC
Symbol substitutionSS
Summary of Decorations
Decorations specify alphanumeric strings that can be added to a field either before basic formatting
is begun or after it is finished. A decoration consists of one or more codes that specify the conditions
under which the string is to be added (based on the value of the data element or the occurrence
overflow of the external field):
MinusM
NullN
OverflowO
PlusP
ZeroZ
followed by a code that describes the position of the special editing:
At a specific character position within the fieldA(absolute)
At the position the basic formatting finishedF (floating)
At the position the basic formatting would have startedP(prior)
followed by the character string that is to be included in the field if the stated conditions are met.
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