Guardian Procedure Calls Reference Manual

precision of the internal representation are ignored. The basic form can be followed by an exponent
in one of these forms:
• Signed integer constant
• E followed by zero or more blanks, followed by an optionally signed integer constant
• D followed by zero or more blanks, followed by an optionally signed integer constant
An exponent containing a D is processed identically to an exponent containing an E.
On output, the field (for a scale factor of zero) appears in this form:
{[+]} [0].n n … n E {+} e e …e
{ - } 1 2 d {-} 1 2 e
Indicates an optional plus or a minus
{[+]}
{ - }
Are the d most significant digits of the value of the data
n n ... n
after rounding
1 2 d
Signals the start of the decimal exponent
E
Indicates that a plus or minus is required
{+}
{-}
Are the e most significant digits of the exponent
e e ... e
e e ... e
The sign in the exponent is always displayed. If the exponent is zero, a plus sign is used.
If the data is negative, the minus sign is always displayed. If the data is positive (or zero), the
display of the plus sign is dependent on the last optional plus descriptor processed.
The zero preceding the decimal point is normally displayed, but can be omitted to prevent field
overflow. Decimal normalization is controlled by the scale factor established by the most recently
interpreted nP edit descriptor. If -d <n <= 0, the output value has |n| leading zeros, and (d-|n|)
significant digits follow the decimal point; if 0 <n <d+2, the output value has n significant digits
to the left of the decimal point and d-n+1 digits to the right. If the number of characters produced
exceeds the field width or if an exponent exceeds its specified length using the Ew.dEe field
descriptor, the entire field of width w is filled with asterisks. However, if the field width is not
exceeded when optional characters are omitted, the field is displayed without the optional
characters.
Because all characters in the output field are included in the field width, w must be large enough
to accommodate the exponent, the decimal point, and all digits and the algebraic sign of the base
number.
These examples illustrate output:
ResultData ValueFormat
| 0.877E-05|8.76543 x 10
-6
E12.3
| -0.556E+00|-0.55555E12.3
| 0.123E+03|123.4567E12.3
| 0.314159E+1|3.14159E12.6E1
The "|" character is used to denote the boundaries of the output field.
NOTE: To use the E edit descriptor for output, floating-point firmware is required.
1558 Formatter Edit Descriptors