Guardian Procedure Calls Reference Manual

These formatting symbols can be altered by the SS modifier:
FunctionSymbol
Digit selector (M format)9
Digit selector, zero suppression (M format)Z
Decimal alignment character (M format)V
Decimal point (D, E, F, G, and M format).
These examples show how the SS modifier can be used to permit decimal values to be displayed
as clock times, to follow European conventions (where a comma is used as the decimal point and
periods are used as digit group separators), or to alter the function of the digit selectors in the M
edit descriptor. When using the symbol substitution with a mask format, to obtain the function of
one special character which is being altered by the symbol substitution, use the new character of
the pair. With all other formats, use the old character of the pair; for example:
ResultFormatData Value
| 12:45|[SS".:"]F6.212.45
| 12:45|[SS".:"]M<ZZZ:99>12.45
| 12345,67|[SS'.,']F10.212345.67
|10/31/1979|[SS<9X>]M<XX/XX/19XX>103179
The "|" character is used to denote the boundaries of the output field.
This table indicates which modifiers can be used with which edit descriptors (Y stands for yes, the
combination is permitted).
Edit Descriptors
MLIGFE,DAModifiers
YYYYYYYBZ,BN
YLJ,RJ
YYYYYYOC
YYYYYYFL
YYYYSS
Decorations
A decoration specifies a character string that can be added to the result field, the conditions under
which the string is to be added, the location at which the string is to be added, and whether it is
to be added before normal formatting is done or after it is completed.
You can use multiple decorations, separated by commas, with the same edit descriptor. Decorations
are enclosed in brackets (together with any modifiers) and immediately precede the edit descriptor
to which they apply. If modifiers immediately precede the left parenthesis of a group, the modifiers
apply to each repeatable edit descriptor within the group.
When a field is processed, the floating decorations appear in the same order, left to right. If an
edit descriptor within a group already has some decorations, the decorations that are applied to
the group function as if they were placed to the right of the decorations already present. A
decoration has the form:
{ M } { M } { N } ... { F } string OR { N } { P } { P } { P } ... Anstring { Z } { Z } { O }
M MinusField condition specifier:Character 1
N Null
Decorations 1567