TACL Reference Manual

Variables

HP NonStop TACL Reference Manual—429513-018

4-2

Variable Names

A variable name can contain from 1 to 31 characters and must start with a letter. The

name can contain letters, numbers, underscore characters (_), and circumflexes (^).

Variable names are not case-sensitive. These are valid variable names:

var1

ems^text^info

write_data

Coexisting With TACL Programs Supplied in a TACL

Software RVU

To avoid conflicts with TACL software provided as part of a software RVU, adhere to

these rules:

•

Never create variables whose names begin with a circumflex (^) and never use, in

any way, such variables supplied as part of a TACL software RVU.

•

Do not create or use variables whose names begin with an underscore (_), except

where specifically permitted as a feature of a TACL software RVU.

•

Do not create any variables under :UTILS. Similarly, the associated source file,

TACLSEGF, can contain only TACL programs supplied as part of a TACL software

RVU.

•

Do not create any variables under :UTILS_GLOBALS except where specifically

permitted.

•

Do not push or pop :UTILS or :UTILS_GLOBALS.

•

If you modify the use list, ensure that your use list always includes certain

directories necessary for the correct operation of TACL programs supplied as part

of a TACL software RVU. The USE command automatically does this for you. The

STRUCT Contains binary data and a set of type definitions that control the

conversion of the binary information to and from associated textual

representations

DELTA Contains a sequence of commands for the TACL low-level text manipulator

(#DELTA)

You cannot execute a DELTA variable as a TACL function.

DIRECTORY Contains an entire set of variables

A DIRECTORY has a hierarchical structure. If used as a function, TACL

executes the top level of a variable named EXECUTE.

Table 4-1. TACL Variables and Their Uses (page 2 of 2)

Variable

Type Description