HP Data Entry and Forms Management System (VPLUS) Reference Manual (32209-90024)

134 Chapter4
Advanced Forms Design
Statement Syntax
Character Character constants are strings of any character enclosed in single or double
quotes.
For example:
"This is a constant."
'and this is, too!'
$EMPTY
$STATE
Numeric Numeric constants are digit strings with an optional leading sign and optional
decimal point. Commas are not allowed in numeric constants. If the constant has no
decimal point, a decimal is assumed at the right of the rightmost (least significant) digit.
$EMPTY (all blanks) can be used to indicate a numeric constant less than any non-$EMPTY
value, $LENGTH can be used to indicate the length of the current field. The following
examples Illustrate numeric constants:
.23
-123
5000
-3729
$EMPTY
$LENGTH
Date. A date constant can be any legal date format, but it must be in the order MDY.
With Native Language Support, the date constant order (e.g., mmddyy) will not be
language dependent. For more information on Native Language Support, see Section 8. To
distinguish it from other constants, a date constant must be delimited by exclamation
points (!). Note that the date constant in the order MDY is used to check date values in any
of the three legal orders: MDY, DMY, or YMD. A special date constant $TODAY is equivalent
to the date at execution time. Examples of date constants are:
!MAY 30, 1986!
!12/24/86!
!NOVEMBER 7, 86!
$TODAY
$EMPTY
Arithmetic Expression
Any numeric constant, field, or save field can be combined into an arithmetic expression.
The expression is evaluated to generate a constant that can be used to check a field or
replace the value of a field. The operators used to form an arithmetic expression are:
+ (add)
- (subtract)
* (multiply)
/ (divide)
% (percent of)
The operators determine the order of evaluation in the standard operator hierarchy where
+ and - are evaluated after *, /, and %. Operators at the same level are evaluated from left
to right. Parentheses may be used to further define the hierarchy. Expressions within