Formatting code descriptions and examples

If you want a single '&' you must let the VME know that you don't want a formatting or a color code. You do this by doubling the '&' sign. Here are a couple examples:

When you want to turn off the formatting you use this formatting code. Everything after the '&l' will be shown exactly as you put it in the string.

&l
*     *
 *   *
  * *
   *
  * *
 *   *
*     *
                 

The formatted text as we have already said is default. If you want to turn the formatted text back on after some literal text like a sign or a map you just use the '&f' code. The following is an example of some literal text followed by a short bit of formatted text.

&l
*     *
 *   *
  * *
   *
  * *
 *   *
*     *

&fThe X marks the spot!  

If you want to input extra spaces in a sentence without using the '&l' you can add them one at a time or multiple by using the '&s' code.

This sentence has 10 spaces&s10before the first word before.

If you want to input some blank lines with out using the literal code you can add a '&n'for each line you want.

This sentence&n&n&n would look like this:


This sentence


would look like this:

The line break is made for use with the DIL language. You will not need it to do regular text formatting. It was added so a DIL could split a string that is loaded from a file. If you don't understand the following example don't worry it is explained more in the DIL reference.

mystrlist:=split(string,"&");

On terminals that can handle it the '&h' will clear the screen. If you wanted a sign that would clear the screen before displaying when a character looked at it would look like this.

&h&l
*     *
 *   *
  * *
   *
  * *
 *   *
*     *

&fThe X marks the spot!