Reference Manual

Conversion functions

These are some of the more essential conversion routines in Power-4gl.

Word

Converts a word code to a corresponding word or short phrase in a native language. The actual words are contained in a dictionary which is in the form of a flat text file called "word.tbl". If the word is not found in the dictionary, the word code is used. Deviations from this routine are "Upfword" which upshifts the first letter of the word and "Upshword" which upshifts the whole word.

1 parameters:
Code: Word code. Normally this would be in English (possibly abbreviated).

1 return value:
Word: The corresponding word or short phrase in the native language.

Stx

Converts a message code to a corresponding message or sentence (single line text) in a native language. The actual messages are contained in a flat text file called "stx.tbl". If the message is not found in the text file then the code is used as the message.

1 parameters:
Code: Message code. Normally this would be in English (possibly abbreviated).

1 return value:
Message: The corresponding single line message in the native language.

Mtx

Converts a message code to a corresponding message paragraph (multiple line text) in a native language. The actual messages are contained in a flat text file called "mtx.tbl". If the message is not found in the text file then the code is used as the message.

1 parameters:
Code: Message code. Normally this would be in English (possibly abbreviated).

1 return value:
Message: The corresponding multiple line message in the native language.

Hourtime

Converts an interval time value to it's corresponding equivalent in decimal hours.

1 parameter:
Interval: The interval time value.

1 return value:
Hours: The corresponding decimal value in hours.

Sectime

Converts an interval time value to it's corresponding equivalent in decimal seconds.

1 parameter:
Interval: The interval time value.

1 return value:
Hours: The corresponding decimal value in seconds.

Secinterv

Converts a decimal time value in seconds to it's corresponding equivalent interval value.

1 parameter:
Interval: The decimal time value in seconds.

1 return value:
Hours: The corresponding interval time value.

Strctrlrep

Converts control character markers (i.e. "^") in a string to their corresponding control character values. In many cases, it is convenient to store strings containing control characters in a viewable and editable format. A standard method is to precede a letter with a caret to represent a control character, e.g. "^L".

1 parameter:
Marked string: A string containing control character markers.

1 return value:
Control string: The corresponding string containing real control characters.

Formatnum

Formats a decimal number to a character string of specified length, with specified decimal places. The number is right justified in the string with optional thousands indicators.

4 parameters:
Number: The number to be formatted.
Length: The resulting string length.
Decimal places: The desired number of decimal places (must be less than the length).
Thousands: True or false as to whether thousands indicators should be included.

1 return value:
String: The formatted number.