Alphanumerics, Incremental Fields
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Linked and unlinked masking of subfields within the STARTDATA is defined
by the L value in the STEPMASK field. L indicates linked but non-incremental
data in the corresponding position of the STARTDATA field; any alpha
character other than L in the STEPMASK field indicates a n on-incremental,
non-linked STARTDATA subfield.
The examples on the following pages illustrate incremental alphanumeric da ta
fields. All cases in the examples use a repeat count parameter value of 1 an d
a reset count parameter value of 0. The three vertical dots illustrate the
natural progression for each column and unit of data based on the
incremental count and its impact on linked and unlinked data fields.
Table 5. Increment Alphanumeric
STEPMASK START DATA Character Type and Function
0 - 9 A - Z Alpha characters incremented by
amount in STEPMASK field
0 - 9 0 - 9 Numeric characters incremented
by amount in STEPMASK field
0 - 9 Space Same character type as character
in the next right adjacent, linked
increment position. Character
type will be numeric if in least
significant position.
0 - 9 Not A - Z or 0 - 9 Error
Not 0 - 9 or L Any Non-incrementing alphanumeric
character
L Any Linked, non-incrementing
alphanumeric character