4–19Commands
The increment amount is defined by the numeric value of the STEPMASK
data. For example, a STEPMASK value of 1 increments the STARTDATA
by 1; a STEPMASK value of 2 increments the STARTDATA by 2.
The maximum number of characters allowed in the STARTDATA field is
defined by the number of characters in the STEPMASK field; the
STARTDATA field cannot contain more characters than used in the
STEPMASK field.
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
non–incremental, non–linked STARTDATA subfield.
Table 4–1. Increment Alphanumeric
STEPMASK START
DA
TA
Character T
ype 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 posi-
tion. 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
The examples on the following pages illustrate incremental alphanumeric
data fields. All cases in the examples use a repeat count parameter value of 1
and 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.