162
Chapter 9 PGL Commands
STEPMASK (Increment Information Field)The STEPMASK parameter defines the size, amount of increment and whi ch
positions in the field will be incremented. Valid entries for the ST EPMASK field
are 0-9, L, and any other character.
0-9
These values dictate the amount of the increment for a selected po sition in
the incremented field.
L
This character indicates that the selected position will not be incremented but
the positions on the right and left of this character remain linked and will
increment the specified amount.
Any Other Character
These characters indicate that the selected field positio n will not be
incremented and that any position to the left and right of this charac ter are not
linked. Fields to the left and right of this character can only be incremented
independently.
There is one exception to these rules. If the first character after the semicolon
preceding the STEPMASK parameter is a minus sign (-) or a plus (+) sign, the
printer does not include it as part of the STEPMASK. It translates it as an
increment direction command. After the first minus sign additi onal minus
signs will be treated as any other character.
STARTDATA (Incremented Field)The STARTDATA parameter defines the starting incremental field. This field
can be no larger than the STEPMASK field. It can, however, be smaller than
the STEPMASK field. If it is smaller, the printer will right justify the field and
insert enough spaces to equalize field sizes. Valid entries for each posit ion in
this field depend on the increment information in the STEP MASK.
If STEPMASK = 0-9, Valid STARTDATA is:
•A-Z (upper and lower-case)
•0-9
•Space character
If the STEPMASK is not 0-9, then any character may be used for
STARTDATA.
This parameter defines
the starting incremental
field.
See the explanation following this table on how
to construct the increment information field.
Table 10. Fixed Incremental Alphanumeric String Command
Field Function Option/Modifier Selections