The PRINT USING statement is used to PRINT formatted data to the Screen using a STRING template.
Syntax
- PRINT [text${;|,}] USING template$; variable[; ...][{;|,}]
Parameters
- Literal or variable STRING text$ can be placed between PRINT and USING or it can be included in the template.
- A semicolon or comma may follow the text to stop or tab the print cursor before the template PRINT.
- The literal or variable STRING template should use the template symbols to display each variable type in the list following it.
- The list of data variables used in the template are separated by semicolons after the template string value.
- In QB64 ONE semicolon or comma may follow the variable list to stop the print cursor for pending prints. QB only allowed a semicolon.
Usage:
- The variables should be listed in the order that they are used in the template from left to right.
- If the template string is omitted or symbols don't match the variable(s) an "Illegal Function Call" ERROR will occur!
- No more than 25 # digit places are allowed in a template number or an error will occur.
- Can convert numerical exponential or scientific notation values to normal decimal point values using less digits.
- NOTE: If the numerical value exceeds the template's digit range a % symbol will appear in the leftmost digit area.
- WARNING: The numbers displayed are rounded so the actual values are never changed and are actually more accurate.
Table 5: The formatting symbols used by the [L]PRINT USING[#] commands.
┌───────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ & │ Prints an entire string value. STRING length should be limited │
│ │ as template width will vary. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ \ \ │ Denotes the start and end point of a fixed string area with │
│ │ spaces between(LEN = spaces + 2). │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ! │ Prints only the leading character of a string value. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ # │ Denotes a numerical digit. An appropriate number of digits │
│ │ should be used for values received. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ^^^^ │ After # digits prints numerical value in exponential E+xx │
│ │ format. Use ^^^^^ for E+xxx values. (1) │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ . │ Period sets a number's decimal point position. Digits following│
│ │ determine rounded value accuracy. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ,. │ Comma to left of decimal point, prints a comma every 3 used # │
│ │ digit places left of the decimal point. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ + │ Plus sign denotes the position of the number's sign. + or - │
│ │ will be displayed. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ - │ Minus sign (dash) placed after the number, displays only a │
│ │ negative value's sign. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ $$ │ Prints a dollar sign immediately before the highest non-zero # │
│ │ digit position of the numerical value. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ** │ Prints an asterisk in any leading empty spaces of a numerical │
│ │ value. Adds 2 extra digit positions. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ **$ │ Combines ** and $$. Negative values will display minus sign to │
│ │ left of $. │
├───────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ _ │ Underscore preceding a format symbol prints those symbols as │
│ │ literal string characters. │
└───────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Note: Any string character not listed above will be printed as a
literal text character.
(1) Any # decimal point position may be specified. The exponent is
adjusted with significant digits left-justified.
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Example 1: Printing formatted data using a predefined string template variable.
first$ = "Bobby": last$ = "Smith"
boxes% = 1510: sales! = 4530
tmp$ = "Salesperson: & & #####,. $$#####,.##"
PRINT USING tmp$; first$; last$; boxes%; sales!
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Salesperson: Bobby Smith 1,510 $4,530.00
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Explanation: The Salesperson: text precedes the formatted data. The name lengths will change the length of the string template accordingly so columns will not all line up. If \ \ was used, the columns would stay the same, but parts of some names might be lost. If the box or sales values exceed 3 digits, a comma is used in the value every 3 digits.
Example 2: How to display formatting symbols as normal text using underscores in a PRINT USING template.
errcode = 35
PRINT USING "Error ## occurred!!"; errcode
'now there are the !! at the end of the printed string
PRINT USING "Error ## occurred_!_!"; errcode
END
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Error 35 occurred
Error 35 occurred!!
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- Explanation: The first template will not print the exclamation points or error when the requested text parameters are omitted.
Example 3: Exponential notation is designated after the leading digits are formatted. Digit places determine rounded value displayed.
2.35E+02
.7778E+06-
+.12E+03
+.12E+003
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- Explanation: Note how 5 carets in the bottom format expands the number of exponent digits to accommodate larger exponent values.
Example 4: USING does not necessarily have to immediately follow PRINT, but it must follow it in the code line.
money = 12345.45
tmp$ = "$$#######,.##"
PRINT "I have this much money!"; USING tmp$; money
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- Note: This can also be used to print the USING formatting characters outside of the template.
See also
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