Value

Description

#

(number sign) Numeric (0-9). If nothing entered, displays a "0" (but returns just a blank string.) Also see N.

$

(dollar sign) Currency field.

*

(asterisk) Accept all characters. Same as A.

,

(comma) Punctuation allowed. Punctuation is anything other than a number or letter.

@

(at sign) Control character input.

{

(open brace) Character acceptance is limited to the set of characters specified in setdef. Typically you would combine this with "*", else the characters may be rejected before even considering the setdef list.

a

Alphabetic characters allowed (a-z, A-Z), or as defined by the LDF (language definition file).

A

All characters allowed (subject to code b). Note that A is used for com­patibility with INPUT, but to most people, "*" makes more sense. Note that A or "*" is equivalent to the combination "a#," (alphabetic, numeric, and punctuation).

C

Carriage Return only.

d

Date input, today.

D

Date input.

H

Hours field. Like $ but omits the "$" from the display.

||h

Accept hexadecimal digits (A-F, a-f, 0-9).

J

Accepts alphanumeric input, and if the input is wholly numeric, right justifies and fills with leading zeroes.

N

NO/Yes field.

P

Phone number or zip code input.

t

Time field.

U

European date.

X

Specifies a Y/N field, but with no default. May be used to force the operator to make a choice, or, with xmin=0, to allow a third option (blank).

Y

YES/No field.