Functional Directives (Magic xpa 3.x)

A functional directive is a picture character that is interpreted the same way regardless of its location in the picture. For example, in the following three pictures:

N####, ####N, ##N##

Each defines a 4-digit numeric integer variable that can hold positive and negative values.

N is the functional directive that specifies that the variable may also contain negative values. The exact location of N inside the picture string is irrelevant, as is the location of any other functional directive.

Magic xpa adds functional directives to the picture string when you enter Y in the relevant prompts in the Picture dialog box, or when you insert functional directives manually by editing the picture string in the Picture variable.

Note that all functional directives must appear in upper case.