show
Description
A showstring displays information that is created as a result of one or more evaluated processes. The <?show> command is extremely powerful and can be used to instruct PTC ALD to use information in a number of ways:
• show the information as a simple value
• write the information to a specific location such as a variable or stream
• evaluate the information as part of a process
Example 382. Examples of basic showstring use
Show the value of an xcounter:
<?show $x(99)>
Show the value of a variable:
<?show $^variable>
Show the value of the "id" attribute to a variable:
<?show "^var"$^id#>
Add the extracted value of the xcounter and the text into the top of text stream called "stream":
<?show -"stream"The value is $x(10)>
Evaluate and display the perl function variable:
<?show $^[perl $name_value=~s/ä/a/g;]>
Syntax
<?show ('- | +' ('"' destination:t '"' ) (';' '"' source:t '"' )? )? ( string:t ( string:t )+ )>
<?show>
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- | +
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A - or + character preceding a destination will place the resulting string to the start (-) or end (+) of the destination stream or variable
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destination
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The destination stream (or variable if specified with a ^) to which the evaluated or direct stream will be shown (written)
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source
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The name of the source stream that is to be copied into the destination stream (optional).
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string
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The type of show string information to be used. The items and features that can be used inside a show string PI command is vast. This following list is representative of some of the more common uses:
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x(0)
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x counter display and manipulations. These are normally inserted into a stream via the > menu
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$^name
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Variable display and manipulation
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$^name#
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Attribute value display and manipulation
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$^!
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XPath expressions
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v0000
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Getvar display and manipulation
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$^[name parm]
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Function variable calls
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"*mini"
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Mini script calls (used mainly before the introduction of function variables)
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$y"/this/ct"
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Yank text with search 'up to' function
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[?command]
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PTC ALD PI
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$60#?show $62#
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2nd/3rd..etc. nested showstrings
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[$$]\\raster(50%, p)==":1::C:/my image.jpg"[$$]
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Raster graphics
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?+^(^varA), ^(^varB)
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Expressions
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Additional Information
For more information about showstring use, see Reference Chapter: Showstrings.
Related Links