Radio Shack TRS-80 PC-3 Owner's Manual page 216

Numeric Masks
A numeric USING mask may only be used to display numeric values, i.e., numeric constants or numeric variables. If a string
constant or variable is displayed while a numeric USING mask is in effect, the mask will be ignored. A value which is to be dis-
played must always fit within the space provided by the mask. The mask must reserve space for the sign character, even when the
number will always be positive. Thus, a mask which shows four display positions may only be used to display numbers with three
digits.
Specifying Number of Digits
The desired number of digits is specified using the
'#'
character. Each
'#'
in the mask reserves space for one digit. The display
or print always contains as many characters as are designated in the mask. The number appears to the far right of this field; the
remaining positions to the left are filled with spaces. Positive numbers, therefore, always have at least one space at the left of the
field. Since the PC-3 Pocket Computer maintains a maximum of 10 significant digits, no more than 11
'#'
characters should be
used in a numeric mask.
NOTE: In all examples in this appendix, the beginning and end of the displayed field will be marked with an' I' character to
show the size of the field.
Statement
10: USING
"####"
20:
PRINT
25
30:
PR INT
-350
40: PRINT
1000
Display
(Set the PC-3 Computer to the RUN position, type RUN, and
press
(ENTER) .)
2 5
-350
ERROR 7 IN 40
219