AMT Datasouth PAL - Manual (Page 17)

3.
Objects
PAL allows programmers to store various different types of data into the printer's memory. PAL
uses the term object to refer to each different piece of data stored within the printer's memory.
Each object has a type. An object's type indicates how PAL will interact with that particular object.
The PAL language groups the various object types into two classifications — simple and com-
posite. In addition, PAL includes a classification of object types internally used by PAL. This
manual discusses each object type under its appropriate classification.
3.1.
Simple Objects
Simple objects represent the basic types of data which the programmer can store within the printer.
This differs from composite objects which group together collections of simple objects as well as
other composite objects. The simple object classification includes the following types:
Integer
Fixed-Point
Boolean
String
Name
Mark
Null
3.1.1.
Integer Objects
PAL allows integer objects to have numerical values between -999,999,999 and +999,999,999,
inclusive. Integer objects cannot have any fractional digits. In order words, an integer object can-
not have the value 1.5.
When the programmer includes an integer value as part of a PAL sequence, the value can include
only the digits 0 through 9 with an optional leading plus (+) or minus (-) sign. If the programmer
does not specify a plus or minus sign, PAL assume a positive value. Integer values may not include
a decimal point even if the programmer places only zeros to the right of the decimal point. The
value also may not include commas or other punctuation.
The following PAL sequence specifies three integer objects for the PAL interpreter.
-45 +36 999
3.1.2.
Fixed-Point Objects
PAL allows fixed-point objects to have numerical values between -999,999,999.999,999,999 and
+999,999,999.999,999,999, inclusive. This means that fixed-point objects may have nine digits to
the left of the decimal point, and another nine digits to the right of the decimal point.
PAL differs from many other programming languages in its use of fixed-point values. Most other
programmer languages use floating-point values. Floating-point values usually allow the
programmer to specify a small number of significant digits, but the digits may have almost any
relationship to the decimal point. For example, many programming languages allow around six