@nataliapc/mcp-openmsx

# PRINT ## Effect Displays and formats text and numbers on the screen or sends formatted data to different devices through file handling. _Note: `PRINT` can be replaced by the `?` character. This will be expanded to `PRINT` when listing a MSX-BASIC program._ ## Syntax `PRINT #<FileNumber>, USING <ItemFormat>; <Item>;<Item>...` ## Parameters `<Item>` can be a character string, an expression, a variable or a value to display or send. All four items types can be mixed freely. Items must be separated by `;`. If the last item does not end to `;` then `CR`+`LF` combination is displayed or sent. A comma can replace a `;` to separate the items. In case of `,` they are separated by tabulator instead of a space. `<Item>` can be omitted to display or send an empty line. `#<FileNumber>`, is optional. `<FileNumber>` is a number between 0 and 15 that points to opened file name. Please see `OPEN` instruction. `USING <ItemFormat>;` is optional. `<ItemFormat>` is a string that defines how the next items to be displayed or sent must be formatted. When `USING` is used the type of following usable items depends on the specified format. The format string can contain following definitions: _**Editor's note: Following table and comments are inaccurate and need revisiting.**_ <table> <tr><th>Format definition</th><th>Data type</th><th>Description</th></tr> <tr><td>!</td><td>String</td><td>Prints only first character of current item. Example: ```basic PRINT USING "!";"United","Nations" UN ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>\[n spaces]\</td><td>String</td><td>Prints n+2 characters. When the length of the data is less than n+2 characters, the rest is padded with spaces. Example: ```basic PRINT USING "\ \";"ABCDEF","GHI","JKLMN" ABCDGHI JKLM ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>&</td><td>String</td><td>Displays the whole string. Example: ```basic A$="North";B$="South":PRINT USING "& Pole ";A$,B$ North Pole South Pole ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>#</td><td>Number</td><td><li>Reserves a space (up to 24) for number. Decimal point can be specified with the full stop ".". Example: ```basic PRINT USING "POINT:###.#";123.4 POINT:123.4 ``` <li>When the amount of digits is smaller than the amount of specified `#`, the number is displayed with equal amounts of margins at both sides and when the number of digits is larger, a `%` is output. Example: ```basic 10 PRINT USING "####";12 20 PRINT USING "####";12345 RUN 12 %12345 ``` <li>When the number of digits behind the decimal separator is smaller than the amount of the input, it is padded with a "0" and when it is larger, it is rounded to the nearest integer number. Example: ```basic 10 PRINT USING "##.##";25.3 20 PRINT USING "##.##";25.345 RUN 25.30 25.35 ``` <li>When displaying numeric data, the "+" sign is ignored and the character is counted as a number. Example: ```basic 10 PRINT USING "###";+123 20 PRINT USING "###";-123 RUN 123 %-123 ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>+</td><td>Number</td><td>Positive numbers will be output with "+"-sign and negative numbers with a "-"-sign. Either in front or behind the number. Example: ```basic 10 PRINT USING "+####";123,-123 20 PRINT USING "####+";123,-123 RUN +123 -123 123+ 123- ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>-</td><td>Number</td><td>Can be used to mark "-" to end of number when the number is negative. Example: ```basic PRINT USING "###-";123,-123 RUN 123 123- ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>**</td><td>Number</td><td>The space for numerical data will be filled with "*" characters. A single "*" represents a single digit. Example: ```basic 10 PRINT USING "**######";123 20 PRINT USING "**######";-234 RUN *****123 ****-234 ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>££</td><td>Number</td><td>Displays "£" in front of number. One "£" layout symbol counts as digit. Example: ```basic 10 PRINT USING "££###";1234 20 PRINT USING "+££###";-1234 RUN £1234 -£1234 ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>**£</td><td>Number</td><td>Displays "£" in front of number and fills up heading spaces with "*". Example: ```basic PRINT USING "**£###.##";12.34 ***£12.34 ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>,</td><td>Number</td><td>Numbers will be printed in groups of 3 separated by "," if a comma is used somewhere before the decimal point. Example: ```basic PRINT USING "#,######.##";12345.67 12,345.67 ``` </td></tr> <tr><td>^^^^</td><td>Number</td><td>Displays the number in scientific format. The ^^^^ part represents the numbers of the exponent part. Example: ```basic PRINT USING "##.##^^^^";234.56 2.35E+02 ``` </td></tr> </table> _Please note: Format string should be used with caution. Pound signs should be avoided since this causes compatibility problems. On some machines this is "$" depending on local currency. "&" has been replaced with "\" on european and Brazilian machines causing easily _"Type missmatch"_ error in localized machines. In Japanese machines "\" is printed as "¥"._ ## Examples ```basic 10 FM$="The print documentation on & & has ##.#% relative accuracy" 20 PRINT USING FM$;"MRC",5 RUN The print documentation on MRC has 5.0% relative accuracy Ok ``` ```basic PRINT USING "!!!";"Alpha";"Beta";"Charlie" ABC Ok ``` ## Related to `CSRLIN`, `LOCATE`, `LPRINT`, `MAXFILES`, `OPEN`, `POS()`, `SCREEN`, `SPC()`, `TAB()` , `WIDTH` ## Compatibility MSX-BASIC 1.0 or higher ## Source Retrieved from "https://www.msx.org/wiki/PRINT"