FORMAT

C Test Script Language

Syntax

FORMAT <variable> = [<new type>[#<display directive> [<size>]]

FORMAT <type> = <new type>[#<display directive> [<size>]]

FORMAT <field> = <new type>[#<display directive> [<size>]]

Description

The FORMAT instruction allows you to modify the type of the tested element, where:

<variable> is a variable.
<type> is a simple C type declared by typedef; in this case, the new type will be applied to all variables of this type.
<field> is a member of a structure or a C union; in this case, the new type will be applied to all the members of this field.

The <new type> is an abstract C type.

The optional <display directive> is one of the following suffixes for integers only:

#h for hexadecimal display,
#b for binary display,
#u for unsigned decimal display,
#d for signed decimal display,

With the following possibilities for floating variables:

#f to display without an exponent,
#e to display with an exponent.

For integers, <size> is the number of bits to be displayed. For floating variables, <size> is the number of the number of digits after the decimal point.

Associated Rules

The FORMAT statement is optional and must be located after the BEGIN statement.

The FORMAT definition can be replaced by an optional <format> parameter in a VAR statement.

It is applicable immediately, only in the block in which it is declared.

<variable> follows standard C syntax rules. <type> is a C identifier used in typedef, struct or union instructions. <format> is an abstract C type.

If the change is to be applied to array elements, you can use an abstract C type to describe the new modified variable, field, or type.

A format cannot be empty. It must contain either the abstract C type or the display directive.

In the display directive, the size is optional. The size must be a multiple of 8 for the integers. The default values for this size are the following ones:

For integers, the number of bits of the abstract type if it is given, or if it is not, the number of bits of the type or the variable whose printing format is modified
For #f, 6 digits after the decimal point and for #e, 2 digits after the decimal point

Example

#char x;
#char t[10];
FORMAT t = int -- t is an array of integers
FORMAT x = int#h8 -- display in hexa, only 8 bits
FORMAT y = #b -- display in binary without modifying the type
FORMAT z = short#u -- display in unsigned decimal
FORMAT f1 = #f -- displays for example 3.670000
FORMAT f1 = #f4 -- displays for example 3.6700
FORMAT f1 = #e4 -- displays for example 0.36700E1