Commodore Plus 4 - Page 173

VARIABLES
& OPERATORS
Tne plus/4 uses three types of variables in BASIC. These are:
normal numeric, integer numeric, and string (alphanumeric) variables.
Normal NUMERIC VARIABLES, also called floating point variables.
Variables can nave anY value from 3ato ~3B, with up to nine digits of accuracy.
When a number becomes larger than nine digits can show, as in N ~10
or N10, the computer displays it in scientific notation form, with the
number normalized to 1 digit and eight decimal places, followed by the
letter E and the power of ten by which the number is multiplied. For
example, the number 12345678901 is displayed as 1.234356789E+10.
INTEGER VARIABLES can be used when the number is from +32767
to -32768, and with no fractional portion. An integer variable is a
number like 5, 10, or -100. Integers take up less space than floating
point variables, particularly when used in an array.
STRING VARIABLES are those used for character data, which may
contain numbers, letters, and any other character that the Plus/4 can
make An example of a string variable is "Plus/4".
Variablfi Var|able names may consist of a single letter, a letter folowed by a
Names num':)er- or two letters. Variable names may be longer than 2 charac
ters, but only the first two are significant.
An integer variable is specified by using the percent {%) sign after
the variable name. String variables have the dollar sign (S) after
their names.
EXAMPLES:
Numeric Variable Names: A. A5, BZ
Integer Variable Names: A%, A5%. BZ%
String Variable Names: AS. A5S, BZS
ARRAYS are lists of variables with the same name, using an extra
number (or numbers) to specify an element of the array. Arrays are
defined using the DIM statement, and may be floating point, integer,
or string variables arrays. The array variable name is followed by a
set of parentheses () enclosing the number of the variable in ihe list.
EXAMPLES:
A(7),BZ%(11),A$(87)
Arrays may have more than one dimension. A two dimensional array