( (Shift Left)

The ( (shift left) line command shifts record data within the edit bounds to the left, and also reduces the length of variable-length records.

The ( (shift left) line command used without parameters moves all data on the line one character to the left. The (( ( (shift left block) line command used without parameters specifies the first and last lines in a block of lines to move all data within the selected block of lines one character to the left.

SHIFT LEFT Line Command Syntax

([n]
(([n]

n (for ( )

Specifies the number of characters the data is to be moved to the left. You can specify multiple ( and/or (n entries on different lines and enter them simultaneously.

You can use the ( and/or (n entries to shift data on data lines, and on only the BNDS, MASK, and OVLY information display lines; they are ignored on other information display lines.

n (for (( )

Specifies that the selected block of lines be moved the specified number (n) of characters to the left. When shifting a block of lines more than one column, you can specify the number of characters to be shifted (n) on the first or last line of the block, or on both lines. If you specify different numbers on the first and last lines, the error message: NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT is displayed and File-AID does not execute the command. 

You can enter multiple pairs of (( and/or multiple pairs of

% class="Emphasis" %)n entries simultaneously if the following conditions are met:

  • ( and/or (n entries are not specified on lines within any block specified by a pair of (( or

    % class="Emphasis" %)n entries.

    • Only pairs of (( and/or

      % class="Emphasis" %)n entries are specified.

      The error message: BLOCK COMMAND INCOMPLETE is displayed if either of these conditions are not met.

      The (( or

      % class="Emphasis" %)n entries do not affect data on any BNDS, MASK, and OVLY information display lines within a selected block.

      Guidelines

      All shifting takes place within the edit bounds. The data within the edit bounds is shifted to the left with the following results:

      • The left-most n bytes of data within the edit bounds are discarded.
      • The right-most n columns within the edit bounds are filled with the PAD character. See PAD for more information.

      To shorten variable-length records:

      • Set the left edit bound within the current record length.
      • Set the right edit bound beyond the current record length.
      • Use the (  line command to shorten the record. The record is then shifted beyond the left edit bound and File-AID truncates the positions that extend beyond the left data bounds.

      The PAD character is not used when the record length is shortened.

      If both edit bounds are beyond the length of a particular record, the ( line command has no effect on that record.

      The length of the MASK information line, which determines the initial length of inserted records, can also be decreased with the (  line command, subject to the same control by the edit bounds.

      When the BNDS information line itself is shifted, the left bound can be shifted left as far as column one. Additional shifting does not affect the left bound after it is in that column. The right bound is shifted left the specified number of columns, provided that it does not exceed the number of columns between the right bound and column one. If the number of columns exceeds the number of columns between the right bound and column one, the right bound is reset to the default, one column beyond the logical record length.

      If you specify the ( line command on the TOP OF DATA or BOTTOM OF DATA line, the error message: INVALID ON THIS LINE is displayed. You can specify the command on any other line.

      Multiple ( line commands (designating single lines, range of lines, and/or line blocks) can be executed at the same time if the lines specified do not overlap. If you enter( line commands with overlapping specifications, the error message: BLOCK COMMAND INCOMPLETE is displayed.

 

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