OVERLAY (OVLY)
The OVERLAY command displays, sets, or modifies an overlay mask. Use the OVERLAY command without parameters to display the OVLY information display line. In the OVLY display, an asterisk (*) marks each column of the mask.
The command is available in the Edit function in Character and Vertical Formatted modes.
CLEAR (C)
Resets the overlay mask to all blanks.
col1 col2
Specifies a column range. Column numbers must be specified in pairs. To set a single column, the same number may be used for both col1 and col2. File-AID displays an asterisk in each column of the overlay mask within the specified range. More than one range may be specified at the same time. Any previously set columns of the overlay mask remain set.
Guidelines
Specifying both the CLEAR parameter and one or more column ranges resets all columns of the overlay mask to blanks except those specified by the column ranges.
Overtyping the OVLY information display line and entering the OVERLAY command in the same interaction gives the OVERLAY command precedence.
The following table shows the messages produced by incorrect use of the col1 and col2 parameters.
OVLY Messages for Col1 and Col2 Parameters
Message | Reason |
|---|---|
RANGES NOT PAIRED | col1 is specified without col2 |
OVERLAY RANGE ERROR | col2 is less than col1 |
OVERLAY RANGE ERROR | col1 is greater than the record length |
Example 1
Clears the overlay mask. The OVLY line displays only blank characters:
Example 2
Sets columns 1 through 5 and 8 through 10 of the overlay mask:
After Example 2, the OVLY line appears as follows:
Example 3
The following command sets column 15 of the overlay mask:
After example 3, the OVLY line appears as follows:
Example 4
The following command sets all remaining columns between 1 and 15:
After Example 4, the OVLY line appears as follows:
Example 5
The following command resets the overlay mask so that only columns 5, 10, and 15 are set:
After Example 5, the OVLY line appears as follows: