MCD/Tape Variables

The $DISPLY Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}DISPLY}$

Last operator message string output

Type: String, Read-only

The $DISPLY variable holds the last operator message string output by the post-processor, either via a DISPLY command or by the redirection of a PPRINT command.

The $LMCD Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}LMCD}$

Last MCD block output

Type: String, Read-only

The $LMCD variable holds the last block of MCD output by the post-processor.

The $MCD Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}MCD}$

Current MCD block under construction

Type: String, Read-only

The $MCD variable holds the current block of MCD being built by the post-processor.

The $OPSKIP Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}OPSKIP}$

Current OPSKIP (block delete) level

Type: Numeric, Read-only

The $OPSKIP variable tracks the current OPSKIP (also called block-delete) level. On machines with a single level of OPSKIP, $OPSKIP will be set to 1 (one) when OPSKIP is enabled and 0 (zero) when OPSKIP is disabled. On machines with multiple OPSKIP levels, $OPSKIP indicates the number of different OPSKIP levels currently active.

The $OPSKIPL Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}OPSKIPL}\textbf{(}\mathit{level}\textbf{)}$

OPSKIP (block delete) status

Type: Logical, Read-only

The $OPSKIPL array variable tracks the state of OPSKIP levels 1 through 9. $OPSKIPL(1) will be $TRUE if OPSKIP level 1 is active, otherwise it will be set to $FALSE. Similarly, $OPSKIPL(2) through $OPSKIPL(9) will be set depending on the state of OPSKIP levels 2 through 9.

The $REEL Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}REEL}$

Current reel number

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $REEL variable contains the current number of tape reels or program segments used for the job.

The $SEQCNT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}SEQCNT}$

Sequence number skip block counter

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $SEQCNT variable holds the sequence number count variable. The count variable causes the sequence number to come out on every Nth block, where N is the sequence number count variable.

The $SEQINC Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}SEQINC}$

Sequence number increment factor

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $SEQINC variable holds the sequence number increment. This increment is added to the last sequence number to generate a new sequence number. If the increment is zero, sequence numbering is constant (i.e., the same sequence number is output until $SEQINC is changed).

The $SEQNO Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}SEQNO}$

Current sequence number

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $SEQNO variable contains the sequence number (e.g., N register value) of the current block. It may be set by the user. Note: The user should define the SEQNO command as available to properly use the sequence number macro system variables.

The $SEQSTA Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}SEQSTA}$

Sequence number status (ON or OFF)

Type: Minor Word, Read/Write

The $SEQSTA variable contains the current sequence number status. It has a value of ON or OFF and may be set by the user to enable or disable sequence numbering of tape blocks. Note that the value of this variable is a minor word, not a string value.

The $SPACE Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}SPACE}$

Register spacing enabled

Type: Logical, Read/Write

The $SPACE variable controls the output of register spacing. Register spacing is enabled when this variable is set $TRUE provided also that register spacing is supported in the post-processor (QUEST General Description / Output Format question #2.5 “SPACE code”). It is initialized to $TRUE by GENER. If it is set to $FALSE, then spacing will be disabled on subsequent output.

The $TAPACT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPACT}$

Tape production status

Type: Logical, Read/Write

The $TAPACT variable can be used to enable or disable output of MCD data to the tape files. By default, this variable is set $TRUE for normal MCD output. When set $FALSE, further output to the tape file or files is stopped, as is output of MCD data to the operator listing file and operation of the tape macro (if any). While disabled, commands such as INSERT, DISPLY and PPFUN/7 all have no effect. However, commands that modally or non-modally change the status of registers and codes continue to be processed and will be applied once tape production is re-enabled.

The tape production can also be set using the PPFUN/22 command.

The $TAPEB Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEB}$

Number of blocks on the tape

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPEB variable contains the number of NC tape blocks generated.

The $TAPEBS Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEBS}$

Number of blocks on the subprogram tape

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPEBS variable contains the number of tape blocks generated on the subprogram tape.

The $TAPEB2 Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEB2}$

Number of blocks on the second tape

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPEB2 variable contains the number of tape blocks generated on the second channel tape.

The $TAPECH Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPECH}$

Number of characters in the tape

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPECH variable contains the number of characters generated on the tape.

The $TAPECS Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPECS}$

Number of characters on subprogram tape

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPECS variable contains the number of characters generated on the subprogram tape.

The $TAPEC2 Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEC2}$

Number of characters on the second tape

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPEC2 variable contains the number of characters generated on the second channel tape.

The $TAPEDT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEDT}$

$TRUE if built-in tape processing closed

Type: Logical, Read-only

The $TAPEDT variable is set true when all built-in tape processing has been completed, thereby allowing tape files to be edited via macro processing.

The $TAPELN Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPELN}$

Tape length of current reel in FEET, METERS or KB

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPELN variable contains the length of tape for the current reel or program segment. The units used by $TAPELN depends on answers to questions in QUEST. If the output format is tape, $TAPELN is in feet or meters, depending on the primary output units. If the output format is DNC, $TAPELN is in kilobytes.

The $TAPELS Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPELS}$

Length of the subprogram tape in FEET, METER or KB

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPELS variable contains the length of the subprogram tape of the current or program segment.

The $TAPEL2 Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEL2}$

Length of second tape in FEET, METERS or KB

Type: Numeric, Read/Write

The $TAPEL2 variable contains the length of the second channel tape of the current or program segment. This second tape is generated in the case of a 4-axis lathe with program output.

The $TAPEN Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEN}$

Primary tape file name

Type: String, Read-only

The $TAPEN variable contains the primary tape file name as specified (or defaulted) on the GENER command line.

The $TAPEN2 Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPEN2}$

Secondary tape file name

Type: String, Read-only

The $TAPEN2 variable contains the secondary tape file name.

The $TAPENS Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TAPENS}$

Subprogram tape file name

Type: String, Read-only

The $TAPENS variable contains the current subprogram tape file name.

The $TPRINT Variable

$\textbf{{\char36}TPRINT}$

Last MCD comment string output

Type: String, Read-only

The $TPRINT variable holds the last MCD comment string output by the post-processor, either via a TPRINT command or by the redirection of a PPRINT command.