### 8.4.1.4 X Edit Descriptor

The X edit descriptor is a positional specifier. It takes the following form:

    nX

The term n specifies how many character positions are passed over. The value of n must be greater than or equal to one.

Input Processing

In an input statement, the X edit descriptor specifies that the next n characters in the input record are skipped.

Output Processing

In an output statement, the X edit descriptor tabs right n spaces. It does not write over anything already written on the same record; for example (the symbol ^ represents a nonprinting space character):

         WRITE (6,90) NPAGE

    90   FORMAT ('1PAGE NUMBER^ ',I2,16X,'GRAPHIC^ ANALYSIS,^ CONT.')

The preceding WRITE statement prints a record similar to the following output:

    PAGE NUMBER nn                GRAPHIC ANALYSIS, CONT.

The term nn is the current value of the variable NPAGE. The numeral 1 in the first character constant is not printed; it is used to advance the printer paper to the top of a new page.

A trailing X format on a record does not write any characters unless it is followed by another field that does; for example:

         WRITE (6,99) K

    99   FORMAT ('^ K=',I6,5X)

The preceding example writes a record of only 9 characters. To cause n trailing blanks to be written at the end of a record, use the format `n('^')` .

For More information:

For details on printer carriage control, see Section 8.6.

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