BBC BASIC Programmers' Reference

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=====Using() Format Extended Functionality=====

LBB supports extended functionality for the using() function as is common in many other BASIC programming languages:

| # | The hash character is used to represent a digit position. |
| + | A plus sign at the beginning or end of the template string causes the sign (+ or -) to be printed before or after the number. |
| - | A minus sign at the end of the template string causes negative numbers to be printed with a trailing minus sign. |
| ** | A double asterisk at the beginning of the template string causes leading spaces to be filled with asterisks. This occupies two digit positions. |
| $$ | A double dollar (or £) sign at the beginning of the template string causes a dollar (or £) sign to be printed to the immediate left of the number. |
| **$ | A **$ (or **£) at the beginning of the template string combines the effects of the previous two formats. |
| , | A comma to the left of the decimal point in the template string causes a comma to be printed between every third digit before the decimal point. |
| ˆˆˆˆ | Four carets may be placed after the digit characters to specify exponential format.|

For example:

<code lb>
  print using("**$###,###.##-", -1234.567)
</code>

Outputs:

<code>
   ****$1,234.57-
</code>