Global Parameter Access Symbols Overview | Symbol List

Drafting Aids

This section covers the Global Parameter Access Symbols (GPAs) for Drafting Aids.

There are several terms associated with each GPA which define the way the symbol can be used.

ACCESS TYPE defines the READ/WRITE status of the GPA. GPAs contain data which is either object or number valued and which can be extracted (READ) for use in your program. Some symbols allow you to directly alter the data (WRITE) by assigning the properly valued data to the GPA.

DATA TYPE defines whether a particular GPA is object, number, or string valued. The data associated with a GPA, if object valued, must be treated like an object as it is assigned or extracted. If you READ an object valued GPA and assign the data to a variable, it must be declared as an ENTITY. Number valued GPAs, when assigned to a variable, do not need to be declared. String valued GPAs, when assigned to a variable, must be declared as a STRING. Refer to DATA TYPE for further information, also see Declarations.

RANGE defines the numerical value which can be used in place of the GPA symbol in your program. Some GPAs have multiple parameters (e.g., &ON or &OFF) which have numerical values which lie within their RANGE.

There are some considerations which apply to using certain GPAs:

&ASIZE and &STUBB may be set only if the dimension parameters are independent of the character size as follows:

&DPREL=&NO

If the proper parameters are not set when these GPAs are used, the GPA is ignored and has no effect.