Variable types
The type of a variable refers to the type of data represented by
the variable. STL uses three variable types:
- Integer variables can take
any positive integer value from 0 to 2147483647. When
a network is first initialized, the value of an integer variable is
0. Integer variables translate into counters in the scripting language.
Note: An integer variable's value will wrap if incremented beyond 2147483647 or decreased below 0. That is, if a variable has a value of 2147483647 and 1 is added to it, the result is 0. If a variable has a value of 2 and 3 is subtracted from it, the result is 2147483647.
- String variables can contain only characters. They must be from 0 to 32767 characters long. A character can be any 1-byte value. (A 1-byte value is X'00' to X'FF'.) Double-byte character set data must be enclosed in SO and SI characters and must be coded on the same record. For more information on DBCS, see Simulating DBCS terminals. When a network is first initialized, the value of a string variable is '' (the null string, which is represented by a pair of single or double quotation marks). String variables translate into save areas in the scripting language.
- Bit variables represent binary data items—that is, data items that can take one of two possible values. STL bit variables can have the value of ON or OFF. When a network is initialized, all bit variables have a value of OFF. Bit variables translate into switches in the scripting language.