# mc (mask character) processing code

The mc processing code invokes one of many available processing codes
 available for special processing on numeric and alphabetic strings of characters. Multiple
 mc conversions may be placed on the same attribute in an attribute-defining
 item, provided that each is delimited by a value mark.

| System Processors | Update |
| --- | --- |
| Code Type | Attribute Defining |
| Dictionary Attributes | Input Conversion |

## Syntax

```
mc{/}code
```

## Parameter(s)

| code | Strings of characters. |
| --- | --- |
| /a | Retrieves only the nonalphabetic characters from a given data value. |
| /an | Retrieves only the characters that are neither alphabetical nor numerical from a given data value. mc/na is a synonym for this command. |
| /n | Retrieves only the nonnumeric characters from a given data value. |
| a | Retrieves only the alphabetic characters from a given data value. |
| an | Retrieves only the alphabetic and numeric characters from a given data value. mcna is a synonym for this command. |
| dx | Converts all decimal numbers in a given value to their corresponding hexadecimal equivalent. |
| i | Inverts the characters in a given string of data. |
| l | Converts all characters in the given value to lowercase characters. |
| n | Retrieves only the numeric characters from a given data value. |
| p | Converts all nonprintable (control) characters in a given value to periods. Nonprintable characters are those between the hexadecimal values x’00’-x’1f’ and those between x’7f’-x’fb’. Note that the characters above x’7f’ display, but actually have different character meanings as their high order bit is lost. |
| s | Capitalizes the first letter in each sentence. |
| t | Capitalizes the first character after any nonalphabetic character in a given value. |
| u | Converts all characters in the given value to uppercase characters. |
| xd | Converts all hexadecimal numbers in a given value to their corresponding decimal equivalent. |

## Example(s)

Outputs `1200` (`1200` followed by two spaces).

```
string = "1200 Main Street"
crt oconv(string,"mc/a")
```
This outputs as shown below, all alphanumeric characters
having been stripped:

```
string = "1200 Main Street..."
crt oconv(string,"mc/an")
```
Outputs `Main Street` (note the space before `Main`).

```
...
string = "1200 Main Street"
crt oconv(string,"mc/n")
```
Outputs `MainStreet` (the numbers and embedded
spaces are stripped).

```
string = "1200 Main Street"
crt oconv(string,"mca")
```
Outputs `1200MainStreet` (the spaces and
the periods are stripped).

```
string = "1200 Main Street..."
crt oconv(string,"mcan")
```
Displays `internal = 16` and `external = A`.

```
number = 10
crt "internal = " : iconv(number,"mcdx")
crt "external = " : oconv(number,"mcdx")
```
This returns the string `"fedcba"`.

```
oconv("abcdef","mci")
```
Displays `upper and lower` in all lowercase.

```
string = "UPPER And lower"
crt oconv(string,"mcl")
```
Outputs `1200` (the letters and embedded
spaces are stripped).

```
string = "1200 Main Street"
crt oconv(string,"mcn")
```
Displays `This is. A demo. Of the. MCS code`.

```
string = "this is. a demo. of the. MCS code"
crt oconv(string,"mcs")
```
Displays `This Is. A Demo. Of The. Mct Code`.

```
string = "this is. a demo. of the. MCT code"
crt oconv(string,"mct")
```
Displays `UPPER AND LOWER` in all uppercase.

```
string = "UPPER And lower"
crt oconv(string,"mcu")
```
Outputs `6898`.

```
crt oconv("1AF2","mcxd")
```

## See also

- [Processing codes (Update processor)](https://d3codex.com/updateprocessor/processing-codes-update-processor/)
- [iconv() function](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/iconv-function/)
- [oconv() function](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/oconv-function/)
- [output-conversion](https://d3codex.com/attributedefiningitem/output-conversion/)
- [Processing codes overview](https://d3codex.com/processingcodes/processing-codes-overview/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/processingcodes/mc-mask-character-processing-code/ - part of the D3Codex reference.