# messages file

The messages file contains messages
used by system processes to convey information to the user.

## Description

The item-IDs are the message
numbers referenced by system processors.

| Item | Description |
| --- | --- |
| bnf | Used by the BASIC processor. |
| logon | Used by the Logon processor. |
| legend | Used by the Output processor. |
| newmd | Used to create new accounts. |
| seq | Used by the ms Correlative processor. |
| md | Used to change the master dictionary prompt. |

## Error message operands

The items in the messages file use these codes to format messages in the
output buffer before displaying them:

| ! | Any line of an error message that begins with an ! (exclamation point) is ignored by the message handler. This feature allows storing comments within the message. |
| --- | --- |
| a{(n)} | Inserts into the output buffer the next parameter from the list of parameters passed with the message. The parameter is left justified in a field of n spaces. |
| b | Rings the terminal bell. |
| c | Clears the terminal screen. |
| d | Places the current date in the output buffer. |
| e | Inserts the message number (item-ID in the messages file) into the output buffer. |
| hstring | Places a literal string in the output buffer, with no carriage return or line feed. |
| l{(n)} | Prints the output buffer, followed by n-1 blank lines. |
| r{(n)} | Inserts the next parameter right-justified in a field of n spaces. |
| s(n) | Inserts n spaces in the output buffer. |
| t | Places the current time in the output buffer. |
| x | Skips a parameter in the parameter list. |

## Example(s)

The following example:

```
1202
001 HNeeds to start printers.
```
outputs:

```
Needs to start printers.
```
The following example:

```
781
001 H’
002 A
003 H’ added
```
outputs:

```
bob added
```
where `bob` is passed into the error message
handler by the process that triggers this message.

The following
example:

```
B156
E Line
A
H illegal to ENTER a subroutine.
```
outputs:

```
[B156] Line ( number ) illegal to ENTER a subroutine.
```
where `( number )` is the actual
program line number where the error occurred. Additional internal
comments are not output.

## See also

- [abort statement](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/abort-statement/)
- [bformat command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/bformat-command/)
- [errmsg pointer](https://d3codex.com/systemfiles/errmsg-pointer/)
- [error statement](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/error-statement/)
- [Logon](https://d3codex.com/definitions/logon/)
- [print-err command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/print-err-command/)
- [print-error command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/print-error-command/)
- [PROC buffers](https://d3codex.com/proc/proc-buffers/)
- [seq](https://d3codex.com/definitions/seq/)
- [stop statement](https://d3codex.com/pickbasic-flashbasic/stop-statement/)
- [u61a2 user exit](https://d3codex.com/proc/u61a2-user-exit/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/systemfiles/messages-file/ - part of the D3Codex reference.