# paint command

The paint command displays items to
the screen or printer in Update processor format.

## Syntax

```
paint file.reference {item.list*}{attr.list}{(options}
```

## Parameter(s)

| file.reference | Specifies the file name. | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| item.list* | If no item.list* is specified, or if an * is used, all programs in the file display. | |
| attr.list | Indicates the names of the attributes that are affected by the command. Specific attributes can display, without using the default macro defined on the file’s D-pointer. This option functions in the same way as the outlist in a list or sort command. | |
| options | e | Disables line number display. |
| f | Outputs a form feed between each item. | |
| h | Disables header with page number. | |
| i | Includes the display of item-IDs. | |
| n | Disables pause at bottom of page. | |
| p | Outputs to the printer. | |
| r | Raw option. When using this option, nondisplayable characters display as periods, and the escape character as a [. This option also causes the Update processor not to trim trailing attributes. | |
| z | Inhibits the item header (line that includes the item size). | |
The paint command behaves differently
than an AQL [list command](https://d3codex.com/access/list-command/), in that controlling/dependent
attributes are displayed as *columns* and *rows*. Also,
attribute headers are boldfaced.

## Example(s)

Obtains the default list of attributes
from the *macro* attribute in the *entity* file-defining
item located in the dictionary of the entity file.

```
paint entity
```
Explicitly requests the three fields shown, regardless
of the *default* macro.

```
paint invoices customer.name invoice.date invoice.amount
```
Like the first example, but uses the i option to include the item-ID of each item.

```
paint entity (i
```

## See also

- [account-maint command](https://d3codex.com/tcl/account-maint-command/)
- [Default output specifications](https://d3codex.com/access/default-output-specifications/)
- [Dictionaries](https://d3codex.com/definitions/dictionaries/)
- [edit command (BASIC/FlashBASIC Debugger)](https://d3codex.com/flashbasicdebugger/edit-command-basic-flashbasic-debugger/)
- [Update processor overview](https://d3codex.com/updateprocessor/update-processor-overview/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/tcl/paint-command/ - part of the D3Codex reference.