Relative values for Model 204 numeric parameters

Prior to the introduction of this feature, Model 204 numeric parameter settings are absolute values only, optionally qualified by a leading minus sign (-) to indicate a negative value. For example, you might set the value of the LSTBL user table to 50,000 bytes:

UTABLE LSTBL 50000

Subsequently, you find that you need to increase the initial setting to 60,000. You can issue UTABLE LSTBL 60000, or as of version 7.5 of Model 204 or version 8.0 of the Sirius Mods, you can issue:

UTABLE LSTBL 10000+

The plus sign after the setting value above indicates not a new parameter value but a change to the current value: that is, a relative increase of 10,000. An alternative equivalent, which increases the current value by 20%, is:

UTABLE LSTBL 120%

To decrease the initial setting by 10,000, you can issue either of these relative settings, both of which set LSTBL to 40000:

UTABLE LSTBL 10000- UTABLE LSTBL 80%

No space between the numeric value and the relative value indicator is allowed.

These three indicators — a following plus sign (+), minus sign (-), or percent sign (%) — are the only relative setting indicators. Though they are likely to most commonly used for server table sizes, they are available for all Model 204 numeric parameters; for example:

R SCRNSTBL 4000+

The option to use the relative setting of the parameter may be particularly useful in a dynamic environment where a parameter setting may be subject to change from a variety of code sources and conditions. In this case, explicit settings might become difficult to maintain.