Special Symbols

The asterisk is one of the special symbols:

SPECTRA> $*$ = value

The symbol $*$ is not stored in the queue, instead SPECTRA types the value on the screen, e.g.:

SPECTRA> $*$ = integral(bpu1)
7085.2509

If the user has defined the name of one of the following keypad keys as a symbol, SPECTRA tries to execute the value of the symbol as a command, if the corresponding key has been pressed: PF1, PF2, PF3, PF4, KP_ENTER, KP_MINUS, KP_PERIOD, KP_COMMA, KP0, KP1, KP3, KP5, KP7 and KP9 ( i.e.: all keypad keys except those which are used in change to move the cursor). Examples:

SPECTRA> PF1 = next
SPECTRA> PF2 = back
SPECTRA> KP_ENTER = display

When a SCAN is added to the contents of the queue, the symbols current_name and current_slot which hold the name and the slot number of the new SCAN are defined.