Special formatting tags for the message table

<mv ></mv>
For use in the message explanation, <msgitem> tags, specifies that the text within the <mv></mv> tags are variables. The text within the tags will generally format in italics. See Message text (<msgtext>) and message variable (<mv>) tags for complete information about variables.
<!-- comment --> tags
The data placed between these tags is treated as a comment. Comment are not supported within a <msgtext> or <msgitem> section. Comments put in these sections will result in a syntax error and the HZSMSGEN REXX exec cannot generate the messages into a compilable assembler CSECT. You cannot place comments or blank lines inside the body of individual messages, between the <msg> and </msg> tags. This will cause unpredictable results. You should only place comments and blank lines:
  • Before the copyright statement for the message table (<lines id="ownername" props="copyright" > * copyright information * </lines>).
  • Between the copyright statement and the message list tag, <msglist>
  • Between the <msglist> tag and the message tag, <msg>
  • Between individual messages, which would be between the message end tag, </msg>, and the next message start tag, <msg>.
Comments must go on a separate line with no other data.

See Defining your own symbols for check messages for putting comments in an entity declaration.

<lines></lines>
The <lines> tag lets you control lines of text by keeping short lines of text from flowing together or by generating blank lines. You can use the <lines> tags to format text in the message text (<msgtext>) or explanation (<msgitem> tags) for any type of message. The <lines class="center"> tag lets you both control and center lines of text. Use <lines tags with the following considerations:
  • For exception messages, use <lines></lines> tags to define a new line before you reach the WTO limit of 71 characters. Make sure you include the message number in your count.
  • The <lines> or <lines class="center"> beginning tag generates a new line. Use <lines></lines> to create a blank line for messages in the message buffers. Blank lines are suppressed for WTOs, so in the WTO message text for an exception message <lines></lines> will just start a new line.
  • If you specify too long a line of text within the <lines> tag to fit on the line, the data wraps to a new line.
  • The end of a line is broken on a word boundary and causes the next word to begin a new line.
  • You can put variables (<mv> tag) and symbols within <lines tags.
  • You cannot use <p> tags within the <lines> markup.
<lines> example 1: The following example show a valid use of <lines> tags to keep a group of short lines from flowing together:
<lines>
Short lines of data
that format exactly as I type them
in the generated output.
</lines>
<lines> example 2: You cannot use <p></p> tags within the message text <msgtext> tags. If you need to start a new line, use <lines></lines> instead. For example, you might want to break a line in an exception message text before you reach the WTO limit of 71 characters.
<msgtext>
I need a new line, but I can't use a paragraph tag.
<lines></lines>
But I can get a new line with the lines tag.
</msgtext>
For a WTO message text, <lines></lines> tagging starts a new line:
I need a new line, but I can't use a paragraph tag.
But I can get a new line with the lines tag.
In the message buffer, <lines></lines> gives you a blank line:
I need a new line, but I can't use a paragraph tag.

But I can get a new line with the lines tag.
<lines class="center"> example: Use <lines class="center"> to center your lines of text:
<lines class="center">
Short lines of data
that format exactly as I type them
in the generated output
except centered
</lines>
You will get the following output:
       Short lines of data
that format exactly as I type them
     in the generated output
         except centered
<p></p>
A paragraph contains text in paragraph form. Use paragraph tags to format paragraph text as follows:
  • Paragraph tags are required to enclose the text in all <msgitem> tags, for any type of message.
  • You cannot use paragraph tags in message text <msgtext>. Instead, use <lines></lines> to create a blank line.
  • The <p> beginning tag starts a new line and data begins at the start of the next line.
  • If your text in a paragraph hits the end of the line boundary, the line splits on a word boundary. Leading and trailing blanks may be lost when the line is split. See How messages are formatted in the message buffer.
Example: The following example shows valid use of paragraph tags:
This is a line of text.                       
<p>Although the text flow of paragraph is the default behavior,         
more rigid rules are observed.                                          
</p>                                                                    
<p>                                                                    
Blank                                                                   
lines are suppressed.                                      
</p>
This example will format as follows:
 This is a line of text.  

Although the text flow of paragraph is the default behavior, more rigid
rules are observed.

Blank lines are suppressed.
Parent topic: Syntax of message input