Some special features are provided by LANSA to enhance the display of HELP text. These consist of special characters that can be used as follows:

Special Character

Effect

%(percentage)

Display in high intensity

{(left parenthesis)

Underline

@(at)

Display in reverse image

~(accent)

Blink

}(right parenthesis)

Revert to normal display mode

(backslash)

Revert to normal display mode

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Some examples of using these special characters are:
HELP Text Input Using SEU       Displayed By LANSA As
 
the%item number\must            the item number#$ must
the{item number}must            the $@item number@$ must
%{VALIDATION RULES\             $%VALIDATION RULES%$
%{VALIDATION RULES}             $%VALIDATION RULES%$
{%VALIDATION RULES}             $%VALIDATION RULES%$
Where multiple enhancement characters are used together with no spaces between them they are "consolidated" into one enhancement character. For instance "%{@" (high intensity, underline, blink) would be consolidated into one enhancement character that is used in the same position as the "@". The "%" and "{" are replaced by blanks. This explains why in the last example above the underline ("{") attribute starts under the "V" in "VALIDATION" and not one character before it.
Note that a display enhancement cannot be continued over multiple lines. Display enhancements are considered to end at the end of the text line, even if a "revert to normal display" character ("\" or "}") is not used:
contact the{IT department or 
your data entry supervisor for more information.
would be displayed as:
contact the $@IT department or__________________@$
your data entry supervisor for more information.