(gasp.info)Alternate

Alternate macro syntax
======================

   If you specify `-a' or `--alternate' on the GASP command line, the
preprocessor uses somewhat different syntax.  This syntax is
reminiscent of the syntax of Phar Lap macro assembler, but it is *not*
meant to be a full emulation of Phar Lap or similar assemblers.  In
particular, GASP does not support directives such as `DB' and `IRP',
even in alternate syntax mode.

   In particular, `-a' (or `--alternate') elicits these differences:

*Preprocessor directives*
     You can use GASP preprocessor directives without a leading `.'
     dot.  For example, you can write `SDATA' with the same effect as
     `.SDATA'.

*LOCAL*
     One additional directive, `LOCAL', is available.  Note: Defining
     your own directives, for an explanation of how to use
     `LOCAL'.

*String delimiters*
     You can write strings delimited in these other ways besides
     `"STRING"':

    `'STRING''
          You can delimit strings with single-quote charaters.

    `<STRING>'
          You can delimit strings with matching angle brackets.

*single-character string escape*
     To include any single character literally in a string (even if the
     character would otherwise have some special meaning), you can
     prefix the character with `!' (an exclamation mark).  For example,
     you can write `<4.3 !> 5.4!!>' to get the literal text `4.3 >
     5.4!'.

*Expression results as strings*
     You can write `%EXPR' to evaluate the expression EXPR and use the
     result as a string.