System Feature
	constant

Purpose
	Explicit specification of constant of a data type

Syntax
	Constants are declared and used within
	expressions and throughout a script.
	There is no explicit declaration.

Description
	The following types of constants are supported.

	real	Number, optionally containing a fraction.
	int	Number not containing a fraction.
	str	String of characters.
	bool	Boolean or a switch value, which can be
		either true or false.

	int constants contain a an optional
	+ or - sign followed by digits 0 through 9.

	real constants contain an optional + or - sign
	followed by digits 0 through 9, followed
	by decimal point (.), optionally followed
	by digits 0 through 9.

	str constants is any text enclosed in double
	quotes. The text may include escape characters.
	(See escape).

	bool constants are limited to two values - true and false.

	when it is unclear what the type of the constant
	is, the constant is assumed to be of type of
	lowest operability. See examples below.

	The following shows the operability order.
	
	real		<----------- Highest operability
	int
	str
	bool		<----------- Lowest operability

	The lowest operability is assumed since they
	can always be automatically converted to higher
	operability types. See help pages on conversion
	and make.
		
Restrictions
	Escape characters are allowed only within
	str constants and str variables.

Valid Examples
	var int i
	...
	if ( $i < 9 )
		...
	
	9 is assumed to be an int constant.

	var real x
	...
	if ( $x < 9 )
		...

	9 is assumed to be an int constant, but
	is converted to real during comparison,
	since variable x if of type real.

Invalid Examples
	str customer_location
	...
	if ( $s == Europe )
		...

	Will produce error. Double quotes are needed.
	The following will work.

	if ( $s == "Europe" )
		...
See Also
conversion
make
var
escape