To set the stage: I'm old. I forget stuff. My auto-tool changer is me.

To help me remember, I've been mucking about in MTC.SBP to display status information and I'm finding the PRINT command to be pretty, uh.... "quirky".

Setup:
Using VCarve Pro with my ShopBot Desktop

In ShopBot_TC_inch.pp, at TOOLCHANGE, I pass the tool name via:

"&ToolName = [TOOLNAME]
"&TOOL = [T]

In MTC.SBP, at MANUAL_CHANGE, I display it in the tool change dialog:

&msgtext = "Is &ToolName (Tool # &Tool) in spindle?"
MSGBOX(&msgtext, YesNoCancel, Change Bit?)

When I create a toolpath with that uses my

4-C: V-Bit 60 1/4"

the dialog box appears correctly with:

Is 4-C: V-Bit 60 1/4" (Tool # 1) in spindle?

If I get fancy and use the PRINT command so I can keep a log of what tools I've been using, after the MSGBOX I add:

PRINT " Tool #", &Tool

and it shows up just fine. If I take the next leap and make it:

PRINT " Tool #", &Tool
PRINT " Tool Name", &ToolName

the tool number displays and I get an error dialog informing me that:

Undefined variable:
C: V[&ToolName;O]

After several lengthy (and loud) "discussions" with my computer regarding this behavior, I have come to a place where I am guessing that the PRINT command is parsing and interpreting the variable &ToolName, and getting frustrated that I'm trying to subtract an unknown variable "C: V" from 4 (and, I'm guessing, that subtracting "bit" from "V" will be the next error). I can change all of my tool name to be very simple and not include anything that might upset the PRINT command interpreting the line (like calling it "4C_VBit_60" or something), but I fear I may run into more issues down the line. Is there any way to pass a string to the PRINT command and have it just accept it as a string without parsing it?

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.
Dave "Glad My Head Is Screwed On Or I'd Forget It Someplace" Colburn