Using the FOR statement, here is the same program:

   100 FOR L = 1 TO 10
   110 PRINT L
   120 NEXT L
   130 END

As you can see, the program is shorter and easier to understand using the FOR statement.

When the FOR statement is executed, several operations take place. The <start> value is placed in the <variable> being used in the counter. In the example above, a I is placed in L.

When the NEXT statement is reached, the <increment> value is added to the <variable>. If a STEP was not included, the <increment> is set to + 1. The first time the program above hits line 120, 1 is added to L, so the new value of L is 2.

Now the value in the <variable> is compared to the <limit>. If the <limit> has not been reached yet, the program GOes TO the line after the original FOR statement. In this case, the value of 2 in L is less than the limit of 10, so it GOes TO line 110.

Eventually, the value of <limit> is exceeded by the <variable>. At that time, the loop is concluded and the program continues with the line following the NEXT statement. In our example, the value of L reaches 11, which exceeds the limit of 10, and the program goes on with line 130.

When the value of <increment> is positive, the <variable> must exceed the <limit>, and when it is negative it must become less than the <limit>.

EXAMPLES of FOR...TO...STEP...Statement:

   100 FOR L = 100 TO 0 STEP -1
   100 FOR L = PI TO 6* {pi} STEP .01
   100 FOR AA = 3 TO 3