# File format.rb, line 1330
    def readFormat (output) 
      @var_values = Hash.new
      output_line = 0
      while (output_line < output.length)
        @pictures.each_index do |i|
          repeat = true
          while (repeat)
            found_match = setLine( @pictures[i], output[output_line] )
            repeat = false #default to stopping
            if (found_match)
              output_line += 1
            end
            #we may need to repeat if it's a ~~ line
            if (@pictures[i].repeat() && found_match)
              repeat = true
            end
          end #while
        end
        if block_given?
          yield @var_values
          @var_values = Hash.new
        else
          return @var_values
        end
      end
    end