HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Function-Identifiers
A function-identifier is a syntactically correct combination of character
strings and separators that references a function.
Syntax
The format of a function-identifier is:
FUNCTION function-name-1 [({parameter-1} ... )] [reference-modifier]
Parameters.
function-name-1 Any of the COBOL functions listed in Chapter 10 ,
"COBOL Functions."
parameter-1 Must be an identifier, a literal, or an arithmetic
expression. Specific rules for parameters are listed
with each function in Chapter 10 .
reference-modifier A reference-modifier can only be used with
alphanumeric functions. See "Reference Modification"
later in this chapter for more information.
Description.
You can use a function-identifier anywhere an identifier of the same
class and category is allowed except where it is specifically disallowed.
However, a function-identifier cannot be used as a receiving item in any
statement. An integer or numeric function identifier can only be used in
an arithmetic expression.
Evaluation of Function Parameters.
When you call a function, its parameters are evaluated individually from
left to right. A parameter can itself be a function-identifier or an
expression containing a function-identifier.
For more information on the COBOL functions, see Chapter 10 , "COBOL
Functions."[REV END]