Paul Gilmartin wrote: >(In other languages I pine for Rexx, which has an explicit predicate, SYMBOL() >to test for non-definition of a variable, rather than presuming some specific value to indicate non-definition. PL/I? COBOL?)
COBOL has that sort of that thing, not exactly what you intend, but near ( or is it far? :-D ) enough. Look up the term 'Figurative constants'. Even the word NULL is used, but that is for 'pointers'. (Not to be confused with the term 'null-terminated strings' as used by C) COBOL has functions which you can use to 'inspect' variables, but AFAIK, nothing that tells you that variable is not defined (and avoiding runtime errors due to undeclared/emtpy variables) or empty. I use SYMBOL() a lot where my programs are used by other people. In ISPF panels that keyword NONBLANK for command 'ver' is very handy where you want absolutely be sure your variables are not empty. One can wish and dream... ;-) I wonder if Lizette found a solution? Groete / Greetings Elardus Engelbrecht ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
