VINFORMATX Function

Arguments

expression

specifies a character constant, variable, or expression that evaluates to a variable name.

Restriction:

The value of the specified expression cannot denote an array reference.

If the VINFORMATX function returns a value to a variable that has not yet been assigned a length, by default the variable is assigned a length of 200.

VINFORMATX returns the complete informat name, which includes the width and the period (for example, $CHAR20.).

• VINFORMAT returns the informat that is associated with the specified variable. VINFORMATX, however, evaluates the argument to determine the variable name. The function then returns the informat that is associated with that variable name.

• VINFORMAT does not accept an expression as an argument. VINFORMATX accepts expressions, but the value of the specified expression cannot denote an array reference.

• Related functions return the value of other variable attributes, such as the variable name, length, and type, among others. For a list, see the "Variable Information" functions in Functions and CALL Routines by Category .

informat x1 x2 x3 $char6.;
input x1 x2 x3;
array vx(3) $6 vx1 vx2 vx3
   ('x1' 'x2' 'x3');
y=vinformatx(vx(1));
put y=;

y=$CHAR6.

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