VLENGTHX 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.

• LENGTH examines the variable at run-time, trimming trailing blanks to determine the length. VLENGTHX, however, evaluates the argument to determine the variable name. The function then returns the compile-time size that is associated with that variable name.

• LENGTHC accepts an expression as the argument, but it returns the length of the value of the expression, not the length of the variable that has a name equal to the value of the expression.

• VLENGTH returns the length of the specified variable. VLENGTHX returns the length for the value of the specified expression.

• VLENGTH does not accept an expression as an argument. VLENGTHX 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, informat, format, among others. For a list, see the "Variable Information" functions in Functions and CALL Routines by Category .

length x1 $8;
x1='abc';
array vx(3) $6 vx1 vx2 vx3
   ('x1' 'x2' 'x3');
y=vlengthx(vx(1));
z=length(x1);
put y=;
put z=;

y=8
z=3

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