PACK

The PACK instruction appends one or more variables from a list into a single destination character variable. The instruction uses the following format:

Where:

label

Optional. A Program Execution Label.

dest

Required. A previously defined Character String Variable or National Character String Variable that receives the appended source variables.

sep

Required. A comma or one of the following prepositions: BY, TO, OF, FROM, USING, WITH, IN, or INTO.

source

Required. A previously defined Character String Variable, National Character String Variable, Numeric Variable, a list of string and/or numeric variables, String Expression, or a VARLIST of string and/or numeric variables that are appended together and placed in the {dest} operand.

Flags Affected: EOS

Note the following:

1. The transfer process is exactly the same as:

 

	CLEAR	{dest}
	APPEND	{source item 1} TO {dest}
	APPEND	{source item 2} TO {dest}
	APPEND	{source item n} TO {dest}
	RESET	{dest}

 

2. Only the {dest} operand changes. All other operands remain unchanged.

3. The criteria for transferring the data from {source} is as follows:

    If a character string variable, the Logical String is transferred.

    If a Null String variable, it is bypassed.

    If a numeric variable, the Physical String is transferred.

    If a string literal, the entire literal contents are transferred.

    If an integer variable, the entire variable is transferred in reverse byte order sequence, i.e., the least significant byte is moved to the next available byte in the {dest} field.

    If an ARRAY variable without a specific array element is used, all array elements are transferred. Otherwise, only the specific array element is transferred.

4. The Form Pointer of {dest} is set to one and the Length Pointer is set to the last character transferred. If all the list items are null, {dest} is set to null.

5. If {dest} is too small, the remaining characters or list items are ignored and the EOS Condition Flag is set.

6. {source} may be continued on additional lines by terminating each continued line with a colon (:) in place of the comma between the last list item on the continued line and the first list item on the new line.

Example 1:

No Condition Flags are set (all FALSE).

Example 2:

The EOS Condition Flag is set since RECVING was too small.

See Also: UNPACK, PACKKEY, Character String Instructions