IBM SC34-5764-01 EXTERNALS, FIND, FORM, FORMAT

returns the REXX error message associated with error number n. The nmust be in the range 0–99, and
any other value is an error. Returns the null string if nis in the allowed range but is not a defined REXX
error number. See AppendixA, “Error Numbers and Messages,” on page 379 for a complete description of
error numbers and messages.
Here are some examples:
ERRORTEXT(16) -> 'Label not found'
ERRORTEXT(60) -> ''
EXTERNALS
 EXTERNALS() 
always returns a 0. For example:
EXTERNALS() -> 0 /* Always */
The EXTERNALS function returns the number of elements in the terminal input buffer (system external
event queue). In CICS, there is no equivalent buffer. Therefore, in the CICS implementation of REXX, the
EXTERNALS function always returns a 0.
FIND
WORDPOS is the preferred built-in function for this type of word search. See page 198 for a complete
description.
 FIND(string,phrase) 
returns the word number of the first word of phrase found in string or returns 0if phrase is not found or if
there are no words in phrase. The phrase is a sequence of blank-delimited words. Multiple blanks between
words in phrase or string are treated as a single blank for the comparison.
Here are some examples:
FIND('now is the time','is the time') -> 2
FIND('now is the time','is the') -> 2
FIND('now is the time','is time ') -> 0
FORM
 FORM() 
returns the current setting of NUMERIC FORM. See the NUMERIC instruction on page “Purpose” on page
150 for more information.
Here is an example:
FORM() -> 'SCIENTIFIC' /* by default */
FORMAT
 FORMAT(number
,
before , expnt
after
) 
expnt:
,
expp ,
expt

returns number, rounded and formatted.
Functions
Chapter 14. Functions 185