Alphanumeric Functions

An alphanumeric function can be specified anywhere in the general formats that an identifier is permitted and where the rules associated with the general formats do not specifically prohibit reference to functions, except as follows:

• As a receiving operand of any statement

• Where the rules associated with the general formats require the data item being referenced to have particular characteristics (such as class and category, usage, size, and permissible values) and the evaluation of the function according to its definition and the particular arguments specified would not have these characteristics.

A reference modification for an alphanumeric function is allowed. If reference modification is specified for a function, the evaluation of the reference modification takes place immediately after the evaluation of the function.

An alphanumeric function can be referenced as an argument for a function which allows an alphanumeric argument.

Numeric Functions

A numeric function can be used only where an arithmetic expression can be specified.

A numeric function can be referenced as an argument for a function which allows a numeric argument.

A numeric function cannot be used where an integer operand is required, even if the particular reference will yield an integer value. The INTEGER or INTEGER-PART functions can be used to force the type of a numeric argument to be an integer.

Integer Functions

An integer function can be used only where an arithmetic expression can be specified.

An integer function can be referenced as an argument for a function which allows an integer argument.

Special Usage Notes:

Identifier-2 of the CALL statement must not be a function-identifier.

The COPY statement will allow function-identifiers of all types in the REPLACING phrase.

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