2.26. SAY


>>-SAY--+------------+--;--------------------------------------><
        +-expression-+

SAY writes a line to the default output stream, which displays it to the user. However, the output destination can depend on the implementation. See Chapter 14, Input and Output Streams for a discussion of Rexx input and output. The string value of the expression result is written to the default character output stream. The resulting string can be of any length. If you omit expression, the null string is written.

The SAY instruction is a shorter form of the following instruction:


>>-CALL LINEOUT,--+------------+--;----------------------------><
                  +-expression-+

except that:

SAY does not affect the special variable RESULT.
If you use SAY and omit expression, a null string is used.
CALL LINEOUT can raise NOTREADY; SAY will not.

See Section 7.4.40, “LINEOUT (Line Output)” for details of the LINEOUT function.

Example 2.40. Instructions - SAY


data=100
Say data "divided by 4 =>" data/4
/* Displays: "100 divided by 4 => 25"  */

Notes:

Data from the SAY instruction is sent to the default output stream (.OUTPUT). However, the standard rules for redirecting output apply to the SAY output.
The SAY instruction does not format data; the operating system and the hardware handle line wrapping. However, formatting is accomplished, the output data remains a single logical line.