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[pradeepg]

Hello List,

Is there any function available in REXX to unstring the data-field into different variable like COBOL UNSTRING function.

My requirement is to unstring a dataset name into different variables to get the HLQ, MLQ. etc....

Ex: Dataset name is: ABC.XYX.DEF.IJK
I want them in 4 different variables delimited by . (dot).

HLQ should have ABC
MLQ should have XYZ etc.....

Thanks in advance.

- Pradeep

[Manas Biswal]

For your requirement, you can use the "POS" function followed by the "SUBSTR" function. Check the rexx reference manual for details on how to use the functions. Following is the link -



http://publibz.boulder.ibm.com/cgi-bin/bookmgr_OS390/BOOKS/IKJ3A300/CCONTENTS?DT=19960716152726

Regards,
Manas
_________________
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[superk]

Wouldn't a PARSE command have worked?

dataset_name = 'ABC.XYX.DEF.IJK'
PARSE VAR dataset_name HLQ '.' MLQ '.' THIRDLQ '.' FOURTHLQ .

[pradeepg]

Thanks superk. You gave me very simple solution. Thats what I was looking for.

- Pradeep

[semigeezer]

Parse is very powerful, and faster than most of the string builtins. If you learn to use it well, you will probably never need to use substr, although you run the risk of writing code that is slightly more difficlut for others to understand.

For example, you can initialize many variables at once:

Parse value 'one two' with v_one V_2 empty_1 empty_2

or you can do substringing

Parse vara leftFiveChars 6 restOfString

or swap variables (assuming no spaces)

Parse val1 val2 with val2 val1

You can even increment a stem variable index and assign the value to the new tail in one line:

parse value (line.0+1) 'new stuff' with 1 x line.x 1 line.0 .
(that last one looks silly, but it can be useful in practice)

Parse is the most misunderstood Rexx feature, but also one of the most powerful.