CHARIN.HELPREXX

CHARIN function

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| CHARIN([stream], [start], [length])                                         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Returns a string of up to length characters from from the specified stream,
which defaults to the console or stack, starting at character position start,
which defaults to 1.  If length is 0, the stream is positioned to the start
position, but no data is read and a null string is returned.  If the stream
cannot be positioned and start is specified, an error occurs.  If there are
less than length characters available, and it is impossible for more to become
available, the NOTREADY condition is raised.

Examples:

    CHARIN(mine,1,3) == 'MFC'    /* perhaps */
    CHARIN(mine,1,0) == ''       /* now at start */
    CHARIN(mine)     == 'M'      /* after last */
    CHARIN(mine,,2)  == 'FC'     /* after last */
    CHARIN()         == 'a'      /* perhaps */
    CHARIN(,,5)      == 'abc d'  /* perhaps */