$GLOBAL()

Use the $GLOBAL() function to allocate global variables that contain strings longer than 80 characters.

The $GLOBAL() function has this syntax.

result = $GLOBAL(ALLOC,&name,length)

The $GLOBAL() function takes these arguments.

result	Null string if the operation was successful. Otherwise, error text is returned.
&name	Name of a global variable to be allocated. This variable must not have been previously used in any manner. If the name is coded directly in the function, it must be enclosed in single or double quotes. The name may also be placed in another variable and that variable name specified as the argument.
length	Number of bytes to be reserved for data. Future assignments of data strings may take any length up to this value.

Strings stored in global (&) variables are normally limited to 80 characters.
Due to the compiled nature of the implementation of REXX by CA, variables are allocated storage before IMOD execution begins. When an IMOD that contains any reference to a global variable starts to execute, the variable is pre-allocated before the first REXX instruction is executed. This is true even if the reference is not executed. Therefore, you may not code an IMOD that calls $GLOBAL() to allocate a global variable and then attempts to use the variable. What you must do instead is to execute the $GLOBAL() function and then call another IMOD to use the variable.

The $GLOBAL() function produces these return codes:

101 - 103

ARG n MISSING OR INVALID

Example

result = $global('alloc','&bigvar',1000)
 vname = '&bigvar'
result = &global('alloc',vname,500)