Rewritten September 2018

Like Dot Variables, Dot Functions are so named because they begin with a period (dot). There is no particular significance to the dot, other than to minimize conflicts with existing variables or functions when adding new system functions to A-Shell BASIC. For example, when the .EXTENT() function was added, the dot prefix was chosen to avoid potential conflict with existing arrays or user-defined functions named EXTENT(). Or in the case of the .INSTRR() function, the dot prefix was chosen to create more separation with the similarly named INSTR() function.

Dot functions may fall into various categories, per the links below:

•   Multi-level List MLIST

•   Special ORDMAP Functions

•   .ARGTYP and .ARGSIZ

•   .EXTERN(expr)

•   .EXTENT

•   .INSTRR

•   .LINENO, .PAGENO

•   .OFFSET

•   .OFFSIZ$

•   Implicit Function Return Value Capture

•   .FSTAT, .RECNO, RECSIZ

See Also

•   Dot Variables