Exercise - Writing an Exec with Built-In Functions

Write an exec that checks a data set member name for a length of 8 characters. If a member name is longer than 8 characters, the exec truncates it to 8 and sends the user a message indicating the shortened name. Use the LENGTH and the SUBSTR built-in functions as described in z/OS TSO/E REXX Reference.

ANSWER

Possible Solution

/**************************** REXX *********************************/
/* This exec tests the length of a name for a data set member. If  */
/* the name is longer than 8 characters, the exec truncates the    */
/* extra characters and sends the user a message indicating the    */
/* shortened member name.                                          */
/*******************************************************************/
SAY 'Please enter a member name.'
PULL membername

IF LENGTH(membername) > 8 THEN  /* Name is longer than 8 characters*/
  DO
    membername = SUBSTR(membername,1,8)   /* Shorten the name to   */
                                          /* the first 8 characters*/
    SAY 'The member name you entered was too long.'
    SAY  membername 'will be used.'
  END
ELSE NOP