RE: converting string to a numeric

["Joe Pluta" <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Buck Calabro
> 
> People really are going to want to do the same with /free,
> and for some reason refuse, absolutely refuse to switch between /free
> and /end-free within the same block of code.  Maybe some of those
> folks can chip in with reasons why they won't do that.  We might be
> able to get a DCR out of it...

I'm not going to bother with the MOVE argument; I'm reasonably sure
everybody knows my stance on the issue <grin>.  But I'll weigh in (once)
on this issue: we don't like /free and /end-free because they aren't
needed.  By simply saying that a blank in position 6 makes the spec a
free-form calculation, we wouldn't have an issue.  But the compiler team
decided it would be better for us if we had to code the bracketing
statements.  Heck if I know why.

Joe