function/VAL                                                     function/VAL
 
 NAME
     VAL -- Converts string into a number
 
 ABBREVIATION
     None

 SYNOPSIS
     VAL(<string>)

 FUNCTION
     This function converts the string (<string>) into a number, and is 
     essentially the inverse operation from STR$. The string is examined from
     the left-most character to the right, for as many characters as are in 
     recognizable number format. If the computer finds illegal characters, 
     only the portion of the string up to that point is converted.
 
 INPUTS
     <string> - string containing a number
 
 RESULT
     Number corresponding the number given in string (numeric).

 EXAMPLES
     10 X=VAL("123.456")
         X=123.456
 
     10 X=VAL("3E03")
         X=3000
 
     10 X=VAL("12A13B")
         X=12
 
     10 X=VAL("RIUO17*")
 
         X=0
 
     10 X=VAL("-1.23.23.23")
         X=-1.23
 
 NOTES
     None
 
 BUGS
     None
 
 SEE ALSO
     DEC()
     HEX$()
     STR$()