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Mechanism_Code

function'Mechanism_Code yields an integer code for the mechanism used for the result of function, and subprogram'Mechanism_Code (n) yields the mechanism used for formal parameter number n (a static integer value with 1 meaning the first parameter) of subprogram. The code returned is:

1
by copy (value)
2
by reference
3
by descriptor (default descriptor class)
4
by descriptor (UBS: unaligned bit string)
5
by descriptor (UBSB: aligned bit string with arbitrary bounds)
6
by descriptor (UBA: unaligned bit array)
7
by descriptor (S: string, also scalar access type parameter)
8
by descriptor (SB: string with arbitrary bounds)
9
by descriptor (A: contiguous array)
10
by descriptor (NCA: non-contiguous array)

Values from 3 through 10 are only relevant to Digital OpenVMS implementations.