f$GetParameterFormat (f$LiesParameterFormat)

This function reads the value of a parameter and writes the result onto another parameter of string type. If the parameter to be read is not of string type, a data type conversion is carried out independently. Numbers are presented using the parameter's formatting instructions or using the regional settings if there is no formatting instruction present. If the parameter does not exist, the interpretation does not end and simply an appropriate status is returned.

The difference to a direct parameter allocation is that you do not have to worry about the source parameter data type and that there is no syntax problem if a parameter is not present.

This function is particularly suited to accessing a parameter indirectly, e.g. if a parameter name is read out of an Excel table, or in a function that processes all parameters in a parameter group.