[open-cobol-list] Re: Question About Functions

[Roger While]

In so far that a specific function allows it, arithmetic and boolean 
expressions
are legal.

In fact you also can nest functions eg. from 2002 standard
syntax rules :

-- quote --
If a function's definition permits arguments and a left parenthesis 
immediately follows function-prototypename-
1 or intrinsic-function-name-1, the left parenthesis is always treated as 
the left parenthesis of that
function's arguments.
NOTE For a function that may be referenced either with or without 
arguments, such as the RANDOM function, careful
coding is necessary to ensure correct interpretation. For example, in the 
following:
FUNCTION MAX (FUNCTION RANDOM (A) B)
'A' is treated as an argument to the RANDOM function. If 'A' is instead 
meant to be a second argument to the MAX
function, different coding is necessary - either:
FUNCTION MAX ( (FUNCTION RANDOM) (A) B)
or
FUNCTION MAX (FUNCTION RANDOM () A B)
or
FUNCTION MAX (FUNCTION RANDOM A B).
-- end quote --

Roger