Jay, unable to resist the challenge, "purtifies"-- and possibly 
"fastifies"-- RP code:

>RP said:
>  >Your function does not understand signs or exponential notation, nor does
>  >it acknowledge that leading/trailing spaces are "harmless extras".
>  >Something more elaborate is needed, given the wide range of numeric forms
>  >that can be understood by FB^3's val function. Try this:
>  >
>Well, not that much more elaborate. Here's my entry. I don't know how it
>compares for speed, but it uses only register vars, and if nothing else
>it's purtier! :-)
>
>0"0
>=J= a  y
>           "
>PS. This still doesn't allow hex, octal, or binary values that FB
>understands, but I've reached my limit for tonight

Ah, what's a little sleep deprivation in comparison to giving us hex, 
octal and binary-compliant code!

I ask you Robert Purves: Should this function handle these other 
bases to be truly "numeric"?

Ken

(Jay: Just ask them to seat you in front of the cymbals at the next concert!)