DATE (buf)

  Class:  Subroutine

  Returns the current date as set within the system.  The date is
  returned as a 9-byte ASCII character string as follows:

    dd-mmm-yy

  The "buf" is a 9-byte variable, array, array element, or character
  substring.  If "buf" is numeric type and smaller than 9 bytes, data
  corruption can occur.

  If "buf" is character type, its associated length is passed to the
  subroutine.  If "buf" is smaller than 9 bytes, the subroutine
  truncates the date to fit in the specified length.  If a CHARACTER
  array is passed, the subroutine stores the date in the first array
  element, using the element length, not the length of the entire
  array.  For example, consider the following:

  CHARACTER*1 DAY(9)
  ...
  CALL DATE(DAY)

  The length of the first array element in CHARACTER array DAY is
  passed to the DATE subroutine.  The subroutine then truncates the
  date to fit into the one-character element, producing an incorrect
  result.