ENCODE_and_DECODE

 The ENCODE and DECODE statements transfer data between variables or
 arrays in internal storage.  The ENCODE statement translates data
 from internal (binary) form to character form.  Inversely, the
 DECODE statement translates data from character to internal form.
 These statements are comparable to using internal files in
 formatted sequential WRITE and READ statements, respectively.
 Statement format:

    ENCODE (c,f,b [,IOSTAT=ios] [,ERR=s]) [list]
    DECODE (c,f,b [,IOSTAT=ios] [,ERR=s]) [list]

    c      Is an integer expression.  In the ENCODE statement, 
           "c" is the number of characters (in bytes) to be 
           translated to character form.  In the DECODE statement, 
           "c" is the number of characters to be translated to 
           internal form.
  
    f      Is a format identifier.  An error occurs if more than 
           one record is specified.

    b      Is a scalar or array reference. If b is an array 
           reference, its elements are processed in the 
           order of subscript progression. The data type of "b"
           determines the number of characters that ENCODE or
           DECODE can process.

           In the ENCODE statement, "b" receives the characters 
           after translation to external form.  If less than "c" 
           characters are received, the remaining character
           positions are filled with blank characters. 

           In the DECODE statement, "b" contains the characters 
           to be translated to internal form.

    ios    Is a scalar integer variable that is defined 
           as a positive integer if an error occurs, and zero 
           if no error occurs.

    s      Is the label of an executable statement.

    list   Is an I/O list.  

           In the ENCODE statement, the "list" contains the data 
           to be translated to character form.  In the DECODE 
           statement, the "list" receives the data after 
           translation to internal form.

           The interaction between the format specifier and the 
           I/O list is the same as for a formatted I/O statement.