The charToNum function returns and unsigned integer representing the ASCII equivalent value of the character passed to it.

The clickLoc function returns the point on the screen where the user most recently clicked before the handler started executing. The location is determined at the time the message is first sent. The mouse could be elsewhere by the time the message is received. The location point is returned as two integers separated by a comma, representing horizontal and vertical pixel offsets from the upper-left corner of the tile.

NOTE: This function is only partially supported at this time. The length function returns the number of characters (including spaces, tabs, and return characters) in the text string passed to it.

The random function returns a random integer between 1 and the integer derived from factor or expression, inclusive. Random supports integers up to (2^31)-2.

The result function returns an explanatory text string if an immediately preceding close file, convert, create stack, find, go, import paint, export paint, open file, picture, read, or save command was unsuccessful. The result function returns empty of the command executed successfully. The value of the result can also be set by a return statement in a message handler or by an external command. The value of the result is reset by execution of another command and at the end of the handler.

The target function returns a string indicating the original recipient of the message. For example, the target function enables you to tell, in a mouseUp handler in a background, whether:

• the mouse was clicked over a field or button (which either would have had no mouseUp handler or would have passed the message on explicitly); the target would return the button or field ID number.
• the mouse was clicked outside the area of all button and fields; the target would return the tile ID number.
• the message was sent directly to the background with the send command; the target would return the background ID number.

You can use the target in place of an object descriptor to determine any of the target's properties: get the short name of the target.

The params function returns the entire parameter list, including the message name, passed to the currently executing handler.

The atan function returns the trigonometric arc tangent (inverse tangent) of the number passed to it; that is, the angle whose tangent is equal to the given value. The result is expressed in radians. Radians can be converted to degrees by multiplying by 180 and dividing the result by the value of the constant pi.

The average function returns the average of the numbers passed to it.

The compound function is used to compute the present or future value of a compound interest-bearing account. Rate represents the interest rate per period, and periods is the number of periods over which the value is calculated. The formula for compound is: compound(rate,periods) = (1 + rate)^periods.