;converts a string type to a type code:
function typecode, string
string=strlowcase(string)
case string of
"byte": return, 1
"integer": return, 2
"int": return, 2
"signed int": return, 2
"signed integer": return, 2
"long": return, 3
"long int": return, 3
"long integer": return, 3
"float": return, 4
"real": return, 4
"double": return, 5
"complex": return, 6
"string": return, 7
"unsigned int": return, 12
"unsigned integer": return, 12
"unsigned long": return, 13
"unsigned long int": return, 13
"unsigned long integer": return, 13
else: return, 0
endcase
end