If a file is in a library, the SEARCH function returns the file's pathname using the following syntax:

For example:

Other ABL functions make use of this syntax. The LIBRARY function parses the pathname and returns the name of the library (in this example, /usr/dictionary/dictionary.pl). If the argument to LIBRARY is not in the form library-pathname<<member-name>>, the LIBRARY function returns the Unknown value (?). This is also true of the MEMBER function, which parses the pathname and returns the name of the member file (in this example, dict.r).

For more information about the SEARCH, LIBRARY, and MEMBER functions, see OpenEdge Development: ABL Reference.