/**********************************************************************
* 02.08.2013 Walter Pachl  translated from REXX
**********************************************************************/
z = 'abcdefghijk'
l=z.length()
say '                  the original string =' z
If l>=1 Then Do
  Say 'string first        character removed =' z.substr(2)
  say 'string         last character removed =' z.left(l-1)
  End
If l>=2 Then
  Say 'string first & last character removed =' z.substr(2,l-2)