/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb Lexicals, F$INTEGER, Example  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  $ A = "23"
  $ B = F$INTEGER("-9" + A)
  $ SHOW SYMBOL B
    B = -923 Hex=FFFFFC65 Octal=176145

      This example shows how to use the F$INTEGER function to equate
      a symbol to the integer value returned by the function. In the
      example, the F$INTEGER function returns the integer equivalent
      of the string expression ("-9" + A). First, the F$INTEGER
      function evaluates the string expression by concatenating
      the string literal "-9" with the string literal "23". Note
      that the value of the symbol A is substituted automatically
      in a string expression. Also note that the plus sign (+) is a
      string concatenation operator because both arguments are string
      literals.

      After the string expression is evaluated, the F$INTEGER
      function converts the resulting character string ("-923") to
      an integer, and returns the value -923. This integer value is
      assigned to the symbol B.