The specified characteristic is returned as a character string, blank filled or truncated as necessary. If the characteristic does not exist then a blank string is returned.

Any characteristic with a keyword value (see appendix A) can be

CALL GNS_ITWCG( IWKTYP, CHAR, VALUE, STATUS )

IWKTYP = INTEGER (Given)

CHAR = CHARACTER$\ast$($\ast$) (Given)

VALUE = CHARACTER$\ast$(GNS__SZKEY) (Returned)

STATUS = INTEGER (Given and Returned)

This performs the same function as GNS_IWCG except that the device is specified by its GKS type and therefore the characteristics can be queried before the device is opened by GKS.