1	SUB SMG_DELETE_CHARS(LONG Number_chars,LONG Row,LONG Col,	&
		LONG Vir_disp_num)

	!---------------------------------------------------------------&
	!								&
	!		   	SMG_DELETE_CHARS			&
	!								&
	!		Creation Date:  3-July-1985			&
	!		Author:		Ken Messer			&
	! 		Purpose:        Delete characters from a line	&
	!				in a virtual display		&
	!								&
	!		Modification history				&
	!								&
	!	Date	Description of change(s)			&
	!								&
	!---------------------------------------------------------------&
	!								&
	! Copyright (c) 1985 -	Ken Messer, Allied Electronics, Inc.,	&
	!			401 E. 8th St., Ft. Worth, TX  76102	&
	!								&
	! This software may be copied and distributed freely to anyone	&
	! for non-commerical use provided that this copyright notice is &
	! included.							&
	!---------------------------------------------------------------&

	OPTION TYPE = INTEGER, SIZE = INTEGER LONG

	%include "SMG$LIBRARY:SMG.DFN"


	DECLARE LONG 			Return_status,			&
					Display_width

	EXTERNAL LONG FUNCTION		SMG$Delete_Chars,		&
					SMG$Get_Display_Attr

	EXTERNAL LONG CONSTANT		SS$_Normal

	EXTERNAL STRING FUNCTION	Get_Error_Message(LONG)

	!---------------------------------------------------------------&
	!								&
	!		M a i n   P r o g r a m   L o g i c		&
	!								&
	!---------------------------------------------------------------&

	! If user specifies too many characters (i.e. - tries to delete
	! characters that don't exist), modify the amount to the maximum
	! number available

	Return_status = SMG$Get_Display_Attr(Display_id(Vir_disp_num),,	&
		Display_width,,,)

	IF Return_status AND SS$_Normal = 0   THEN
		PRINT Get_Error_Message(Return_status)
		STOP
	END IF

	Number_chars = Display_width - Col + 1				&
	   IF Number_chars > Display_width - Col + 1

	! Delete the specified characters

	Return_status = SMG$Delete_Chars(Display_id(Vir_disp_num),	&
		Number_chars,Row,Col)

	! Check for error

	IF Return_status AND SS$_Normal = 0   THEN
		PRINT Get_Error_Message(Return_status)
		STOP
	END IF

	SUBEXIT

	END SUB