The LAST method returns
the last data item in the hash object. If you use the
ordered: 'yes' or
ordered: 'ascending' argument tag in the DECLARE statement or _NEW_ operator when you
instantiate the hash object, then the data item that is returned is
the one with the 'highest' key (largest numeric value or last alphabetic
character), because the data items are sorted in ascending key-value
order in the hash object. Conversely, if you use the
ordered: 'descending' argument tag in the DECLARE
statement or _NEW_ operator when you instantiate the hash object,
then the data item that is returned is the one with the 'least' key
(smallest numeric value or first alphabetic character), because the
data items are sorted in descending key-value order in the hash object.
Use the FIRST method
to return the first data item in the hash object.
Note: The LAST method sets the
data variable to the value of the data item so that it is available
for use after the method call.