The function CHARS()

The function <CHARS always opens a file. 

You should close the file after calling <CHARS or your OS/2 session might 
run out of free file handles. 

Use the function <STREAM to get the size of a file. STREAM works also for 
open files. 

The behaviour is the same in Object-Oriented REXX; but because there is no 
file handle limit in Object REXX your program won't run out of free file 
handles. 

(see also The function CHARS() in Object REXX)