how to convert datatypes ?

First I had to write extra code because this amateur programmers a informix weren't able to implement select ... into ... order by. Then I browsed the manuals for 'convert' w/o success. When I do a LET Stmt = VARCHAR( foo ); it thinks VARCHAR is a procedure --- Arrgh! Then I browsed for string functions - nothing, no MID, LEFT, RIGHT... Have they been exhausted by implementing 'LENGTH' ? If someone what's to implement a shit app - forget it Informix already did it !