I had to implement a REDIM-like function for working with the MAT commands. Now that it’s there, I may as well implement any similar feature.
I know VBA and later MS dialects have this, but is anyone aware of earlier versions that did? I thought GW did but no.
How early?
QBASIC does: QBasic 1.1: REDIM Statement
The very obscure Tandy 10 (ADDS System 70 rebranded) had a Microsoft BASIC with an ERASE command. Not as powerful as REDIM but you can ERASE an array variable and then use DIM on it again. It’s mentioned on page 4-4 of the manual.
Kind of interesting is that REDIM is already a thing in MS 9 digits BASIC and derivates (like Commodore BASIC) and error messages, namely, “REDIM’D ARRAY ERROR”. (I also remember “CAN’T REDIM” in some other BASIC.) This hints at this being an established term (and command?) by 1977.