_getrtos(fromcnf)
{
        local delim, otherstr = "";

        if (argc < 1)
        {
                fromcnf = 0;
        }

        if (fromcnf)
        {
                delim = getconf("readt_delimiters");
        }
        else
        {
                delim = getvar("_readt_delimiters");
        }

        if (strlen(delim) > 0)
        {
                /* convert to series */
                delchrs = charstrs(delim);

                /* delete standard delimiters */

                /* tab */
                delchrs = delete(delchrs, delchrs == charstr(strescape("\t")));

                /* space */
                delchrs = delete(delchrs, delchrs == charstr(" "));

                /* comma */
                delchrs = delete(delchrs, delchrs == charstr(","));

                /* semicolon */
                delchrs = delete(delchrs, delchrs == charstr(";"));

                /* convert to string */
                otherstr = strchars(delchrs);
        }
        return(otherstr);
}