docs: function format (base)
  {
      "use strict";
      // if base undefined or null, return empty string
      if ((base === undefined) || (base === null)) {
          return ("");
      }
  
      // for each argument after base, replace in base string
      var result = base;
      for (var ctr = 1; ctr < arguments.length; ctr ++) {
          result = result.replace ("{" + (ctr - 1) + "}", arguments[ctr]);
      }
  
      return (result);
  }