The function get_compts(A) returns the components of the tensor_type A.

The function get_char(A) returns the index character of the tensor_type A.

The function get_rank(A) returns the rank of the tensor_type A.

These procedures are not absolutely necessary since the fields of any table can be accessed directly. However, they provide a uniform and controlled access of the information contained in the tensor_type data type.

These functions are part of the tensor package, and so can be used in the form get_compts(..) / get_char(..) only after performing the command with(tensor), or with(tensor, get_compts) / with(tensor, get_char).  These functions can always be accessed in the long form tensor[get_compts](..) / tensor[get_char](..).