1. A method for executing a multi-function instruction for performing a multi-function operation in a computer system, the method comprising: fetching the multi-function instruction for execution from the computer memory of a first computer architecture and executed by the general purpose processor of an alternate computer architecture and one or more execution elements for interpreting the fetched instructions to identify a predetermined software subroutine for emulating the operation of the fetched instructions, the predetermined software subroutine comprising a plurality of instructions; responsive to fetching, executing the fetched instruction, the executing comprising: 1) responsive to the multi-function operation to be performed being a function query operation, performing a) and b), comprising: a) determining for each of one or more multi-function operations whether a corresponding multi-function function is installed on the computer system for execution by a multi-function instruction; and b) saving a status word, the status word comprising one or more status word bits, each one of the one or more status word bits indicating whether a corresponding multi-function function is installed on said computer system, each one of the one or more status word bits having a position in the status word corresponding to the corresponding multi-function function; 2) responsive to the multi-function operation to be performed being a multi-function operation other than a function query operation, performing the multi-function operation.