7.1.1.4 Format Specifier

The format specifier stipulates either explicit or list-directed formatting. In the case of explicit formatting, it also identifies the parameter that controls formatting. The format specifier takes either of the following forms:

{ [FMT=]f }
{ [FMT=]* }

f

Is one of the following:

• A statement label of a FORMAT statement

• An integer variable that has been assigned a FORMAT statement label with an ASSIGN statement

• A name of a numeric array or numeric array element containing a run-time format

• A name of a character array containing a run-time format

• A character expression containing a run-time format

*

Specifies list-directed formatting.

The keyword FMT is optional if the format specifier is the second parameter in the control list, and the first parameter is a logical unit or internal file specifier without the optional keyword UNIT.

In sequential I/O statements, you can use an asterisk instead of a format specifier to denote list-directed formatting.

For More Information:

• On FORMAT statements, see Chapter 8.

• On the interaction between formats and I/O statements, see Section 8.10.

• On list-directed formatting, see Sections 7.2.1.2 and 7.3.1.2.