Software Version: Compaq Fortran 77 Version 6.6 for OpenVMS VAX Systems

Compaq Computer Corporation
Houston, Texas

Online Compaq Fortran 77 (formerly Digital Fortran or DEC® Fortran^tm) for OpenVMS^tm VAX® Systems documentation is available on the two Layered Product CD-ROM sets:

• The Software Product Library (media) CD-ROM set contains the kit installation files and related documentation in ASCII and PostScript® form for Compaq Fortran 77 and other OpenVMS VAX layered products.

• The Online Documentation Library CD-ROM set contains documentation files in Bookreader^tm or other formats for Compaq Fortran 77 and other OpenVMS VAX layered products.

The Software Product Library (media) CD-ROM set contains the following:

• The Compaq Fortran 77 PCSI product distribution files (used with the DCL command PRODUCT INSTALL)

• The Compaq Fortran 77 save set files (used with VMSINSTAL command procedure).

• The Digital Fortran Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems (installation guide for Compaq Fortran 77)

• The Read Before Installing or Using Compaq Fortran 77 Version 6.n for OpenVMS VAX Systems (Compaq Fortran 77 "read first" cover letter)

• The Compaq Fortran 77 Software Product Description (SPD)

• Other OpenVMS VAX layered products

Depending on how you order the Compaq Fortran 77 product, you may receive printed copies of the following Compaq Fortran 77 manuals that apply to Compaq Fortran 77 Version 6.6:

• DEC Fortran Language Reference Manual (AA-PU45B-TK; revised for Version 6.3)
  Describes the Compaq Fortran 77 source language for reference purposes, including the format of statements, intrinsic functions, directives, and other language elements. Extensions to the ANSI FORTRAN-77 standard are identified by blue color in the printed document and HTML version and by shading in the Bookreader version. Language differences among various Compaq Fortran 77 platforms are also identified.

  This document is provided in Bookreader and HTML form on the Online Documentation CD-ROM. When using Bookreader Version 4.0, note that the shading of extensions may sometimes be inaccurate.

• DEC Fortran User Manual for OpenVMS VAX Systems (AA-PUYPA-TE; revised for Version 6.0)
  Describes the development and run-time environment for the Compaq Fortran 77 programmer working on the OpenVMS VAX operating system, including:
  • The FORTRAN command and its qualifiers
  • The linker (LINK command)
  • The OpenVMS debugger
  • Compaq Fortran 77 I/O
  • The language interface with the calling standard
  • Error handling and run-time messages
  • Using structures and records
  • Writing a condition handler
  • Native data characteristics and using unformatted nonnative numeric formats
  • Example programs that call RTL routines and system services

  This document is provided in Bookreader form on the Online Documentation CD-ROM.

• DEC Fortran Performance Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems (AA-PUYQA-TE; revised for Version 6.0)
  Describes the performance features of Compaq Fortran 77 and discusses ways to improve the run-time performance for your application. Much of the information applies specifically to a VAX symmetric multiprocessor that is capable of vector processing, although some information applies to normal, scalar (nonparallel) processing.
  This document is provided in Bookreader form on the Online Documentation CD-ROM.

• Digital Fortran Installation Guide for OpenVMS VAX Systems (AA-PUYRB-TE; revised for Version 6.4)
  Explains how to install Compaq Fortran 77 on OpenVMS VAX systems using the PCSI PRODUCT INSTALL command or the VMSINSTAL command procedure. It also describes the following:
  • Registering a license PAK (product authorization key)
  • Disk space and other prerequisites
  • Performance information about compiling and running large Compaq Fortran 77 programs
  • Deinstalling Compaq Fortran 77 using PCSI
  
  This installation guide is provided in PostScript form (.PS file type) and in plain ASCII form (.TXT file type) on the Software Product Library media CD-ROM; it is also provided in Bookreader and HTML form on the Online Documentation Library CD-ROM.

• Read Before Installing or Using Compaq Fortran 77 Version 6.n for OpenVMS VAX Systems cover letter (AV-PUYSG-TE for Version 6.6)
  Provides product information about this version of Compaq Fortran 77, information about the media CD-ROMs, the minimum operating system version, and other information. The letter may contain installation information and should be read before installing Compaq Fortran 77.
  This cover letter is provided in PostScript form (.PS file type) and in plain ASCII form (.TXT file type) for the final product on the Software Product Library media CD-ROM.

You can order these documents in printed form from Compaq (specify order number QA-100AA-GZ).

1.2 Product Directory on the Software Product Library CD-ROM

To locate the correct CD-ROM in the Software Product Library media CD-ROM set and the Compaq Fortran 77 directory in the appropriate CD-ROM, see the CD-ROM user guide (in the [README] directory on the first CD-ROM) or use the CDMENU utility.

For information on using the Bookreader, the CDMENU utility, and the CD-ROM files on the Software Product Library media CD-ROM set, see the online Software Product Library CD-ROM User's Guide, which is provided:

• In Bookreader form
• On the first Software Product Library CD-ROM in the [README] directory

Compaq Fortran 77 provides the following online information, which is copied to the user's system during installation:

• The Compaq Fortran 77 online release notes
• Compaq Fortran 77 DCL HELP

The Compaq Fortran 77 online release notes provide more information on this version of Compaq Fortran 77. After Compaq Fortran 77 has been installed, the online release notes can be displayed on the screen using the TYPE command:

$ TYPE/PAGE SYS$HELP:FORT06n.RELEASE_NOTES

For example, the release notes for Version 6.6 are named FORT066.RELEASE_NOTES.

To display or print the ASCII Compaq Fortran 77 release notes before installing Compaq Fortran 77, see the Compaq Fortran 77 installation guide.

In addition to the copying the ASCII file FORT06n.RELEASE_NOTES into SYS$HELP during installation, Compaq Fortran 77 for OpenVMS VAX provides release notes in PostScript (.PS) and Bookreader (.DECW$BOOK) forms (files SYS$HELP:FORT06*_RELEASE_NOTES.*)

1.3.2 Compaq Fortran 77 DCL HELP

The Compaq Fortran 77 DCL HELP module in SYS$LIBRARY:HELPLIB.HLB (the Compaq Fortran 77 help file) provides online access to Compaq Fortran 77 help, including error message descriptions, a summary of the language elements (statements, intrinsic functions, and so on), a glossary, and other information.

To view the online Compaq Fortran 77 help file using the HELP command, type:

$ HELP FORTRAN

You can specify topics to navigate the help hierarchy. For example, to display the /CHECK qualifier, type:

$ HELP FORTRAN /CHECK

You can abbreviate the HELP command words. For instance, to specify the OVERFLOW keyword for the /CHECK qualifier, you might use the following command:

$ HELP FORT /CHEC OVER

1.3.3 Compaq Fortran 77 Online Error Messages

To display error messages, you can use the HELP/MESSAGE command (requires OpenVMS VAX Version 6.0 or higher), as described in the online release notes.

To add the Fortran messages to the list of known HELP/MESSAGE databases, you must define the logical name MSGHLP$LIBRARY to be a search list that names each of the available databases, including the OpenVMS VAX supplied database SYS$HELP:MSGHLP$LIBRARY.MSGHLP$DATA. For more information, see the online Compaq Fortran 77 release notes (see Section 1.3.1).

Once you define the logical name MSGHLP$LIBRARY, you can then use the HELP/MESSAGE command, as described in the OpenVMS System Messages: Companion Guide for Help Message Users.

If needed, you can alternatively use the HELP FORTRAN command, which also lists error messages.

1.4 Documentation Corrections and Additions

For information on documentation corrections and a description of new features, see the online release notes.