Fortran What is meaning of (5,*), (6,*)and (*,*) in Fortran ?

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SUMMARY

The characters "(5,*)" and "(6,*)" in Fortran represent standard file codes for input and output operations, respectively. Historically, file code 5 was used for reading from card input, while file code 6 was designated for printer output. In modern usage, file code 5 refers to reading from the terminal device, and file code 6 is for writing to the terminal device. The notation "(*,*)" allows for free-form input and output, enabling flexibility in data handling.

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This discussion is beneficial for Fortran programmers, educators teaching Fortran, and anyone interested in understanding input/output operations in legacy programming languages.

masyousaf1
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Dear Members,

Why The characters "(5,*)" should appear after every READ and the characters "(6,*)" after every WRITE ? What is the use of "(*,*)" that can appear with either the READ or WRITE statements.

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Filecode 5 was historically the standard card input for fortran and filecode 6 was for output to the printer.

Later 5 became read from the terminal device and 6 to write to the terminal device which then became using * as meaning read from or write to the terminal device. The second * is for a free form format for the day being read or written.
 
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jedishrfu said:
Filecode 5 was historically the standard card input for fortran and filecode 6 was for output to the printer.

Later 5 became read from the terminal device and 6 to write to the terminal device which then became using * as meaning read from or write to the terminal device. The second * is for a free form format for the day being read or written.

I think you mean 'the data being read or written.'
 
Thank you jedishfu for your prompt response. I just found the explanation for (*,*). If one wishes to use the write statement to write a statement to the default output, the syntax is write(*,*). SO the thread is closed now
 
Last edited:
Yeah thanks SteamKing I am sometimes a victim of the overzealous spell checker on my iPad and I often forget to check back because I know what I typed.
 
A Google search for "fortran read statement" gave me this nice summary as the very first hit:

http://www.oc.nps.edu/~bird/oc3030_online/fortran/io/io.html
 

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