Won't Compile the simplest of programs Am I being stupid?

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The discussion revolves around troubleshooting a Fortran 90 program that fails to compile. The user is attempting to calculate the square root of a number input by the user but encounters multiple errors. Key issues identified include the incorrect use of the "stop" statement and the absence of a "then" in the "if" statement. It is clarified that the program should prevent attempts to calculate the square root of negative numbers, suggesting that the condition should check if the number is less than or equal to zero. Additionally, there are warnings about the deprecated "pause" statement. The conversation emphasizes the importance of proper syntax, including the need for "then" in "if" statements when controlling multiple lines of code. Some participants note that the "if" statement can function without "then" if it controls a single statement, provided the syntax is correct. Overall, the thread highlights common pitfalls in Fortran programming and the importance of precise syntax for successful compilation.
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Won't Compile the simplest of programs! Am I being stupid?

Hi, I'm just getting my teeth back into Fortran 90 I had a course on it last year, and just want to familirise myself with it before I apply for post grad stuff.

Anyway, the program i have written is:

program emosix

real:: a, roota

write(*,*) 'Type an interger to find the square root (must be a positive number)'
read(*,*) a

if(a>=0.0)
stop

roota = sqrt(a)

write(*,*) 'The sqaure root of ', a, ' = ', roota

pause

end program emosix

and I get the error code:

Error: Cannot assign to a named constant at (1)
C:\Users\James\Documents\Programming\Emo6\~emo6.f90:15.5:

pause
1
Warning: Deleted feature: PAUSE statement at (1)

The warning about deleted feature hasn't made any difference in the past, so I don't think its that, but I have no idea what the cannot assign... part means?? Any ideas?

Thanks Jim
 
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Why is that stop in there after the if statement?

Also, your if statement needs an end if, I believe.
Code:
program emosix

real:: a, roota

write(*,*) 'Type an interger to find the square root (must be a positive number)'
read(*,*) a

if(a>=0.0) then
  roota = sqrt(a)
  write(*,*) 'The sqaure root of ', a, ' = ', roota

  pause
end if
stop
end program emosix
 


Hi

Thanks for the response, its in there to stop the program if the user puts a negative number in, as you can't have a square root of negative number.

I put in the end if and it gives me another error

if(a>=0.0)
1
Error: Cannot assign to a named constant at (1)
C:\Users\James\Documents\Programming\Emo6\~emo6.f90:11.3:

end if
1
Error: Expecting END PROGRAM statement at (1)
C:\Users\James\Documents\Programming\Emo6\~emo6.f90:17.5:

pause
1
Warning: Deleted feature: PAUSE statement at (1)

that is what I get now.
 


oops its supposed to be 'a<=0.0' but that didn't change anything.

Thanks

Jim
 


JamesWMH said:
Hi

Thanks for the response, its in there to stop the program if the user puts a negative number in, as you can't have a square root of negative number.
Well, you can, but the result won't be real. Instead of stopping the program, you should have logic that prevents the program from attempting to take the square root of a negative number.
JamesWMH said:
I put in the end if and it gives me another error

if(a>=0.0)
1
Error: Cannot assign to a named constant at (1)
C:\Users\James\Documents\Programming\Emo6\~emo6.f90:11.3:

end if
1
Error: Expecting END PROGRAM statement at (1)
C:\Users\James\Documents\Programming\Emo6\~emo6.f90:17.5:

pause
1
Warning: Deleted feature: PAUSE statement at (1)

that is what I get now.

JamesWMH said:
oops its supposed to be 'a<=0.0' but that didn't change anything.
You can take the square root of 0, so you should make the test expression a < 0.0.

As far as the "can't assign to a named constant" business, try using a different variable for roota.

What does your code look like now? You if statement wasn't formed correctly before, and it still might not be right.
 


JamesWMH said:
if(a>=0.0)

You need a "then". For example (also fixing your test condition):

Code:
      if (a <= 0.0) then
         stop
      end if

For some reason, the missing "then" triggers the "can't assign to a named constant" error.
 


jtbell said:
You need a "then".
I added one in the code I showed in post #2, but didn't say that explicitly. I should have, since the OP seems to have missed it.
jtbell said:
For example (also fixing your test condition):

Code:
      if (a <= 0.0) then
         stop
      end if

For some reason, the missing "then" triggers the "can't assign to a named constant" error.

The condition can be written as a < 0.0.
 


suggestion of mark is absolutely correct

the error is coming due to absence of THEN statement

thanx
 


I know this is an old thread that's been bumped for some reason, but I would like to add one more thing.

The Fortran "if" statement doesn't require a "then" (or an "endif" either) when the "if" is only controlling a single statement.

In this sense the OP's code should (almost) have worked correctly, had he not put the "new line" after the "if" statement (since end of line is more than just white space in Fortran source code).

Code:
   if (a <= 0.0) stop

This should have worked correctly without "then" and without "endif"
 

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