Re: add a0 format to language to print trimmed character variables

Richard Maine wrote:

(someone wrote)

I wish there were an "a0" format for character variables, analogous to
i0 for integers, which would not print trailing spaces in character
variables.


I don't see that as analogous. Or at any rate, I don't
think it a robust analogy.

The i0 for integers doesn't modify the value printed out. It just avoids
adding blank padding characters.

For the character case, you aren't talking about padding. Instead, you
are talking about modifying the value printed out, as the blanks are
part of the value.

But there is already an A descriptor that doesn't add padding, and
that is just A. Why isn't the no padding I descriptor just I?

Yes, they both result in fewer blanks, but I see them as conceptually
different.

I do agree that avoiding an implied-DO is a silly reason to add
such a feature. Still, since the no-pad form of A already exists,
I don't see that as needing A0. I also don't see a use for I,
other than that already taken by I0. It seems that the standard
is already inconsistent.

-- glen

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