Scanning a Format: II

Many edit descriptors discussed in previous pages require values. More precisely, edit descriptors I, F, E, L and A either take the values of variables and print them, or read in values into variables. On the other hand, edit descriptors nX, Tc, TLc and TRc do not require any value and are used mainly for positioning. Do the rules discussed in Scanning a Format: I apply to these edit descriptors? The answer is yes; but, an extension is required. In fact, this extension is very simple, although it is easily overlooked. Here is the rule:

Once a READ or WRITE, using format, starts execution, Fortran starts scanning the format and carries out what the edit descriptors say until encounters an edit descriptor that requires a value. Then, that value is read or printed using the encountered edit descriptor and format scanning continues until encounters an edit descriptor that requires a value. This process continues until all data items are processed or reaches the end of format.

The best way to explain the above rule is using several examples.