HP Fortran Programmer's Reference (September 2007)

Glossary
association
Glossary672
association The mechanism by which two
or more names may refer to the same entity.
See also argument association, host
association, pointer association,
sequence association, storage
association, and use association.
assumed-shape array An array that is a
dummy argument to a procedure and
whose shape is assumed (taken) from that
of the associated actual argument. An
assumed-shape array’s upper bound in each
dimension is represented by a colon (:). See
also assumed-size array.
assumed-size array An older
FORTRAN 77 feature. An array that is a
dummy argument to a procedure and
whose size (but not necessarily its shape)is
assumed (taken) from that of the associated
actual argument. The upper bound of an
assumed-size array’s last dimension is
specified by an asterisk (*). See also
assumed-shape array.
attribute A property of a constant or
variable that may be specified in a type
declaration statement. Most attributes
may alternately be specified in a separate
statement. For instance, the ALLOCATABLE
statement has the same meaning as the
ALLOCATABLE attribute, which appears in a
type declaration statement.
automatic array An explicit-shape
array that is local to a procedure and is
not a dummy argument. One or more of an
automatic array’s bounds is determined
upon entry to the procedure, allowing
automatic arrays to have a different size
and shape each time the procedure is
invoked.
automatic data object A data object
declared in a subprogram whose storage
space is dynamically allocated when the
subprogram is invoked; its storage is
released on return from the subprogram.
Fortran 90 supports automatic arrays and
automatic character string variables.
B
bit A binary digit, either 1 or 0. See also
byte.
blank common A common block that is
not associated with a name.
block A series of consecutive statements
that are treated as a complete unit and are
within a SELECT CASE, DO, IF, or WHERE
construct.
block data program unit A procedure
that establishes initial values for variables
in named common blocks and contains no
executable statements. A block data
program unit begins with a BLOCK DATA
statement.
bounds The minimum and maximum
values permitted as a subscript of an array
for each dimension. For each dimension,
there are two bounds—the upper and lower
bounds—that define the range of values for
subscripts.
BOZ constants A literal constant that can
be formatted as binary, octal, or
hexadecimal. See also typeless constant.