[comp.lang.fortran] Fortran 8x: field selector

corbett@beatnix.UUCP (Bob Corbett) (07/08/89)

     The use of the character `%' as the field selector operator is another
ugly feature of Fortran 8x.  One of the arguments X3J3 has made for using
`%' is that it is the least obnoxious character left to serve as the field
selector operator.  That argument hinges on the idea that the field selector
operator should be a single character.  However, an examination of almost
any of the Fortran 8x examples presented in the draft standard or here on the
net reveals that the Fortran 8x field selector operator is not `%', but
` % '.  The problem is that the percent character has approximately the same
density as a letter, and so it is easily missed unless the extra spaces are
provided.

     I propose replacing the percent character with the pair `->'.  This
pair of symbols has less density than most letters and so it stands out
without any need for extra spaces.  Therefore, the number of characters
needed for the field selector can be reduced from 3 to 2.

						 Yours very truly,
						 Bob Corbett
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