(j3.2006) more enhancements to the Fortran Standard

[Van Snyder]

On Fri, 2009-09-18 at 15:36 -0700, Dan Nagle wrote:

...

> > 1)  To the any function, add the optional intent(out) integer  
> > argument...
> > 2)  To the count function, add the optional intent(out) integer  
> > arguments...
> > 3) Similar to the above suggestion for the any function, add the  
> > optional integer intent(out) argument...
> > 4) Add the optional intent(out) type-T argument VAL=X to the maxloc  
> > and minloc functions...

We have had a longstanding philosophical aversion to intent(out)
arguments for intrinsic functions.

> > 5) Enhance the RESULT clause of the function statement by allowing  
> > initialization of the return value, as in the illustrative
> >
> >        integer function XYZ ( ... )   RESULT  ( fvalue = 0 )
> >
> > declaration statement, and allow fvalue to be "dimensioned" as in  
> > the illustrative
> >
> >        integer function XYZ ( ... )   RESULT  ( fvalue(2) = 0 )

This comes under the rubric of "initial values in the
<specification-part> for dummy arguments," a topic that has been on our
wishlist for decades, but never of high enough priority to get into the
standard.

I like the syntax to declare the dimensions in the RESULT clause,
independently of the initial value part.

-- 
Van Snyder                    |  What fraction of Americans believe 
Van.Snyder at jpl.nasa.gov       |  Wrestling is real and NASA is fake?
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