(j3.2006) G editing to a narrow output field

[Malcolm Cohen]

>The real question here is whether the rules originally posted by Tobias from 
>10.7.2.1
>
>(1) apply to the syntax of the G descriptor written in the program, or
>
>(2)  apply to the resulting edit descriptor (F, perhaps ) after the conversion 
>from G to the resulting edit descriptor is made.
>
>My reading is that it is (1), since if it were (2)  the "G" option would have 
>been excluded in 10.7.2.1.

Yes, but that quoted text
   ***DOES NOT APPLY***

The wording is quite tricky, you need to read it very carefully.

It says (slight restructuring to make it clearer)
  "On output,
    (a) if an exponent exceeds its specified or implied width using the ... G 
edit descriptor,
or
    (b) the number of characters produced exceeds the field width,
    [you get stars]"

The bit that explicitly mentions G ***only applies to the exponent width being 
exceeded***.

That is not the case here.

What about the number of characters produced?  Well, as Robert says, the F2.5 
descriptor produces two characters (both stars) and the 4(' ') produces another 
4, making a total of 6, within the width of G6.5.

Perhaps this is merely bad wording, but it goes back a long way (F77).

>Since there are inconsistent implementations, however lopsided, this seems like 
>an interp candidate.

I don't disagree with that.  Let's make another inconsistency with 
F77/90/95/2003!?

Cheers,
-- 
................................Malcolm Cohen, Nihon NAG, Tokyo.