(j3.2006) initial semicolon

[Malcolm Cohen]

>Another poster cited Clause 11
>of N1828.pdf which states
>
>       The restriction of not permitting a line to
>       start with a semicolon has been removed.
>
>as evidence that the intent was to allow such syntax.

Does not follow.

>I agree that the Fortran 2008 standard does not allow
>such a program.  Was it the intent of the committee
>to allow such syntax?

Of course not.

The point of removing the restriction was that it applied to ALL lines. 
That an initial line cannot start with a semicolon is determined by the 
syntax rules (so the "line" restriction was not needed there).  That a 
continuation line was not permitted to start with a semicolon was considered 
to be an unnecessary restriction, and so the "line" restriction was 
completely removed in F2008.

In retrospect the brief description of the change was too brief, and should 
have had the word "continuation" inserted before "line".  But we could not 
have expected someone to try to rules-lawyer from it with no legs to stand 
on i.e. no syntax for an empty statement!

Cheers,
-- 
................................Malcolm is still on holiday.