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simon · Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 270

I notice that Paul requested us on Dec 05, 2022 to stop posting more suggestions to the "Fortran 2003 and 2008 features" topic https://forums.silverfrost.com/viewtopic.php?t=3480&start=135. So here is starting a new one!

Could we get the 2008 Block structure implemented?

Many thanks

PaulLaidler · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 7:52 pm Post subject:

Simon

I will add it to the list but it looks like it could be a major task.

Kenneth_Smith · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2023 1:26 pm Post subject:

Paul,

A new list inevitably generates new requests.

The additional protection provided to module variables by the PROTECTED attribute would be a useful addition, to prevent inadvertent changes (i.e. programmer error) to calculated module constants which for some reason are not protected by virtue of being PARAMETERS.

PaulLaidler · Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 7:49 am Post subject:

Thanks Ken. I will make a note of your suggestion.

PaulLaidler · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 7:22 am Post subject:

The PROTECTED attribute has now been added for the next release of FTN95.

As an aside, it is interesting to see how some additions are relatively simple whilst others, though apparently simple, turn out to require a major investment of resources.

For example, the addition of PROTECTED only required a couple of man days to complete whilst the addition of "Parameterised derived types" required a number of man weeks.

Looking ahead to the possible addition of the BLOCK construct, much of the work would be routine because it would be a matter of copying what already exists for constructs that in many ways are similar. But the difficult part will be the scoping of variables that are local a BLOCK. That concept is part of the core design of a C compiler like SCC but is not currently built into FTN95.

Kenneth_Smith · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 9:00 am Post subject:

Thanks Paul,

I do sometimes think that the level of support received from Silverfrost is higher than the annual maintenance cost for a single licence for FTN95. �Active� users (i.e. those looking for enhancements to the Silverfrost product) receive excellent, professional and responsive support � all at a very reasonable price.

Excellent work, well done.

simon · Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 270

Paul, if the BLOCK structure is a lot of work, it is not a high priority for me. I'll use it if it's there, but I am not feeling much constrained without it.

Kenneth_Smith · Posted: Sun May 07, 2023 10:55 pm Post subject:

I tied myself in knots today using MAXLOC not realising that the same maximum value was appearing multiple times in an array, so I wonder if the Keywork "Back" can be added to the wish list for functions such MINLOC, MAXLOC, and FINDLOC, to detect when this happens?

PaulLaidler · Posted: Mon May 08, 2023 6:47 am Post subject:

Ken: I will add this to the wish list.

Simon: The BLOCK structure has now been added for the next release of FTN95.

PaulLaidler · Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 11:18 am Post subject:

The existing Win32 and x64 FTN95 intrinsics MINLOC, MAXLOC and FINDLOC have now been extended to allow the BACK argument. The implementation will be in the next release of FTN95 and also requires new DLLs.

Kenneth_Smith · Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 1:35 pm Post subject:

Paul, thanks for taking the time to implement "back" for these three intrinsics. This will be very useful for future programs.