BLANK = blnk blnk Is a character scalar memory reference that is assigned one of the following values: 'NULL' If null blank control is in effect for the file open for formatted I/O. (Blanks are ignored unless the field is all blanks, in which case it is treated as zero.) 'ZERO' If zero blank control is in effect. (All blanks other than leading blanks are treated as zeros.) 'UNDEFINED' If the file is not open or if the existing file is not open for formatted I/O.