Explicit_Shape

 An explicit-shape array is declared with explicit values for the
 bounds in each dimension of the array.  An explicit-shape
 specification takes the following form:

    [lower-bound:] upper-bound [,[lower-bound:] upper-bound ]...

 The lower bound (if present) and the upper bound are specification
 expressions that have a positive, negative, or zero value.  If
 necessary, the bound value is converted to integer type.

 If the lower bound is not specified, it is assumed to be 1.

 The bounds can be specified as constant or nonconstant expressions,
 as follows:

  o  If the bounds are constant expressions, the subscript range of
     the array in a dimension is the set of integer values between
     and including the lower and upper bounds.  If the lower bound
     is greater than the upper bound, the range is empty, the extent
     in that dimension is zero, and the array has a size of zero.

  o  If the bounds are nonconstant expressions, the array must be
     declared in a procedure.  The bounds can have different values
     each time the procedure is executed, since they are determined
     when the procedure is entered.

     The bounds are not affected by any redefinition or undefinition
     of the specification variables that occurs while the procedure
     is executing.

     The following explicit-shape arrays can specify nonconstant
     bounds:

        - An automatic array (the array is a local 
             variable)
        - An adjustable array (the array is a dummy 
             argument to a subprogram)


 The following are examples of explicit-shape specifications:

   INTEGER I(3:8, -2:5) ! Rank-two array; range of dimension one is
   ...                  !  3 to 8, range of dimension two is -2 to 5
   SUBROUTINE SUB(A, B, C)
     INTEGER :: B, C
     REAL, DIMENSION(B:C) :: A  ! Rank-one array; range is B to C

Additional information available:

Automatic_Arrays                Adjustable_Arrays