Format_Descriptors

 A format descriptor can be one of the following:

  o  Data edit descriptor

     Causes the transfer or conversion of data to or from its
     internal representation.  The part of a record that is input or
     output and formatted with data edit descriptors a field.

     The data edit descriptors are:  I, B, O, Z, F, E, EN, ES, D, G,
     L, and A.

  o  Control edit descriptor

     Either directly determines how text is displayed or affects the
     conversions performed by subsequent data edit descriptors.

     The control edit descriptors are:  T, TL, TR, X, S, SP, SS, BN,
     BZ, P, :, /, $, and Q.

  o  String edit descriptor

     Controls the output of character strings.  The string edit
     descriptors are the character constant and H edit descriptor.


 Format descriptors are generally separated by commas, but you can
 also use the slash (/) edit descriptor to separate them.  A slash
 terminates input or output of the current record and initiates a
 new record; for example:

         WRITE (6,40) K,L,M,N,O,P
    40   FORMAT (3I6.6/I6,2F8.4)

 The preceding statements are equivalent to the following:

         WRITE (6,40) K,L,M
    40   FORMAT (3I6.6)
         WRITE (6,50) N,O,P
    50   FORMAT (I6,2F8.4)

 Multiple slashes cause the system to bypass input records or output
 blank records.  If "n" consecutive slashes appear between two field
 or edit descriptors, (n-1) records are skipped on input, or (n-1)
 blank records are output.  The first slash terminates the current
 record.  The second slash terminates the first skipped or blank
 record, and so on.

 However, "n" slashes at the beginning or end of a format
 specification result in "n" skipped or blank records.  This is
 because the opening and closing parentheses of the format
 specification are themselves a record initiator and terminator,
 respectively.