formal_parameter_list

 A formal parameter is located  in  the  header  of  the  routine
 declaration,   and   consists   of   input   parameters,  output
 parameters,  and  routine  parameters.   A  routine  uses  input
 parameters to obtain values; it uses output parameters to return
 values; and it uses routine parameters to call  another  routine
 named by a formal parameter.

 The formal parameter establishes the semantics, the  data  type,
 and  the  required  passing mechanism of the parameter.  See the
 "HP Pascal Language Reference Manual" for  more  information  on
 parameter passing mechanisms.


 Syntax:

    [[({ {value-parameter-spec | variable-parameter-spec |
          routine-parameter-spec | foreign parameter-spec} };...)]]


 The specific format depends on the semantics  (value,  variable,
 routine, or foreign) of the formal parameter you are declaring.

 A formal value parameter represents a local variable within  the
 called  routine.   When you specify value semantics, the address
 of the actual parameter is passed to the called  routine,  which
 then  copies  the  value  from  the specified address to its own
 local storage.  The routine then uses this copy.   The  copy  is
 not   retained  when  control  returns  to  the  calling  block.
 Therefore, if the called routine assigns  a  new  value  to  the
 formal  parameter,  the  change is not reflected in the value of
 the actual parameter.


 Syntax:

    {identifier},... : [[attribute-list]] 
       {type-id | conformant-parameter-syntax | 
                       undiscriminated-schema-name}
       [[:= [[mechanism-specifier]] default-value]]

 A formal  variable  parameter  represents  another  name  for  a
 variable  in  the calling block.  It is preceded by the reserved
 word VAR.  When you specify variable semantics, the  address  of
 the  actual  parameter  is  passed  to  the  called routine.  In
 contrast  to  value  semantics,  the  called  routine   directly
 accesses  the  actual parameter.  Thus, the routine can assign a
 new value to the  formal  parameter  during  execution  and  the
 changed value is reflected immediately in the calling block (the
 value of the actual parameter changes).


 Syntax:

    VAR {identifier},... : [[attribute-list]] 
        {type-id | conformant-parameter-syntax | 
                        undiscriminated-schema-name}
        [[:= [[mechanism-specifier]] default-value]]


 To write a routine that invokes another routine whose effect  is
 not  determined  until  the  program  is  executed,  use routine
 parameters.  To declare a procedure or a function  as  a  formal
 parameter  to  another  routine,  you  must  include  a complete
 routine heading in the formal  parameter  list.   You  can  also
 associate a foreign mechanism specifier and a default value with
 a formal procedure or function parameter.


 Syntax:

    [[attribute-list]] PROCEDURE procedure-id [[formal-parameter-list]]
           [[ := [[mechanism-specifier]] default-value ]]

 or

    [[attribute-list]] FUNCTION function-id [[formal-parameter-list]] :
          [[attribute-list]] result-type-id
          [[ := [[mechanism-specifier]] default-value ]]


 When declaring an external routine (one written  in  a  language
 other  than  Pascal) that is called by a VSI Pascal routine, you
 must specify not only the  correct  semantics  but  the  correct
 mechanism  as  well.   To  allow  you  to  obtain  these passing
 mechanisms, VSI Pascal provides foreign mechanism specifiers and
 the passing mechanism attributes.

 See the "HP  Pascal  Language  Reference  Manual"  for  complete
 details on formal parameter semantics.

Additional information available:

identifier      attribute_list  mechanism_specifier             type_id
undiscriminated_schema_name     conformant_parameter            default_value