Xref: utzoo comp.lang.fortran:2377 comp.os.vms:17004
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!purdue!haven!adm!cmcl2!lanl!alpha!jkw
From: jkw@alpha.lanl.gov (Jay Wooten)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran,comp.os.vms
Subject: Re: Question about variables local to subroutine
Keywords: Local variables, subroutines
Message-ID: <955@alpha.lanl.gov>
Date: 23 Aug 89 17:48:30 GMT
References: <24891@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 28

In article <24891@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>, templon@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (jeffrey templon) writes:
> 
> I would like to know one simple (I hope) thing: what happens if you set
> the value of a variable (local) in a subroutine, exit the subroutine, and
> come back later?  Is it the same value, zero, or worse?  I read all TFMs
> I could find and saw no answer to this one.  I am using VAX Fortran,
> I could find and saw no answer to this one.  I am using VAX Fortran,
> whatever version runs on VMS V4.6.  Thanks for any help you can send.
> 
> 					Jeff Templon

 Look in  the "Programming in VAX FORTRAN" manual under the description of the
 SAVE statement (pp. 8-24 and 8-25 in the 4.0 version):

 "The SAVE statement causes the definition of data entities to be retained
  after execution of a RETURN or END statement in a subprogram."
 ...
 "NOTE: It is not necessary to use SAVE statements in VAX FORTRAN programs.
  The definitions of data entities are retained automatically by VAX FORTRAN,
  making the use of SAVE statements a redundant exercise [unless you want to
  port your program to a non-VMS system]."

  In my experience, variables in a VMS FORTRAN subprogram are always the same
  values as you left them the last time.


	       ~~~~~~ Inquiring minds want to know ! ~~~~~~
	  Jay Wooten  Los Alamos National Lab  ARPA: jkw@lanl.gov