Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!ut-sally!ut-emx!reeder
From: reeder@ut-emx.UUCP (William P. Reeder)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran
Subject: Re: Fortran 8x features, generalized precision
Message-ID: <1110@ut-emx.UUCP>
Date: 7 Mar 88 23:09:10 GMT
References: <507@a.UUCP>
Organization: University of Texas Computation Center
Lines: 31
Keywords: Fortran, standard review

In article <507@a.UUCP>, jlg@a.UUCP (Jim Giles) writes:
> Generalized precision is not a feature that should be included in Fortran.
> No Fortran compiler I'm aware of uses this feature in any form, so the
> 'existing practice' test fails.
> 
I agree whole-heartedly!!!

>                                                                   Most
> implementations will continue to support only SINGLE and DOUBLE precision
> and will map the generalized precision variables to one or the other.

Actually, S8 says that the compiler should use the physical format
which meets exactly or exceeds by the least amount the qualities 
requested by the user for floating point quantities.  If no such format
exists, what happens is the infamous "processor dependent".  (see page
4-3, section 4.3.1.2, lines 20 - 28)

I also agree with what Jim says about portability problems with generalized
precision -- many others have also brought them up with different examples.
My comments to X3 (throught the University of Texas) also mentions this 
problem.  I hope those X3J3 members who are reading this group recognize
this as a serious problem.

> J. Giles
> Los Alamos

-- 
William {Wills,Card,Weekly,Virtual} Reeder	reeder@emx.utexas.edu
The Looniversity of TexMex at Autism, Consternation Central, Austin TX 78712 

DISCLAIMER:	I speak only for myself, and usually only to myself.