FORTRAN-like Input Format Specifications

You can use FORTRAN-like input format specifications to define formats for a set of variables, as in the following example:

DATA LIST FILE=HUBDATA RECORDS=3
      /MOHIRED, YRHIRED, DEPT1 TO DEPT4 (T12, 2F2.0, 4(1X,F1.0)).

• The specification T12 in parentheses tabs to the 12th column. The first variable (MOHIRED) will be read beginning from column 12.
• The specification 2F2.0 assigns the format F2.0 to two adjacent variables (MOHIRED and YRHIRED).
• The next four variables (DEPT1 to DEPT4) are each assigned the format F1.0. The 4 in 4(1X,F1.0) distributes the same format to four consecutive variables. 1X skips one column before each variable. (The column-skipping specification placed within the parentheses is distributed to each variable.)