Mortran

Mortran (More Fortran) is an extension of the Fortran programming language used for scientific computation. It introduces syntax changes, including the use of semicolons to end statements, in order to improve readability and flexibility. Mortran code is macro-processed into Fortran code for compilation.

Example:

<I=1,200; J=I;
    UNTIL M(J).EQ.0 <
        J=M(J);
    >
    IF I.NE.J <
        OUTPUT I,M(J+1); (' Chain',I4,' ends with ',A4);
    >
>

Note that Mortran, like many preprocessors, does not make a complete analysis of the Fortran source and, like many preprocessors, may not always make its assumptions/requirements explicit. Consider, for example, Mortran multiple assignment. From the Mortran User Guide:

 / I, A(I,K), J / = SQRT(X/2.0);

produces the following FORTRAN statements:

          I = SQRT(X/2.0)
          A(I,K) = SQRT(X/2.0)
          J = SQRT(X/2.0)

In this example, the produced Fortran implements the multiple assignment correctly only if X is not aliased to I or to A(I,K), assuming the multiple assignment semantics are left to right.

The MORTRAN2 processor is written in ANSI standard Fortran 66, with the only extension the ability to assign and compare character data stored in INTEGER variables.

The SKOL programming language, written by Charles Zahn in the mid-1970s, was implemented with MORTRAN macros. SKOL supported advanced features including his situation case statement, and ALGOL-W-like structured data records and references.

External links

• Using MORTRAN 2 (Stanford document)
• A Users Guide to MORTRAN 2
• EGS User Guide to Mortran3
• MORTRAN3 Users Guide
• Mortran lecture (Japanese) from KEK (PDF)
• History of Programming Languages:Mortran
• Emacs major mode for editing Mortran source
• The SKOL Programming Language Reference Manual