Fortran, best use of DIMENSION when initializing array with PARAMETER attribute

Question

In Fortran, are these two methods for initializing a parameter array identical? If not, what is the meaning of dimension(*)?

integer, parameter, dimension(2) :: x = [1,2]

vs

integer, parameter, dimension(*) :: x = [1,2]

francescalus · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-02 20:22:00Z

5

The effect of both declarations is the same: a rank-1 named constant array of shape [2] with the obvious values.

Using dimension(*) makes the array implied shape rather than explicit shape: the named constant is of shape implied by the constant expression.

Which is better? Well, implied shape is not supported by all compilers (being a Fortran 2008 feature), but it saves worrying about writing shape twice.

answered Mar 2, 2020 at 20:22

francescalus

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1 Comment

Scientist Over a year ago

GCC >v7.1.1 and Intel ifort >2018 appear to support the implied shape.

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