To read a string of real numbers, we form a list of variable formats separated by commas. The E , F , and G descriptors are repeatable. That is, by placing an integer before the format description, the user can specify that the format description is to be repeated. For instance, rFw.d is equivalent to repeating the description FW.d R times. Thus, 3F4.2 is equivalent to F4.2,F4.2,F4.2 .
Similar examples apply to the E and G formats.
There are several non-repeatable format descriptors that can be placed in format description lists. Apostrophe editing will be accepted in the FMT subop associated with the READ statement, but will be ignored on input. That is, on input the format description xxxxx will have the effect of directing SST to ignore the next five characters. The same result could be obtained by including the descriptor 5X in the format specification list. Normally, when the end of the format specification is reached, SST assumes that it is finished with data transmission for the current records and skips to a new line before beginning input or output again.