The Local CHARACTER Size

The <LTYPE> token is used for declaring a variable which is local to the subroutine in which it is used, whereas <TYPE> is used to declare a variable which is passed to the routine as an argument. In practice, the translation for both of these tokens is identical for all types except CHARACTER.

In the CHARACTER type, a variable passed as an argument is declared CHARACTER*(*), but a local variable is declared CHARACTER*<CHASIZ>. <CHASIZ> is replaced by the ``local character size.'' If not told otherwise, GENERIC will replace <CHASIZ> by 200, making local character variables CHARACTER*200.

It is possible to override this default character size if it is unsuitable. You can define the environment4 variable GENERIC_CHASIZ or you can use the -c flag on the generic command.