/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb FORTRAN, Format Specifiers, Format Descriptors  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  A format descriptor can be one of the following:

     Field descriptor -- Defines the size and format of a data
     item.  Each field descriptor corresponds to the next data
     item in the statement's I/O list.

     Edit descriptor  --  Specifies editing functions to be
     performed on data items.

  Format descriptors are generally separated by commas, but you can
  also use the slash (/) record terminator to separate them.  A slash
  terminates input or output of the current record and initiates a
  new record; for example:

          WRITE (6,40) K,L,M,N,O,P
     40   FORMAT (3I6.6/I6,2F8.4)

  The preceding statements are equivalent to the following:

          WRITE (6,40) K,L,M
     40   FORMAT (3I6.6)
          WRITE (6,50) N,O,P
     50   FORMAT (I6,2F8.4)

  Multiple slashes cause the system to bypass input records or output
  blank records.  If "n" consecutive slashes appear between two field
  or edit descriptors, (n-1) records are skipped on input, or (n-1)
  blank records are output.  The first slash terminates the current
  record.  The second slash terminates the first skipped or blank
  record, and so on.

  However, "n" slashes at the beginning or end of a format
  specification result in "n" skipped or blank records.  This is
  because the opening and closing parentheses of the format
  specification are themselves a record initiator and terminator,
  respectively.