/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb PASCAL, /ALIGN=keyword D=platform-specific  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

                                   D=Alpha_AXP (OpenVMS Alpha)
                                   D=VAX (OpenVMS VAX)

 Controls the default alignment rules.  Note that  specifying  the
 ALIGN attribute overrides any value that you previously specified
 for this qualifier.

 You can specify the following values for keyword:

    Alpha_AXP
      Uses natural alignment when positioning record fields or
      array components.

      Natural alignment is when a record field or an array component is
      positioned on a boundary based on its size. For example, 32-bit
      integers are aligned on the nearest 32-bit boundary.

      Default on OpenVMS Alpha systems.

    VAX
      Uses byte alignment when positioning record fields or array
      components. Record fields or array components larger than 32-bits
      are positioned on the nearest byte boundary.

      Default on OpenVMS VAX systems.

 On OpenVMS VAX systems, when you specify a  value  of  Alpha_AXP,
 automatic variables are aligned on longword boundaries instead of
 quadword boundaries.  This occurs because the  largest  allowable
 alignment for the stack is longword alignment.