VMS Help BASIC, /TYPE_DEFAULT  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

   The /TYPE_DEFAULT qualifier lets you specify the  default  data  type  for
   numeric variables.

   The format of the /TYPE_DEFAULT qualifier is as follows:

      /TYPE_DEFAULT={INTEGER }
                    {REAL    }
                    {DECIMAL }
                    {EXPLICIT}

   Specifying EXPLICIT means that all program variables  must  be  explicitly
   declared  in DECLARE, EXTERNAL, COMMON, MAP or DIM statements.  Specifying
   INTEGER, REAL, or DECIMAL means that variables  and  data  which  are  not
   explicitly  declared  default  to  integer,  real  or  packed decimal.  To
   specify the actual size of  variables  and  data,  use  the  INTEGER_SIZE,
   REAL_SIZE and DECIMAL_SIZE qualifiers.

   The default is /TYPE_DEFAULT = REAL.