VMS Help FORTRAN, Format Specifiers, P  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  nP (Scale Factor Editing)

  The scale factor lets you alter, during input or output, the
  location of the decimal point both in real values and in the two
  parts of complex values.

  The "n" is a signed or unsigned integer constant, in the range -128
  to 127, that specifies the number of positions to the left or right
  that the decimal point is to move.

  A scale factor can appear anywhere in a format specification, but
  must precede the first F, E, D, or G field descriptor that is to be
  associated with it and affects all following real field descriptors
  in the same FORMAT statement (unless another scale factor appears.

  On input the scale factor of any of the F, E, D, and G field
  descriptors multiplies the data by 10**-n and assigns it to the
  corresponding I/O list element.  For example a 2P scale factor
  multiplies an input value by .01; a -2P multiplies an input value
  by 100.  However, if the external field contains an explicit
  exponent, the scale factor has no effect.

  E, D, or G field descriptors alter the form in which data is
  transferred.  On input a positive scale factor moves the decimal
  point to the left and a negative scale factor moves the decimal
  point to the right; on output, the effect is the reverse.

1 - F field descriptor

  nPFw.d

  On output, the value of the I/O list element is multiplied by 10**n
  before transfer to the external record.  Thus, a positive scale
  factor moves the decimal point to the right; a negative scale
  factor moves the decimal point to the left.  Thus, the F field
  descriptor alters the magnitude of the data.

2 - E field descriptor

  nPEw.d

  On output, the basic real constant part of the I/O list element is
  multiplied by 10**n, and "n" is subtracted from the exponent.  For
  a positive scale factor, "n" must be less than (d+2) or an output
  conversion error occurs.  Thus, a positive scale factor moves the
  decimal point to the right and decreases the exponent; a negative
  scale factor moves the decimal point to the left and increases the
  exponent.

3 - D field descriptor

  nPDw.d

  On output, the basic real constant part of the I/O list element is
  multiplied by 10**n, and "n" is subtracted from the exponent.  For
  a positive scale factor, "n" must be less than (d+2) or an output
  conversion error occurs.  Thus, a positive scale factor moves the
  decimal point to the right and decreases the exponent; a negative
  scale factor moves the decimal point to the left and increases the
  exponent.

4 - G field descriptor

  nPGw.d

  On output, the effect for the G field descriptor is suspended if
  the magnitude of the data to be output is within the effective
  range of the descriptor (because the G field descriptor supplies
  its own scaling function).  It functions as an E field descriptor
  if the magnitude of the data is outside its range.  In this case,
  the scale factor has the same effect as for the E field descriptor.