A general purpose free format input data system

The paper presents a general purpose free format input data system. This free format input data system is designed and presented as an interface between the user and the parent program. The system converts user's free format input data set into the fixed format data set of the parent program. Its features include data entries free of format specifications, appearance of leading, trailing and embedded blanks in a data line, horizontal repetition of data entries, vertical repetition of data entries, data group identification, comment data lines, tab settings, i.e. skipping to predetermined fields, elimination of group terminators and teletype compatibility. Organization of the program is described in detail. Full notation, sample example problem—its input and program output, program listing with comment cards and its implementation details are also provided. This input system is ideally suited as a “front end” for a general purpose finite element program. The system has been in use with the “NISA” finite element computer program since early 1976.