New User Seeking Insights from Experience

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DJV

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May 12, 2012, 3:33:23 PM5/12/12
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Ladies and Gentlemen:


I haven't used FORTRAN in decades, since my undergraduate days.

I am somewhat familiar with Windows IDE software, such as Visual
Basic.

Even my last DOS software application was developed in an IDE based
DOS basic program.

(I have no prior experience picking, choosing, or installing an IDE
separate from a compiler/linker and making them work together.)


I've just installed G95 for Windows 98 on my XP system.

I expected an icon on my desktop linked to an IDE.

I am much, much too inexperienced in software development to know how
to proceed.

My old Waterloo Fortran days from my undergraduate studies are well in
the past.

How do I recoup what was lost, and make G95 more user friendly for
myself? (Tutorials? A truly useful IDE that will work with G95? Did
I choose the "wrong" FORTRAN based on my decades of disuse?)

I do need to use a version of FORTRAN to compile a massive program
that I hope to productively improve. I might use C/C++ to produce dll
files, but that seems like a recipe that might build failure into my
endeavors from the start. The software I wish to modify is based on a
MING DOS extender, so it is not Windows software, per se.


I was hoping for a "Hello World" program with G95 that would produce
instant satisfaction when I loaded, compiled, and ran it in a Windows
IDE by pointing and clicking a few buttons. That should offer some
insight into what I had anticipated.

My goal is to use this software on a "for profit" programming basis,
so I'd appreciate any license related insights. It was based on
license related concerns that I avoided another, popular, FORTRAN
option that seemed to restrict use of its libraries. (I hate to tempt
myself.)

Any insights or assistance? Is G95 only for a small group of NASA
programmers exploring the moonshot algorithms of the Apollo program's
computers or producers of FreeWare? ;-)

Thanks!

Robert Miles

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May 13, 2012, 1:55:56 AM5/13/12
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Was that the WATFOR version of FORTRAN I used in my undergraduate and graduate studies?
If so, you'll find the Fortran has changed a lot since then, including how many capital letters are used in its name.
 
I've recently bought a book to help learn the various updates:
 
Fortran 95/2003 for Scientists and Engineers
Third Edition
Stephen J. Chapman
 
Available from amazon.com, if you want to order it online.
 
Many of the added features are object-oriented, somewhat similar to those you'll find in C++.
 
I would not expect NASA programmers to use any free compiler; I'd expect then to use a compiler from a company with enough assets to really feel the pain if NASA ever starts spreading the word that their compiler has problems.
 
Instead, I'd expect Fortran to be used mainly for projects more concerned with how fast they can make the programs run than how easy they can make it to write those programs.
 
 
You may want this web site:
 
 
 
Another site you may want to explore if your company is willing to pay enough extra for a compiler that can handle programming for a mixed Windows/CUDA exvironment to get even more speed:
 
 
Robert Miles
 
 
On Saturday, May 12, 2012 2:33:23 PM UTC-5, DJV wrote:
 
[snip]

Del Ventruella

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May 13, 2012, 9:21:17 AM5/13/12
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No company involved, Robert. Just little old me.

(BASIC but Fortran... Okay, I told you I'd forgotten quite a bit.)

I'll be sticking with a freeware platform. No guarantee of income.

Just a desire to eliminate an annoying limitation in another software
program written in Fortran.

No income option there either.

Any IDE suggestion for Windows? "Hello WORLD!" ???

How the heck do I get this compiler to work and run a Fortran program
without an IDE, etc.?

Been a long time. The gears are frozen with rust.

Thanks!

DJV
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Robert Funnell

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May 13, 2012, 9:31:41 AM5/13/12
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For a Fortran IDE there's http://www.eclipse.org/photran/
Of course you can also use the compiler from the command line.

Darius Markauskas

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May 13, 2012, 11:22:59 AM5/13/12
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You may want to look at Code::Blocks for Fortran IDE ( darmar.vgtu.lt ).

Darius

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Del Ventruella

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May 13, 2012, 12:28:37 PM5/13/12
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I've read through the set-up procedure for Photran.

First, it seems focused on Fortran 77, not Fortran 90 or 95, which
makes me a tad bit nervous. (G95 claims its binaries aren't fully
Fortran 77 compatible. (I'll probably pay for that when I try to link
or compile with old Fortran 77 code.)

Honestly, the incompatibility with Fortran 77 binary code
representation aside, I don't even know what a "makefile" is relative
to configuring a Photran IDE, or why I'd take a turn through Hades to
install all the software and undergo all the configuration steps
necessary to produce it.

Is there a simple IDE for G95? You know... I fill out a few options
to designate the appropriate directory, and it handles the compilation
of the code and error checking and reporting?

Do I need to toss something together in Microsoft C to give me an easy
way to edit and compile Fortran under G95 under Windows, without the
odd bells and whistles? Is that the only "simple" solution?

Thank you!

Sincerely,

DJV
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Del Ventruella

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May 13, 2012, 12:58:48 PM5/13/12
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Darius,

I'm was looking at your IDE's web site when I checked gmail and caught
your message.

Since it is a Windows package, I imagine I can de-install it if I
can't get it to work with G95.

If you say it's simple, I'll give it a try.

Thanks in advance. I'll download it next.

Sincerely,
DJV

On 5/13/12, Darius Markauskas <darm...@gmail.com> wrote:
> You may want to look at Code::Blocks for Fortran IDE ( darmar.vgtu.lt ).
>
> Darius
>
> On 13 May 2012 16:31, Robert Funnell <robert....@mcgill.ca> wrote:
>
>> For a Fortran IDE there's
>> http://www.eclipse.org/**photran/<http://www.eclipse.org/photran/>
>> Of course you can also use the compiler from the command line.
>>
>>
>> On Sun, 13 May 2012, Del Ventruella wrote:
>>
>> No company involved, Robert. Just little old me.
>>>
>>> (BASIC but Fortran... Okay, I told you I'd forgotten quite a bit.)
>>>
>>> I'll be sticking with a freeware platform. No guarantee of income.
>>>
>>> Just a desire to eliminate an annoying limitation in another software
>>> program written in Fortran.
>>>
>>> No income option there either.
>>>
>>> Any IDE suggestion for Windows? "Hello WORLD!" ???
>>>
>>> How the heck do I get this compiler to work and run a Fortran program
>>> without an IDE, etc.?
>>>
>>> Been a long time. The gears are frozen with rust.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> DJV
>>>
>>
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>>
>>
>
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Walt Brainerd

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May 13, 2012, 5:08:59 PM5/13/12
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If you like Code::Blocks Fortran after looking at it, but still have some
problems, you might look at the Fortran Tools (fortran.com). It includes
the Code::Blocks IDE and gfortran. Things have been preset so it is
easy to install and run. There is documentation on how to install it
and run both using the IDE and command line. Also how to build static
and dynamic libraries. Plus a couple of Fortran books in PDF format.
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--
Walt Brainerd
The Fortran company

Del Ventruella

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May 13, 2012, 8:54:41 PM5/13/12
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Does anyone have a reliable link from which I can download
Code::Blocks Fortran for Windows XP?

I tried the following, but the download keeps terminating before what
is supposed to be the end of file. When I try to extract to my
Fortran directory, I get a message asserting that the download is
faulty. I've attempted this several times today, and the download is
always said to be damaged or faulty when I try to extract to my
directory. I've been downloading from:

file:///D:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Del%20Ventruella/My%20Documents/Downloads/CodeBlocks_Fortran_v0.7.1_Win32.zip

Thank you.

On 5/13/12, Del Ventruella <ventr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Does anyone have a reliable link from which I can download
> Code::Blocks Fortran for Windows XP?
>
> I tried the following, but the download keeps terminating before what
> is supposed to be the end of file. When I try to extract to my
> Fortran directory, I get a message asserting that the download is
> faulty. I've attempted this several times today, and the download is
> always said to be damaged or faulty when I try to extract to my
> directory. I've been downloading from:
>
> file:///D:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Del%20Ventruella/My%20Documents/Downloads/CodeBlocks_Fortran_v0.7.1_Win32.zip
>
> Thank you.

Del Ventruella

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May 13, 2012, 8:57:59 PM5/13/12
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Correction. That't where I've been downloading to.

I've been downloading from:

http://darmar.vgtu.lt/index.php/cbdownload .

This is the source that produces the errors when I try to download
from it, then highlight all the files in the zipped folder and
decompress them into my Fortran Directory. It tells me that the
download is faulty, or that there was an unexpected end of file
encountered.

Del Ventruella

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May 13, 2012, 10:56:43 PM5/13/12
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Correction. That is where I've been downloading to.

I've been downloading from:

http://darmar.vgtu.lt/index.php/cbdownload .

This is the source that produces the errors when I try to download
from it via dial-up, then highlight all of the files in the zipped
folder that results (a zipped folder often noticed after a disconnect
or a sudden end to the download with no apparent reason). When I
attempt to decompress the downloaded files into my Fortran directory,
I am informed that the
download is faulty, or that there was an unexpected end of file
encountered. It simply doesn't work. (The download becomes ever
slower as it progresses, which seems a bit odd to me.)

Thank you for any assistance that you provide in my effort to identify
a functioning Code::Blocks for Fortran for Windows XP download source.

Darius Markauskas

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May 14, 2012, 4:42:31 AM5/14/12
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All C::B Fortran files are on Google Code page:

Darius

Del Ventruella

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May 14, 2012, 8:42:33 AM5/14/12
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Thank you!

I'm trying to download again from the Google project page now.

DJV

Del Ventruella

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May 14, 2012, 9:07:13 AM5/14/12
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You know. It's odd.

I just tried to download the 0.8 version (the latest) of C::B, and I
can't get the download to work again. It stops after downloading a
1.62 MB file. The Google download shows the file as being 16.3 MB.
That's a ten times difference.

Once again, I can't extract from the file that is downloaded.

DJV

Robert Funnell

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May 14, 2012, 9:13:36 AM5/14/12
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I just downloaded it successfully. It was very quick (a couple of
seconds) and complete.
What kind of Internet connection are you using?

Del Ventruella

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May 14, 2012, 12:13:57 PM5/14/12
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I've got very slow dial-up.

I am responding at a different location, where I was able to download
using a high speed connection earlier this morning. It appears to
download and install to my thumb drive without any delays. I'm going
to try to use the version that was just uploaded for use on XP. I
hope the installation process is substantially automated.

(My impression is that my cheap dial-up is set up to permit an early
burst of nearly 50 KB/s to download web pages, but that it then slowly
reduces accessible bandwidth for longer downloads. It may even
completely break the connection after a certain amount of data has
been transmitted to reduce bandwidth access, which terminates my
download. Either that, or Google's server is set to lock out very
slow connections after a certain time to prevent access to the server
from being blocked by too many such connections. I don't know. IT
isn't my thing.)

DJV

Del Ventruella

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May 14, 2012, 2:10:22 PM5/14/12
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Okay, C::B is downloaded and extracted. G95 is installed.

D: is my Windows XP boot drive.

D:\Fortran\bin is the directory in which G95 is installed.

D:\Fortran\FortIDE is the directory in which I installed C::B.

When I start C::B, I get an error message at the bottom of the C::B screen.

It states:

Can't find compiler executable in search paths for GNU GCC (or words
to that effect).

I only wish to use this IDE for G95 Fortran at present.

I pointed the "search directory" under the "Settings" menu option of
C::B to D:\Fortran\bin to attempt to induce it to see the G95 compiler
and linker within C::B. (This didn't eliminate the GNU error message,
so I presume it's not due to failure to "see" G95, which shouldn't
have happened since G95 installation apparently add's its install
directory to the paths statement of Windows XP.)

Do I need to do more before I can attempt to compile my "Hello World!"
Fortran software by copying it into C::B and generating an executable
(assuming I can figure out how to do that with C::B. I got it to work
"the old fashioned way" with G95 in a DOS screen.)

Is this error message regarding GNU GCC relevant to Fortran
development? (Can I stop it from appearing, or do I simply have to
live with it?)

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

DJV

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May 14, 2012, 11:53:00 PM5/14/12
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At this point, I've worked through the problems. Code::Blocks will
produce a "Hello World" project, compile and run it, and not produce
error messages.

I didn't have to modify any Windows path statements while installing
G95. (This is contrary to the manual, which I presume is older than
the installation script file.)

I did have to download GDB.exe and install it in the bin directory
produced by G95 installation to make Code::Blocks work with G95.
(From ftp://ftp.equation.com/gdb/32/gdb.exe .)

I have my G95 installation under a Fortran directory ("D:\FORTRAN").

I had to alter the Code::Blocks compiler directory settings to point
to and recognize G95 as the sole compiler I plan to use with
Code::Blocks.

I also have Code::Blocks under the "D:\FORTRAN" directory under the "D:
\FORTRAN\FortIDE" sub-directory.

I had to point to the GDB.exe debugger file under the bin directory in
Code::Blocks to eliminate the Code::Blocks errors regarding not
finding a debugger.

(I have no idea how what I understand to be a C oriented debugger will
work with Fortran, based on some of what I glanced on the web while
searching for GDB.exe.)

Long story kept short, G95 and Code::Blocks seem to work together at
the moment, with a very basic Fortran project, to generate an
executable that runs. I haven't encountered any debugger errors, so I
can't comment on the appropriateness of the GDB.exe debugger choice.

Notes:

1. G95 appears to produce the necessary path statements using the new
installer. Ignore path statement additions that the user is said to
need to add to Windows XP. I didn't have to add even one path
statement.

2. When setting up Code::Blocks, be sure to download the GDB.exe
debugger, unless you already have it on your system due to some other
GNU/MING software download. I found it at: ftp://ftp.equation.com/gdb/32/gdb.exe
. Copy it from your download directory and paste it into the "bin"
directory produced by G95 installation. (The "bin" directory is where
G95 places the G95.exe executable file.)

3. Follow menu of Code::Blocks through: settings->compiler->Toolchain
Executables and select the G95 compiler, then press the "auto-detect"
button to find the directory that you've used.

4. Follow menu of Code::Blocks through: settings->compiler then
click on "default" in menu tree on left and on the page that appears
select the three dots button and choose the directory into which you
placed GDB.exe (the debugger executable) file. This should be the
"bin" directory produced by G95 installation, per point 2 above.

5. Note:If you load a project that you create in Code::Blocks then
follow the menu of Code::Blocks through: file->properties, then click
on the "Advanced" tab of the page that pops up, you'll also find
another location where you'll need to specify G95 as the compiler for
a "Custom Build", should you ever need one.

6. This may seem complicated to some, but it's really rather easy to
set up G95 and Code::Blocks if you know that you will need GDB.exe and
if you know where to go in Code::Blocks to make the first project that
you produce compatible with G95, to avoid linker errors that claim
that the proper compiler can not be found. If you "jump the gun" with
this process of careful set-up, you'll wind up with a project that you
won't be able to compile without producing errors that may state that
the designated compiler can't be found on your system (because you
never specified G95). (I erased my first "Hello World" produced with
that error, which, by the way, is automatically produced by
Code::Blocks when you specify a basic project, making it ("Hello
World") a good test subject to see if you've managed to get
Code::Blocks working with G95. Just choose a "Fortran Project" using
the File->New -> Project menu sequence and Code::Blocks will write you
a very minimal version of "Hello World" for use as test code.)

7. I still have to set-up my dictionary for Code::Blocks....


DJV
> On 5/14/12, Del Ventruella <ventrue...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I've got very slow dial-up.
>
> > I am responding at a different location, where I was able to download
> > using a high speed connection earlier this morning.  It appears to
> > download and install to my thumb drive without any delays.  I'm going
> > to try to use the version that was just uploaded for use on XP.  I
> > hope the installation process is substantially automated.
>
> > (My impression is that my cheap dial-up is set up to permit an early
> > burst of nearly 50 KB/s to download web pages, but that it then slowly
> > reduces accessible bandwidth for longer downloads.  It may even
> > completely break the connection after a certain amount of data has
> > been transmitted to reduce bandwidth access, which terminates my
> > download.  Either that, or Google's server is set to lock out very
> > slow connections after a certain time to prevent access to the server
> > from being blocked by too many such connections.  I don't know.  IT
> > isn't my thing.)
>
> > DJV
>
> > On 5/14/12, Robert Funnell <robert.funn...@mcgill.ca> wrote:
> >> I just downloaded it successfully. It was very quick (a couple of
> >> seconds) and complete.
> >> What kind of Internet connection are you using?
>
> >> On Mon, 14 May 2012, Del Ventruella wrote:
>
> >>> You know.  It's odd.
>
> >>> I just tried to download the 0.8 version (the latest) of C::B, and I
> >>> can't get the download to work again.  It stops after downloading a
> >>> 1.62 MB file.  The Google download shows the file as being 16.3 MB.
> >>> That's a ten times difference.
>
> >>> Once again, I can't extract from the file that is downloaded.
>
> >>> DJV
>
> >>> On 5/14/12, Del Ventruella <ventrue...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>> Thank you!
>
> >>>> I'm trying to download again from the Google project page now.
>
> >>>> DJV
>
> >>>> On 5/14/12, Darius Markauskas <darmar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>> All C::B Fortran files are on Google Code page:
> >>>>>http://code.google.com/p/fortranproject/downloads/list
>
> >>>>> Darius
>
> >>>>> On 14 May 2012 05:56, Del Ventruella <ventrue...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>>>>> Correction.  That is where I've been downloading to.
>
> >>>>>> I've been downloading from:
>
> >>>>>>http://darmar.vgtu.lt/index.php/cbdownload .
>
> >>>>>> This is the source that produces the errors when I try to download
> >>>>>> from it via dial-up, then highlight all of the files in the zipped
> >>>>>> folder that results (a zipped folder often noticed after a disconnect
> >>>>>> or a sudden end to the download with no apparent reason).  When I
> >>>>>> attempt to decompress the downloaded files into my Fortran directory,
> >>>>>> I am informed that the
> >>>>>> download is faulty, or that there was an unexpected end of file
> >>>>>> encountered.  It simply doesn't work.  (The download becomes ever
> >>>>>> slower as it progresses, which seems a bit odd to me.)
>
> >>>>>> Thank you for any assistance that you provide in my effort to
> >>>>>> identify
> >>>>>> a functioning Code::Blocks for Fortran for Windows XP download
> >>>>>> source.
>
> >>>>>> On 5/13/12, Del Ventruella <ventrue...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>> Correction.  That't where I've been downloading to.
>
> >>>>>>> I've been downloading from:
>
> >>>>>>>http://darmar.vgtu.lt/index.php/cbdownload .
>
> >>>>>>> This is the source that produces the errors when I try to download
> >>>>>>> from it, then highlight all the files in the zipped folder and
> >>>>>>> decompress them into my Fortran Directory.  It tells me that the
> >>>>>>> download is faulty, or that there was an unexpected end of file
> >>>>>>> encountered.
>
> >>>>>>> On 5/13/12, Del Ventruella <ventrue...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>>> Does anyone have a reliable link from which I can download
> >>>>>>>> Code::Blocks Fortran for Windows XP?
>
> >>>>>>>> I tried the following, but the download keeps terminating before
> >>>>>>>> what
> >>>>>>>> is supposed to be the end of file.  When I try to extract to my
> >>>>>>>> Fortran directory, I get a message asserting that the download is
> >>>>>>>> faulty.  I've attempted this several times today, and the download
> >>>>>>>> is
> >>>>>>>> always said to be damaged or faulty when I try to extract to my
> >>>>>>>> directory.  I've been downloading from:
>
> >>>>>> file:///D:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Del%20Ventruella/My%20Documents/Downl oads/CodeBlocks_Fortran_v0.7.1_Win32.zip
>
> >>>>>>>> Thank you.
>
> >>>>>>>> On 5/13/12, Del Ventruella <ventrue...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>>>> Does anyone have a reliable link from which I can download
> >>>>>>>>> Code::Blocks Fortran for Windows XP?
>
> >>>>>>>>> I tried the following, but the download keeps terminating before
> >>>>>>>>> what
> >>>>>>>>> is supposed to be the end of file.  When I try to extract to my
> >>>>>>>>> Fortran directory, I get a message asserting that the download is
> >>>>>>>>> faulty.  I've attempted this several times today, and the download
> >>>>>>>>> is
> >>>>>>>>> always said to be damaged or faulty when I try to extract to my
> >>>>>>>>> directory.  I've been downloading from:
>
> >>>>>> file:///D:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Del%20Ventruella/My%20Documents/Downl oads/CodeBlocks_Fortran_v0.7.1_Win32.zip
>
> >>>>>>>>> Thank you.
>
> >>>>>>>>> On 5/13/12, Walt Brainerd <walt.brain...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>> If you like Code::Blocks Fortran after looking at it, but still
> >>>>>>>>>> have
> >>>>>>>>>> some
> >>>>>>>>>> problems, you might look at the Fortran Tools (fortran.com). It
> >>>>>>>>>> includes
> >>>>>>>>>> the Code::Blocks IDE and gfortran. Things have been preset so it
> >>>>>>>>>> is
> >>>>>>>>>> easy to install and run. There is documentation on how to install
> >>>>>>>>>> it
> >>>>>>>>>> and run both using the IDE and command line. Also how to build
> >>>>>>>>>> static
> >>>>>>>>>> and dynamic libraries. Plus a couple of Fortran books in PDF
> >>>>>>>>>> format.
>
> >>>>>>>>>> On Sat, May 12, 2012 at 12:33 PM, DJV <ventrue...@gmail.com>
> ...
>
> read more »
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