Basic Subroutine for the Input of Numbers, Words, and Special Characters
Brian E. Cooper · The Computer Journal · 1968
The purpose of this paper is to describe a basic all-purpose format-free input subroutine and to show that such subroutines can be written with both efficiency and flexibility. A second purpose is to encourage the use of such subroutines to improve the often arbitrary presentation rules users normally must follow to communicate with a program. The subroutine reads one card at a time and assembles the information as a list of words, numbers, and special characters. The rules of assembly are defined in terms of two arrays of constants and may therefore be changed by program. The various decisions are taken quickly with reference to these arrays, and the programming is not machine dependent.