DIM
===

Function
--------

**DIM** allocates arrays within HUNTER.

Syntax
------

| DIM variable name (array size)
| DIM double precision variable name (array size)
| DIM string variable name (array size, element size)

where array size and element size are numeric expressions.

Examples
--------

::

   DIM A (25)

defines an array variable A of 26 elements, including the element A(0).
The array size must be positive.

::

   DIM J4(100),J5(100),Q(1000),J(N)

defines multiple arrays. N is a previously defined variable.

Remarks
-------

There are three kinds of DIM statement in HUNTER Basic: Simple
variables, double precision variables and strings.

.. Note::

   The maximum number of elements in a single array is 16,384.

All array types have a range from 0 (zero) to the limit defined in the
DIM statement.

Arrays can be allocated to any combination of variable names.

Double precision arrays are defined in the same way except for the use
of "!". Each element has a 14-digit size.

::

   DIM A!(25)
   DIM AZ!(32)

define double precision arrays.

Space for string arrays is reserved in HUNTER memory using a DIM
statement followed by string name, the number of elements in the array,
and the maximum string length required.

::

   DIM A$(25,10)

defines a string array with 25 elements each of maximum length of 10
characters.

Each character in a string requires 1 byte of storage.

Since HUNTER retains variable definitions indefinitely, DIM statements
should not be included in normal user program sequences. Instead, arrays
should be initialised by a separate routine or defined directly i.e.
without line numbers.

A useful technique is to set in the application software a switch
indicating whether the program is being used for the first time or not.
If the switch is a variable which is made non zero when the program is
first run, the fact that any modifications or use of the CLEAR statement
will clear the value to zero can be used to determine whether the arrays
should be redefined or not.

::

   10 If A = 1 THEN GO TO 100
   20 DIM J(50)
   90 A = 1
   100 REM user program starts here.

.. Note::

   That the variable A could be used as a counter to indicate the
   number of times that the program has been run.

Default values for numeric arrays are 10 elements. Strings default to
one element of 20 character, larger strings have to be dimensioned.