Algorithms: Algorithm 335: a set of basic input-output procedures
By means of the primitives insymbol, outsymbol and length, as requested by this journal's Algorithms Policy [Comm. ACM 10 (Nov. 67), 729] a basic set of input-output procedures is defined aiming at quality and flexibility. outreal, for instance, is written as a derived procedure; it outputs using the fixed point or the floating point representation, and rounds properly. Variants can easily be written because of the explicit call of the procedures decompose integer and decompose real. The highly recommended practice of echoing input is made easy with one subset of derived procedures (ioi, ior, iob, ioa). The documentation of output in the form of equivalent ALGOL statements is also provided when use is made of the subset oti, otr, otb, ota. The Berkeley style of providing information on the form of output using prior calls of procedures such as real format is defined. A use of the parameter out-channel to provide information for simultaneous output to several channels is suggested. Interrelationship between the declared procedures is furnished in tabular form.