The records of a source code file read by the ALGOL compiler can be any size greater than or equal to 72 characters.
Assume that the character positions (called columns) of a source record are numbered from 1 to n, where n is the size of the record in characters. The compiler divides each source record as follows:
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The data in columns 1 through 72 is assumed to be ALGOL source language as defined in this manual. Any characters that appear beyond column 72 are not compiled as source language constructs.
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Characters in columns 73 through 80 of a record are treated as a sequence number, which is optional.
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Any information beyond column 80 is ignored.
The column in which an ALGOL construct begins is not significant, unless the source record is a compiler control record or the construct continues beyond column 72. For more information on compiler control records, refer to Compiler Control Records. The data in columns 1 through 72 is treated as a continuous stream from record to record. In other words, no delimiters are implied at the end of a record, and string literals, identifiers, and all other valid ALGOL constructs can be continued from column 72 of one record to column 1 of the succeeding record.
