Generic Graphical-User-Interface Program for FORTRAN Input

The NLEDIT computer program implements a generic graphical user interface for the preprocessing of FORTRAN namelist input files. The interface consists of a menu system, a message window, a help system, and data-entry forms. A form is generated for each namelist. The form includes an input field for each namelist variable along with a one-line description of that variable. Detailed help information, default values, and minimum and maximum allowable values can all be displayed via menu picks. Inputs are processed through a scientific-calculator program that provides for the use of complex equations instead of simple numerical inputs. A custom user interface is generated simply by entering information about the namelist input variables into an ASCII file. There is no need to learn a new graphics software system or programming language. NLEDIT can be used as a stand-alone program or as part of a larger graphical-user-interface program. Although NLEDIT is intended for files using namelist format, it can be easily modified to handle other file formats.