Gfortran issue

[Vardhan, Sundara (GE Infra, Energy)]

Hi All

I am compiling legacy fortran 77 code which used VAX-Fortran type
parameterized formats, in gfortran version as below :

Target: powerpc-ibm-aix5.3.0.0
Configured with: /cots/gnu/gcc-4.2.3/configure --prefix=/opt/freeware
--with-gmp=/usr/local --with-mpfr=/usr/local
--enable-languages=c,c++,fortran
Thread model: aix
gcc version 4.2.3

I have a fortran program having the following lines of code among
others. These lines of code is what generats a compile error :

        CHARACTER*(24*RT_MB_MAXMB) PNTNAME

........


         WRITE(LO,220) 
220     FORMAT(A<24*RT_MB_MAXMB>)

The error I get is : Error: Unexpected element in format string at (1).

Is there any way to get around this in gfortran. Works fine in g77 but
does not in gfortran. Your help and advice and pointers will be greatly
appreciated.

With Regards

Vardhan