DEFINE CHARACTER

        [SIC\]DEFINE CHARACTER Var1*Lvar1[DIM1] [...]
        [SIC\]DEFINE CHARACTER*Length Var1[DIM1] [...]

    CHARACTER variables can be scalar or multi-dimensional.  The  length  of
    CHARACTER  variable  is specified after an * either after CHARACTER key-
    word or after the name of the variable. When both are present, the  per-
    variable  length has precedence. The dimension field (same syntax as for
    other arrays) should follow the length declaration.  The CHARACTER  key-
    word can be abbreviated, i.e. this is a valid statement
        DEFIN CHAR*12 Var1  Var2*36 Var3[16]