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]