1 02/05/86  256K Segments
 2 
 3 Until recently the maximum length of a Multics segment was 255K
 4 (261120) words even though the computer hardware allows segments to be
 5 as long as 256K (262144) words.  To support very large arrays in the
 6 FORTRAN programming language the maximum segment length has been
 7 increased to 256K words; however, most Multics software and user
 8 programs are not designed to cope with such segments.
 9 
10 A per-process switch controls whether the process is allowed to use
11 segments with a maximum length of 256K words.  The default value for
12 this switch is set by your site, and typically it will be off.  You
13 can alter the switch.  See process_switch_on, process_switch_off, and
14 hcs_$set_256K_switch for more information.
15 
16 To create a 256K-word segment, call the hcs_$set_max_length
17 subroutine; the set_max_length command does not support lengths above
18 255K words.