When you edit FORTRAN programs in Emacs, it has a set of guidelines that it uses to automatically indent the FORTRAN statements. You might have already noticed that statements are indented when an IF or DO statement is written. You can have Emacs indent the line to where it thinks it should by just by pressing the TAB key on the keyboard. Emacs doesn't always position the line perfectly, but most of the time it does a great job.
Indenting is another visual clue (like my use of ``C--'' for comments) that helps your eye identify the structure of the program at a glance. It is similar to capitalization and indentation guidelines for papers, monographs and books.
Hamlet Project