# PACK Directive

General Compiler Directive: Specifies the memory alignment of derived-type items (and record structure items).

!DIR$ PACK[: {1 | 2 | 4 | 8} ]

Items of derived types, unions, and structures are aligned in memory on the smaller of two sizes: the size of the type of the item, or the current alignment setting. The current alignment setting can be 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes. The default initial setting is 8 bytes (unless compiler option vms or align rec n bytes is specified). By reducing the alignment setting, you can pack variables closer together in memory.

The PACK directive lets you control the packing of derived-type or record structure items inside your program by overriding the current memory alignment setting.

For example, if PACK:1 is specified, all variables begin at the next available byte, whether odd or even. Although this slightly increases access time, no memory space is wasted. If PACK:4 is specified, INTEGER(1), LOGICAL(1), and all character variables begin at the next available byte, whether odd or even. INTEGER(2) and LOGICAL(2) begin on the next even byte; all other variables begin on 4-byte boundaries.

If the PACK directive is specified without a number, packing reverts to the compiler option setting (if any), or the default setting of 8.

The directive can appear anywhere in a program before the derived-type definition or record structure definition. It cannot appear inside a derived-type or record structure definition.

## Example

     ! Use 4-byte packing for this derived type
     ! Note PACK is used outside of the derived type definition
     !DIR$ PACK:4
     TYPE pair
        INTEGER a, b
     END TYPE
     ! revert to default or compiler option
     !DIR$ PACK

Parent topic: O to P

## See Also

TYPE
STRUCTURE...END STRUCTURE
UNION...END UNION
General Compiler Directives
Syntax Rules for Compiler Directives
align:recnbytes compiler option
vms compiler option
Equivalent Compiler Options