Re: Type declarations in a subprogram

[cis.ohio-state.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.j pl.nasa.gov!swrinde!menudo.uh.edu!cl2.cl.uh.edu!swen09d2@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU ( 440722148 DUGAN, TIMOTHY R)]

In article <1993Jun16.164301@lglsun.epfl.ch>, nebbe@lglsun.epfl.ch (Robb Nebbe)
 writes...
>Why would anyone want to declare a type in a subprogram? 

First of all, the distinction between a "subprogram" and a "main program"
is somewhat artificial.  If there is a reason to do it in a main, why
wouldn't there be a reason in a sub?

Here's one of a possible infinite numbe of examples:

function Recognizer(Input : String) return Boolean is

   type State_Type is (State_1, State_2, State_3, ... );

   Current_State : State_Type := State_1;

   Return_Value : Boolean := False;

begin

   for Index in Input'range loop

      case Current_State is

         when State_1 =>
            . . .
            Current_State := . . .

         when . . .

            . . .

            Return_Value := True;

            . . .

      end case;

      exit when Current_State = State_N;

   end loop;

end Recognizer;