"Complex" is a data type. Other data types are integer, real, string, and I/O path. The Complex data type is a subset of all rational numbers. The particular subset depends on your computer. Most computers, including the IBM PC, use IEEE Std 754-1985 for Binary Floating point numbers. This gives the Complex data type an approximate range of 2E-308 to 1E+308 and 15 decimal digits of precision. Both positive and negative numbers are represented. MINREAL and MAXREAL are functions which return the smallest and largest positive real numbers. The range for negative numbers is -MINREAL to -MAXREAL.
Use the COMPLEX statement to declare local complex variables and the COM statement to declare global complex variables and use the static variables to declare local persistent complex variables. Use the ALLOCATE statement to declare a local complex variable which can be DEALLOCATEd dynamically. If a variable is not declared, it will automatically be declared local and real unless CONFIGURE DIM OFF is used.
