I need to compile some Fortran code, so I downloaded gfortran, but I can't figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do.  Most help guides just give me commands.  Do I open up Command Prompt?  Where does the file have to be in relation to gfortran?  Help would be appreciated.

I'm using Vista, by the way.

Why would you be using FORTRAN? Is there some sadistic class that actually makes you use it?

I know some places still actually use it, but I would assume if you got hired to work in FORTRAN you would at the very least know how to run it.

Class.  It's more about coding in general, but the labs are in Fortran.  You wouldn't happen to know what I'm supposed to do, would you?

lol no, they never made me deal with FORTRAN (they I had to deal with other random not widely used languages in horrible text editors).

umm... I have no idea whatsoever in any way how to use fortran (and man do I hope I never have to find out...), but this site might help you: http://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/GFortran

In general, any ideas about compiling text?  I can do it on Linux just fine, but I can just use the Terminal then.

@Retrasado: I've looked at that. It implicitly suggests that I'm supposed to click on either "gcc" or "gfortran" in the bin folder, but when I tried that, a command prompt shows up for a split second and disappears again, and that's it.

It's probably been 7 seven years since I'have had to do anything in gcc and I'm thankful for that.  I don't really much about it, I use mainly visual stuff when I do anything anymore, sorry. :-/

hmm... the only suggestion I can think of is to rightclick the exe file and click "Run as Adminstrator." Some command prompt programs that require access to high-level system functions just shut down when Vista denies them access and that could be what is going on (Dosbox used to do a lot that before SP1 came out). If that doesn't work, I'm afraid I'm out of my scope as I don't really have a lot of experience with compilers other than MS Visual Studio. :/

Already tried that. =/

In my experience, programs that did this do need to be run from the command prompt. Sometimes calling a program without any parameters will give you help with the needed parameters, in other cases, it just gives an error and you'll need to look at documentation for the program. But by just clicking on it, it runs a command window, which terminates instantly because it gave the output; you just can't read it in time.