integer function ltrim(chaine)
*      
      character*(*) chaine
*      
      long = len(chaine)
*      
      ltrim = 0
*      
      do i=long,1,-1
        if (chaine(i:i).ne.' ') then
          ltrim= i
          goto 10
        end if
      end do
*      
 10   continue
*      
      end