This is part of the HicEst documentation

READ: Input from Text Strings, Files, Clipboard, and Window

READ is the companion function to WRITE. Often the FOrmat keyword is needed to interpret the data correctly. Files require a preceding OPEN.

READ is the companion function to WRITE
Reading a file requires a preceding OPEN(FIle=...)
The READ keyword Format is frequently needed to read files correctly

keyword	type	mini sample	medium_to_read_from (keyword order is irrelevant)
Text	txt	t=txt	txt can be a character constant, or a variable defined by any of the CHARACTER, CHAR, ALIAS, EDIT-Parse commands READ(Text="pi=3.14, i = -123, catch22") a, b, c ! a,b,c numeric. Assigns a=3.14 b=-123 c=22 READ(Text="pi=3.14, i = -123, catch22") str1, str2 ! both CHARACTER*10: str1="pi=3.14, i" str2=" = -123, c" READ(Text="pi=3.14, i = -123, catch22", fmt="F,5X,I5,A") a, b, str1 ! assigns: a=3.14 b=-123 str1=", catch22 "
FIle	txt	fi=name	to read a file, the file must be OPENed first. This defines whether the file is: formatted_sequential_read (the default). Records are separated by $CRLF or $LF: OPEN(FIle=name) READ(FIle=name) A ! read next line A in free format: For A numeric the 1st numeric value is assigned, for A character the full line is assigned READ(FIle=name) A, B ! read next line A and B: For A numeric the 1st numeric value is assigned, and B is assigned the rest of the line. For A character nothing is left for B: It is assigned either 0 or blank. READ(FIle=name, Row=n) text ! read_n-th_file_line to text unformatted_sequential_read _==_ stream-io_read : The number of input bytes (RecL) will match the input list OPEN(FIle=nam, UNFormatted, SEQuential) READ(FIle=nam, Rec=n) string ! reads LEN(string) bytes starting at byte n direct_read : OPEN(FIle=nam, RecL=10) ! implies DIRect, address the file in 10-byte fractions: READ(FIle=nam, rec= n) str1 ! read n-th 10-byte fraction matrix_file_read : A file that is not suited for direct read because the records have variable lengths, can be read the following way (for more see OPEN and MatrixExplorer). OPEN(FIle=nam, fmt='6 ,') ! sequential, 6 records per row, separated by blanks DLG(Edit=nam, fmt='6A20') ! opens spreadsheet for edit, column width 20 str = nam(123, 4) ! assigns element 4 of row 123 of file "nam" to str. A dialog opens on error str = nam(123, 0) ! assigns the full row 123 of file "nam" to str. A dialog opens on error str = nam(123, 4, *999) ! on error control is transferred to label 999, ⇾ more READ(FIle=nam, Row=123, Column=4) str123_4, str123_5 ! sequentially read multiple column elements in a row READ(FIle=nam, Row=123, Column=0) full_line ! column=0: read full line 123 to just search a file: see also SEArch
Rec (with FIle )	num	r=789	record number of a file OPENed for UNFormatted SEQuential or DIRect i/o OPEN(FIle=name, DIRect, RecL=40) ! open name for direct input/output, needs the record length RecL READ(FIle=name, Rec=n) text ! record_n_of_direct_file to text
ClipBoard	---	cb	READ(clipboard) string ! paste_from_clipboard_to_string
Messagebox	[O]	m="?a"	WRITE(Messagebox=options, IOStat=selected_button) io_list ( ⇾ see details). Program input is by the IOstat option.
WINdowhandle	NUM	win=wh	Obsolete, use the DLG function instead. If WIN is missing, input is prompted from the script window. READ(Row=2, Column=40, fmt='A40') sample ! this will prompt and read from the HicEst main window
CLoSe	log	cls=1	closes, cls=-1 truncates file after current position
			search_files_for_string
SEArch	txt	sea="??"	OPEN(file=nam) READ(FIle=nam, search="xyz") string ! search next_occurence of "xyz" in nam and read containing line into string READ(FIle=nam, sea="xyz", Rec=byteNr) string ! byteNr is the start_position_file_search on input: byteNr is the start byte, on output byteNr>0 is the start position of the search string optional: if the search string is prefixed by "C" and ":" : search Case sensitive (e.g. search="case:xyz") with a "W" and ":" prefix: search for full Words (e.g. search="Word:xyz") string_search_matrix_file see also matrix file read OPEN(FIle=nam, fmt="6 ,") ! 6 blank separated items per row row = INDEX(nam(row1,3), 'xyz') ! search column 3 for xyz starting in row1. The find is in row numeric_search_matrix_file row = INDEX(nam(1,3), 1E10', 32) ! search column 3 for 1E10, option 32 "nearest" finds the maximum (see INDEX)
			Formatted READ for all input media
Format	txt	f='F6.2, 2a4'	⇾ see Format for details
DecimalPoint	txt	dp=","	default is ".". READ(Text="€123,45 $123.45", DecPt=",") euros, dollars, cents ! assigns euros=123.45, dollars=123, cents=45
			inquire_operations
IOStat	NUM	ios=stat	get completion code of a READ or get return button number of a READ(Messagebox)
ItemS	NUM	is=count	READ(..., ItemS=n) input_list ! n is the number of successfully read items of the input_list
LENgth	NUM	L=len	READ(file=nam, LENgth=L) ! get_file_length Note: OPEN(file=nam) is not needed !
ERror	LBL	err=999	on error jump to label