Data Transfer I/O Statements Overview

Input/Output (I/O) statements can be used for data transfer, file connection, file inquiry, and file positioning.

This section discusses data transfer and contains information on the following topics:

• An overview of records and files

• Components of data transfer statements

• Data transfer input statements:

  • READ

    Data can be input from external sequential or direct-access records, or from internal records.

  • ACCEPT

    This statement is the same as a formatted, sequential READ statement, except that an ACCEPT statement must never be connected to user-specified I/O units.

• Data transfer output statements:

  • WRITE

    Data can be output to external sequential or direct-access records, or to internal records.

  • PRINT and TYPE

    The PRINT statement is the same as a formatted, sequential WRITE statement, except that the PRINT statement must never transfer data to user-specified I/O units.

    TYPE is a synonym for PRINT. All forms and rules for the PRINT statement also apply to the TYPE statement.

  • REWRITE

    It rewrites the current record and it can be formatted or unformatted.

File connection, file inquiry, and file positioning I/O statements are discussed in File Operation I/O Statements.