The @READ and @GET statements can be used to select the records which are to be read from the file into the work file. When this is done, it is possible to modify the sequence of records in the file. Records can be read into the work file more than once.
It is also possible to select the characters (columns) which are to be read from the selected records into the work file. Here again, it is possible to modify the character sequence and characters can be read in more than once.
If column values which exceed the record length are specified then blanks are read into the work file in their place. This applies corresponding to the @INPUT statement (format 2).
If line ranges are specified for selection then only the specified (and possibly adjacent) lines are examined for illegal byte sequences. However, they are examined in full independently of any column selection which may have been made. Illegal byte sequences which occur in non-read lines are not detected.
The @WRITE (format 2) and @SAVE statements can be used to select the work file records to be written to the file. When this is done, it is possible to modify the sequence in which the work file records are written.
Work file records can be written more than once. It is also possible to select the characters (columns) which are to be written from the selected work file records into the file. Here again, it is possible to modify the character sequence and characters can be written more than once. If column values which exceed the work file record length are specified then blanks are written to the file in their place.