Example of read statement:

Illustration:

READ OLD-MASTER AT END MOVE ZERO TO END-OF-RECORDS.

As a result of this statement, generally the next record from the OLD-MASTER file will be read. If there is no more record in the OLD-MASTER, the value zero will be moved to the field named END-OF-RECORDS.

Illustration:

READ TRANSACTION RECORD AT END GO TO PARA-END.

This illustration is similar to the former illustration. The next record from the TRANSACTION file will be read if it is available. If the file does not hold any extra records, the control will be transferred to the paragraph named PARA-END.

Illustration:  

READ KARD-FILE INTO IN-REC AT END

                                                 GO TO JOB-END.

This statement not only reads the next record into the record region of the KARD-FILE but also moves the record into the region name the IN-REC.  When there is no more record in the KARD-FILE, then the control is transferred to the paragraph named JOB-END.  If the record region of the KARD-FILE has been named KARD-REC, the above statement is alike to

READ KARD-FILE AT END GO TO JOB-END.

MOVE KARD-REC TO IN-REC.

It may be noted that if the record has been effectively read, it is now available in the

KARD-REC as well as IN-REC.