For sequentially accessed files, the READ statement makes the next logical
record in the sequence available.
Format 1 -
READ file-name [ NEXT ] RECORD [ INTO dest-item ]
[ PREVIOUS ]
[ PRIOR ]
[ WITH [ NO ] LOCK ]
[ REGARDLESS OF LOCK ]
[ { UPDATERS } ]
[ ALLOWING { READERS } ]
[ { NO OTHERS } ]
[ AT END stment ] [ NOT AT END stment ]
[ END-READ ]
1 – file-name
is the name of a file described in the Data Division. It cannot be a sort or merge file.
2 – dest-item
is the identifier of a data item that receives the record accessed by the READ statement.
3 – stment
is an imperative statement executed for an at end or not at end condition.