read
from
object at
offset for
length until
data
Object yields an object with an appropriate I/O manager. Offset yields an integer
identifying the position where reading starts. Length yields a non-negative integer
identifying the length of data to be read. Data yields the last data to be read.
read from file "MyData" at 4 for 20
read from file "MyData" until tab
read from file "MyData" at -20 until eof
The read
command reads from the specified object, which must be opened already with the open
command, into the local variable it
. Reading starts at the specified offset or, if no offset is specified, from where the last read
or write
left off. A negative offset indicates an offset from the end of the file, while a positive offset indicates an offset from the beginning of the file. Reading continues until either the specified data is read, or the specified length of data is read, whichever occurs first. If neither is specified, reading continues until the end of a line (if the text
I/O method is used) or the end of file (if the binary
I/O method is used).
HyperTalk uses only the first character of data to find a stopping point. OpenXION uses the whole data.
HyperTalk converts null characters to spaces when reading. OpenXION refuses to do such an unspeakable thing.