INPUT (file statement)

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The INPUT # file or port statement reads sequential data using one variable or a comma separated list of matching variable types.


Syntax

INPUT #fileNumber&, variable1[, variable2, ..., variableN]


Parameters

  • fileNumber& is a positive LONG integer value used to OPEN the file FOR INPUT mode.
  • The type of the variable used defines the value or list of values to be returned from the file. Numeric types must match the values returned.
  • As reflected in the syntax you can list a number of variables with different types seperated by a comma and they will hold the values in the file (keep in mind that the information in the file should match the variable types used).


Description

  • The file number can be determined by the programmer or be an unused number returned by the FREEFILE function.
  • Variable types must match the numerical types being read. STRING variables can return unquoted numeric values.
  • Leading or trailing spaces of STRING values must be inside of quotes. WRITE # writes strings inside of quotes automatically. PRINT # removes quotes.
  • INPUT # will read each value until it encounters a comma for the next value in a list.
  • Use the EOF function to avoid reading past the end of a file.
  • Files created by WRITE # usually have the same number of values on each file line. If INPUT reads more or less values, it may read beyond the end of file or return bad data.
  • Use the LINE INPUT (file statement) for files created with PRINT # or PRINT #, USING.
  • INPUT can read Excel CSV files, but beware of unquoted text or numerical values containing commas.


Examples

Example 1: Writes new data to a text file sequentially and reads it back to the program screen. 

filename$ = "testfile.dat"
x = 1: y = 2: z$ = "Three"

OPEN filename$ FOR OUTPUT AS #1 'opens and clears an existing file or creates new empty file
WRITE #1, x, y, z$
CLOSE #1

PRINT "File created with data. Press a key!"
K$ = INPUT$(1) 'press a key

OPEN filename$ FOR INPUT AS #2 'opens a file to read it
INPUT #2, a, b, c$
CLOSE #2

PRINT a, b, c$
WRITE a, b, c$

END

 1           2          Three
1,2,"Three"
Screen output: PRINT string values will not display enclosing quotes. WRITE screen displays will.
1,2,"Three"
File content: WRITE string values will include quotation marks, but they are not required to read the file value as a string.


Example 2: Commas inside of string values will not affect the INPUT value as those commas are not WRITE separators. 

x$ = "Hello, how are you?"
y$ = "I'm fine."

OPEN "testinp.dat" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
WRITE #1, x$, y$
CLOSE #1


OPEN "testinp.dat" FOR INPUT AS #1

INPUT #1, a$, b$
CLOSE #1

PRINT a$, b$
WRITE a$, b$

Hello, how are you?        I'm fine.
"Hello, how are you?","I'm fine."
"Hello, how are you?","I'm fine."
File content: Commas inside of strings delimited with quotes will be ignored. WRITE will always enclose string values in quotes.


See also


Navigation:
Main Page with Articles and Tutorials
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