File Option

The variable file option associates an ASCII text file of values - one per line - with a variable:

 , FILE = filename

where "filename" is a quoted character string which defines the name of the ASCII text file, excluding the path name and file extension. The file must reside in the data directory of the Repository and have the file extension .FVR.

The file is used by the NEXT command, which allows the variable to be assigned a value from the file sequentially.

Values are held in the file with one value per line. The values must be of the same data type as the variable, i.e. integer values for integer variables and character values for character variables. For example, a file for an integer variable could contain the values:

-100
0
100

A file for a character variable could contain the values:

Pele
10
Cruyff
14

Note: SCL character commands are not recognized within the file variable files - the file should contain raw ASCII characters only.

Values are retrieved from the file associated with a variable using the NEXT command. This command retrieves the next sequential value from the file. When the NEXT command is first executed, it will retrieve the first value from the file. If the variable is set to the last value in the file when the NEXT command is executed, the variable will be reset to the first value in the file. You can also reset the variable explicitly, by using the RESET command.

The file option is not valid for variables which:

1. Have an associated value list
2. Have been declared as an array
3. Are part of a record

See also:

Variable Options