FILE READ NEXT Statement

READ NEXT statement is used to read the next record from the current reading position of the file. At a time, only one record is retrieved from the file.

Points to note -

The file should open in INPUT or I-O mode to perform the READ NEXT statement.
The READ NEXT statement is used for indexed or relative files.
A READ NEXT statement is used when the ACCESS MODE is DYNAMIC.

READ logical-file-name [NEXT RECORD] [INTO ws-record-name] [AT END statements-set1] [NOT AT END statements-set2] [END-READ].

Note! All statements coded in [ ] are optional.

Parameters -

logical-file-name - Specifies the file from where the record is to be read.
NEXT RECORD - Used to read the next record in a sequential reading.
INTO ws-record-name - Specifies the working-storage record name to where the record is retrieved. ws-record-name matches with the actual record layout.
END-READ - Specifies the end of the READ statement. END-READ is not required when a READ statement ends with a period.

Error Handling -

AT END - This phrase specifies the action to take if you're at the end of a file or no more records are left. It applies to sequential files only.
NOT AT END - This phrase specifies the action to perform when the read is successful and it's not the end of the file. It applies to sequential files only.

Note! If the FILE-STATUS clause is coded, the associated file status is updated when the READ NEXT statement is executed.

Practical Example -

Scenario - Reading sequentially from record key 'E0003' in forward direction.

Input File (KSDS) -

Browse MATESY.EMPLOYEE.DETAILS Command ===> Type KSDS Key ----10---+----2----+----3----+----4 **** Top of data **** E0001EMPLOYEE1 MANAGER 0000200000 E0002EMPLOYEE2 TL 0000150000 E0003EMPLOYEE3 SE 0000050000 E0004EMPLOYEE4 SSE 0000040000 E0005EMPLOYEE5 SE 0000045000 E0006EMPLOYEE6 SE 0000045000 **** End of data ****

----+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+ . PROCEDURE DIVISION. * Opening file in INPUT mode OPEN INPUT EMPFILE. * Set the file pointer to read the record MOVE 'E0003' TO EMP-ID. START EMPFILE KEY IS EQUAL TO EMP-ID INVALID KEY DISPLAY "RECORD NOT FOUND" NOT INVALID KEY PERFORM 1000-READ-EMPFILE THRU 1000-EXIT END-START. * Closing file CLOSE EMPFILE. STOP RUN. 1000-READ-EMPFILE. * Reading records sequentially using NEXT RECORD * until end of the file PERFORM UNTIL WS-EOF READ EMPFILE NEXT RECORD AT END SET WS-EOF TO TRUE NOT AT END DISPLAY EMPFILE-RECORD END-READ END-PERFORM. 1000-EXIT. EXIT.

//MATESYF JOB MSGLEVEL=(1,1),NOTIFY=&SYSUID //* //STEP01 EXEC PGM=FILEBRFW //STEPLIB DD DSN=MATESY.COBOL.LOADLIB,DISP=SHR //INPUT01 DD DSN=MATESY.EMPLOYEE.INPFILE,DISP=SHR //SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=*

E0003EMPLOYEE3 SE 0000050000 E0004EMPLOYEE4 SSE 0000040000 E0005EMPLOYEE5 SE 0000045000 E0006EMPLOYEE6 SE 0000045000