COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.08+, J06.03+)

file-name

is the file description name of the file to retrieve a record from.

data-name

is the identifier of the data area defined by your program to which the contents of the record

area are transferred after the read operation is complete. data-name cannot be an index-name

or the identifier of an index data item. The transfer is conducted as if it were a move from an

alphanumeric item to an alphanumeric item.

LOCK

keeps other programs from using the record retrieved until an UNLOCKFILE statement,

UNLOCKRECORD statement, or UNLOCK phrase is executed on the record.

wait-time

is the time interval, in seconds, in which the operation must complete. wait-time can be a

literal or the name of a data item. In either case, it must have a value described with at most

seven digits preceding any decimal point position. Any fractional portion is truncated to two

decimal places.

If file-name was not opened with a TIME LIMITS phrase, including wait-time in the READ

statement causes a run-time error.