FREAD()

    FREAD() reads characters from a DOS file into a character memory
    variable.

Syntax

    FREAD(<expN1>,@<memvarC>,<expN2>)

Argument

    <expN1> is the file handle obtained from FOPEN(), FCREATE(), or
    predefined by DOS.

    <memvarC> is the name of an existing character memory variable passed
    by reference (preface it with the @ symbol) to use as a buffer.  The
    length of this memory variable must be at least the same as <expN2>.

    <expN2> is the number of bytes to read into the buffer starting at the
    current DOS pointer location.  The value returned by a successful
    FREAD() should be equal to <expN2>.

Returns

    An integer numeric value.

    FREAD() returns the number of bytes successfully read.  A return value
    of 0 indicates end-of-file or an error.

Usage

    FREAD() reads the file starting at the current file pointer position.
    Note that FREAD() reads all characters including control, null, and
    high-order (above CHR(128)).

    To reposition the file pointer without reading, use FSEEK().

Example

    block = 128                                    
    buffer = SPACE(512)                            
    handle = FOPEN("Temp.txt")                     
    *                                              
    IF FERROR() <> 0                               
       bytes = FREAD(handle, @buffer, block)       
       if bytes <> block                           
          ? "Error reading Temp.txt"               
       ENDIF                                       
    ENDIF                                          

WARNING: This function allows low level access to DOS files & devices.
             They should be used with extreme care and require a thorough
             knowledge of the operating system.