#### READ

#### Synopsis

    HELP:   Inbound parameter to read data
    TYPE:   OVERLAY
    SYNTAX: READ.{BINARY()/CHARACTER()/TEXT()/XML()/RECORD()/FLAM4()/AUTO()/FILE='str'/STREAM/DUMMY}

#### Description

With the overlay READ you can choose the kind of data (binary, text, character, record, FLAM4FILE, table, ...) to read or you can use 'auto' for auto detection of the file/data format. For each read method, a dedicated behavior is implemented and the corresponding parameters can be used to detail the procedure. For example: If we know it is text and the data is compressed then the data will be automatically de-compressed, because compressed data cannot be converted to text records. If the compressed data is, for example, Base64 encoded, then a decoding is done before decompression and so on. Based on the knowledge about the kind of data you want to read, we have simplified the way to automatically do the right things for you. Reading files transparently for each kind of data format can be very powerful.

After the read operation, you can choose the same or another write operation to convert your data between different platforms, file and data formats, character sets, compression, encryption or encoding methods.

Additionally you can calculate or verify checksums on the binary data stream direct after the read operation.

Below, you can find the currently supported data sources explained in a dedicated chapter.