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**SKIP(**// entity//,// count //**)**

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| **SKIP** | Bypasses records during sequential processing. |
| //entity// | The label of a FILE or VIEW declaration. |
| //count// | A numeric constant or variable. The //count// specifies the number of records to bypass. If the value is positive, records are skipped in forward (NEXT) sequence; if //count// is negative, records are skipped in reverse (PREVIOUS) sequence. |

The **SKIP** statement is used to bypass records during sequential processing. It bypasses records, in the sequence specified by the SET statement, by moving the file pointer //count// records. SKIP is more efficient than NEXT or PREVIOUS for skipping past records because it does not move records into the RECORD structure data buffer. If SKIP reads past the end or beginning of file, the EOF( ) and BOF( ) procedures return true. If no SET has been issued, SKIP posts error 33 (Record Not Available).

**Errors Posted:**

| 33 | Record Not Available |
| 37 | File Not Open |

**Example:**

**ViewOrder  VIEW(Customer)                        !Declare VIEW structure**

**            PROJECT(Cus:AcctNumber,Cus:Name)**

**            JOIN(Hea:AcctKey,Cus:AcctNumber)     !Join Header file**

**             PROJECT(Hea:OrderNumber)**

**             JOIN(Dtl:OrderKey,Hea:OrderNumber)  !Join Detail file**

**              PROJECT(Det:Item,Det:Quantity)**

**              JOIN(Pro:ItemKey,Dtl:Item)         !Join Product file**

**               PROJECT(Pro:Description,Pro:Price)**

**              END**

**             END**

**            END**

**           END**

**SavOrderNo LONG**

** CODE**

** OPEN(Customer,22h)**

** OPEN((Header,22h)**

** OPEN(Detail,22h)**

** OPEN(Product,22h)**

** SET(Cus:AcctKey)**

** OPEN(ViewOrder)                                 !Top of file in keyed sequence**

** LOOP                                            !Process all records**

**  NEXT(ViewOrder)                                !Get a record**

**  IF ERRORCODE() THEN BREAK END**

**  IF Hea:OrderNumber <;> SavOrderNo               !Check for first item in order**

**   IF Hea:OrderStatus = 'Cancel'                 !Is it a canceled order?**

**   ****SKIP****(Items,Vew:ItemCount-1)                  !SKIP rest of the items**

**    CYCLE                                        !and process next order**

**   END                                           !end ifs**

**  END                                            !end ifs**

**  DO ItemProcess                                 !process the item**

**  SavInvNo = Hea:OrderNUmber                     !save the invoice number**

** END                                             !End loop**

**See Also:**

[[set  initiate sequential file processing .htm|SET]]

[[reset  reset record sequence position .htm|RESET]]

[[next  read next record in sequence .htm|NEXT]]

[[previous  read previous view record in sequence .htm|PREVIOUS]]