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**#OPEN(** //file// **) **[, **READ **]

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| **#OPEN** | Opens a disk file to receive generated source code. |
| //file// | A string constant, template symbol, or expression containing a DOS file specification. This may be a fully qualified DOS pathname. |
| **READ** | Opens the file as read-only. The file cannot be already open for output. |

The **#OPEN** statement opens a disk file to receive the source code generated by #GENERATE. If the //file// does not exist, it is created. If the //file// already exists, it is opened in "append source" mode. If the //file// is already open, a source generation error is produced.The //file// is automatically selected as the active source output destination.

If the READ attribute is present, the file is opened in read-only mode so the #READ statement can read it as an ASCII text file. Only one file can be open for input at one time.

**Example:**

**#SET(%ProgramFile,(%Application & '.$$$'))       #!Temp program filename**

**#OPEN(%ProgramFile)                              #!Open existing program file**

**#GENERATE(%Program)                              #!Generate main program header**

**#CLOSE(%ProgramFile)                             #!Close output file**

**#OPEN****(%ProgramFile),READ                         #!Open it in read-only mode**

**#DECLARE(%ASCIIFileRecord)**

**#LOOP**

**  #READ(%ASCIIFileRecord)**

** #! Parse the line and do something with it**

** #IF(%ASCIIFileRecord = %EOF)**

**  #BREAK**

** #ENDIF**

**#ENDLOOP**

**#CLOSE(%ProgramFile),READ**

**See Also:     **[[ read  read one line of a source file .htm|#READ]] ,[[ close  close source file .htm|#CLOSE]]