GET (QSAM)

Syntax:

GET(ddname)

Arguments:

ddname: is the 1 to 8 character name that identifies the data set you want to process. This name needs to have been previously associated with the data set, either via the ALLOCATE command or JCL DD statement, and opened via the OPEN function.

Module Name:

SWXGET

Service Description:

The GET function is used to retrieve records from sequential data sets (permanent and temporary), SYSIN data sets, and PDS members. Before you can use the GET function you must first allocate and open (using the OPEN function) the data set associated with the ddname argument. If you do not, an error will occur. Each invocation of GET retrieves the next record (or an end-of-file indication if there are no more records).

GET also is used to update records. If you wish to update records, you must OPEN the ddname using the 'UPDATE' option. After you have read a record using GET, the next PUT will re-write the record to the file.

Returned Information:

The GET function, if successful, returns the record requested. If the GET request fails, a null string (zero length) is returned. If the GET function is CALLed, the REXX special variable, RESULT, will contain the returned record.

After completion of a GET function call, the RC and REASON variables will contain return code information. You should treat these variables as "read only" and make no attempt to modify any of them. The variables are:

RC: Contains the QSAM GET return code. An RC of zero means the operation was completed successfully. A return code of 8 indicates that no more records are available (end-of-file).
REASON: Contains the QSAM GET reason code.

Examples:

Sequentially retrieve records from a data set:

record = get('indd')
do while rc = 0
  parse var record 22 ssn +11 lname +10 fname +10
  say left(fname,10) left(lname,10) left(ssn,11)
  record = get('indd')
end

Count the records of a RECFM=FB data set. We can use the fact that a zero-length record is impossible to simplify our logic:
```
i=0; do while get('indd')<>''; i=i+1; end
```