Sequential Access in Physical Record Order

A sequential access in physical record order is really a series of random accesses by physical record number. The FPOINT and FREADC intrinsics are used to read records in order of their physical location in the file. The FPOINT intrinsic sets the physical record pointer to the position specified in its record number parameter. The FREADC intrinsic reads the record specified by the physical record pointer without reference to the logical record pointer. A subsequent FREADC intrinsic advances the physical record pointer to the next physical record. Any record containing a delete flag is ignored and is not read.

The FREADDIR intrinsic also reads files in physical record order. It positions the pointer to the record specified in the record number parameter. A subsequent FREADDIR intrinsic call repositions the physical record pointer to the next physical record. Note that deleted records are not ignored with this intrinsic. It is recommended, therefore, that you use the FPOINT and FREADC intrinsics to read records sequentially in physical record order. Use the FREADDIR intrinsic only to read a single record identified by its physical record number.

The FGETINFO intrinsic returns the physical record pointer setting, as well as other information, for the record most recently accessed. This number is returned in the record pointer parameter and can be used in a subsequent FPOINT or FREADDIR intrinsic call.