The READS procedure performs formatted input from a string variable and writes the results into one or more output variables. This procedure differs from the READ procedure only in that the input comes from memory instead of a file.
This routine is useful when you need to examine the format of a data file before reading the information it contains. Each line of the file can be read into a string using READF. Then the components of that line can be read into variables using READS.
Syntax
READS, Input, Var1, ..., Varn [, AM_PM=[string, string]] [, DAYS_OF_WEEK=string_array{7 names}] [, FORMAT=value] [, MONTHS=string_array{12 names}]
Arguments
Input
The string variable from which the input is taken. If the supplied argument is not a string, it is automatically converted. The argument can be scalar or array. If Input is an array, the individual string elements are treated as successive lines of input.
Vari
The named variables to receive the input.
Note: If the variable specified for the Vari argument has not been previously defined, the input data is assumed to be of type float, and the variable will be cast as a float.
Keywords
AM_PM
Supplies a string array of 2 names to be used for the names of the AM and PM string when processing explicitly formatted dates (CAPA, CApA, and CapA format codes) with the FORMAT keyword.
DAYS_OF_WEEK
Supplies a string array of 7 names to be used for the names of the days of the week when processing explicitly formatted dates (CDWA, CDwA, and CdwA format codes) with the FORMAT keyword.
FORMAT
If FORMAT is not specified, IDL uses its default rules for formatting the input. FORMAT allows the format of the input to be specified in precise detail, using a FORTRAN-style specification. See Using Formatted Input/Output.
MONTHS
Supplies a string array of 12 names to be used for the names of the months when processing explicitly formatted dates (CMOA, CMoA, and CmoA format codes) with the FORMAT keyword.
Version History
See Also
READ/READF, READU