The '''OPEN''' statement is used to open a file or [[OPEN_COM|COM]] serial communications port.


''Qbasic:'' {{PageSyntax}}

::'''OPEN''' ''FileName$'' ['''FOR''' mode] [{{{KW|ACCESS}}|{{{KW|LOCK}}|SHARED}} [{READ|WRITE}] '''AS''' [#]''FileNumber%'' [LEN = ''recordLEN'']


* ''FileName$'' is a [[STRING]] variable or literal file name inside of quotes. 
* '''QB64''' ''filenames'' can be up to 255(Windows) characters with no limit on extension length. 
* ''File number'' can be any [[INTEGER]] value from 1 to 255 or an unused value determined by [[FREEFILE]].
* [[LEN]] = is optional. Sequencial files default to 512 and [[RANDOM]] to 128 bytes. Statement ignored in [[BINARY]] mode.
* The ''mode'' defaults to RANDOM if the ''mode'' or FOR access statement is omitted. (see open modes described below)
* '''Only the ''filename'', ''file number'' and LEN = ''record length'' values can use variable values in the Qbasic OPEN syntax.'''
* Once a file or port is opened, it can be used in any program procedure using the assigned file number. 
* Illegal Qbasic filename characters are ''' " * / \ + | ? [ ] , ; : < > ''' and more than one dot(period). 
* Illegal '''QB64''' filename characters are ''' " * / \ | ? : < > '''. Multiple dots(periods) are allowed, but only the first one will be used. 
* Qbasic ''filenames'' must not exceed 12 characters(including dot) with a maximum of 3 file type extension characters using the DOS 8.3 naming convention limits.
* Possible OPEN [[ERROR Codes|errors]] include "Bad file name or number", "Bad File Mode", "File Not Found" or "Path Not Found".
* '''Devices such as "KYBD:", "SCRN:", "CONS:" and "LPTn:" are [[Keywords currently not supported by QB64|currently NOT supported in QB64!]]'''. 
: '''Note:''' OPEN LPTn is not supported by QB64, but may be supported directly by your operating system. 
* [[OPEN COM]] is implemented for serial port access!


<center> ''' File ACCESS and LOCK Permissions'''</center>

* [[ACCESS]] clause limits file access to READ, WRITE or READ WRITE on a network ONLY with DOS 3.1 or greater.
* [[LOCK (access)|LOCK]] clause can specify SHARED or a LOCK READ or LOCK WRITE file lock in an OPEN statement working on a network.
* A separate [[LOCK]] statement can lock or [[UNLOCK]] file access on a network ONLY using a format that can lock specific records.
* ''Note:'' '''Qbasic''' ACCESS and LOCK clauses required that the DOS '''SHARED.EXE''' program be run for networking access.


<center>'''Qbasic File Modes:''' Open can use 5 different access modes:</center>

* [[OUTPUT]]: Sequencial mode creates a new file or erases an existing file for new program output. Use [[WRITE (file statement)|WRITE #]] to write numerical or text data or the [[PRINT (file statement)|PRINT #]] for text. OUTPUT clears files of all data and clears the receive buffer on other devices such as [[ON COM(n)|COM]].
* [[APPEND]]: Sequencial mode creates a new file if it doesn't exist or appends program output to an existing file. Use [[WRITE (file statement)|WRITE #]] for numerical or text data or the [[PRINT (file statement)|PRINT #]] for text as in the OUTPUT mode. APPEND does not remove previous data. 
* [[BINARY]]: Creates a new file when it doesn't exist or uses input and/or output from an existing file. Use [[GET|GET #]] to read or [[PUT|PUT #]] to write simultaneously. [[LEN]] = statements are ignored in this mode only.
* [[RANDOM]]: Creates a new file when it doesn't exist or uses input and/or output from an existing file. Use [[GET|GET #]] or [[PUT|PUT #]] the same as BINARY mode. A [[LEN]] = statement can define the byte size of a record(defaut = 128).
* [[INPUT (file mode)|INPUT]] : Sequencial mode only reads input from an existing file. [[ERROR Codes|File error]] if file does not exist! Use [[_FILEEXISTS]] and [[_DIREXISTS]] to avoid errors. Use [[INPUT (file statement)|INPUT #]] for numerical or text data and [[LINE INPUT (file statement)|LINE INPUT #]] or [[INPUT$]] to only read text data. 
* The [[INPUT (file mode)|INPUT]], [[BINARY]] and [[RANDOM]] file modes allow a file to be concurrently opened in a different mode and number.


<center>'''GW Basic OPEN statements'''</center>


:''GW Basic'' {{PageSyntax}} 
::'''OPEN''' ''modeletter$'', [#]''filenumber'', ''filename$''[, ''recordLEN'']


:* ''Mode letter'' is a variable or literal [[STRING]] letter value as one of the following:
:::::::::* "O" denotes OUTPUT mode as defined above.
:::::::::* "A" denotes APPEND mode as defined above.
:::::::::* "B" denotes BINARY mode as defined above.
:::::::::* "R" denotes RANDOM mode as defined above.
:::::::::* "I" denotes INPUT mode as defined above.

:* ''File number'' can be any variable or literal [[INTEGER]] value between 1 and 255 or a  [[FREEFILE]] value.
:* ''File name'' can be a variable or literal [[STRING]] file name value.
:* ''Record LENgth'' can be a variable or literal [[INTEGER]] value used in "R" mode only. Use multiples of 128 only.
:* This type of OPEN allows the statement to be made using program variables only. A holdover for compatibility with GW Basic.
:* '''Note:''' Does not support any file [[ACCESS]] or [[LOCK]] restrictions.


<center> '''Comparing the GWBasic OPEN to a Qbasic OPEN statement:'''</center>


::::::::::GWBasic: OPEN "A", #1, Filename$

::::::::::Qbasic: OPEN Filename$ FOR APPEND AS #1

:Where Filename$ is the filename variable or a literal string name such as "Data1.DAT" is used. The Qbasic syntax cannot use a variable to change the OPEN mode so the programmer must determine it ahead of time.



''Example 1:'' Function that displays errors and the number of errors in Qbasic filenames. Returns 0 when filename is OK.

{{CodeStart}}
 file$ = "Hello,~1.mp3"      'example call below
 LOCATE 20, 30: errors% = CheckName%(file$): COLOR 14: PRINT "  Total Errors ="; errors% 

{{Cl|FUNCTION}} CheckName% (Filename$)
  'NOTE: Function also displays filename errors so LOCATE on screen before call!
  {{Cl|DIM}} L AS INTEGER, DP AS INTEGER, XL AS {{Cl|INTEGER}}
  L = {{Cl|LEN}}(Filename$): DP = {{Cl|INSTR}}(Filename$, "."): IF DP THEN XL = L - DP 'extension
  IF L = 0 OR L > 12 OR DP > 9 OR XL > 3 THEN 
    CheckName% = -1: COLOR 12: PRINT "Illegal format!"; : EXIT FUNCTION
  END IF
  FOR i% = 1 TO L      'check each filename character"
     code% = {{Cl|ASC}}({{Cl|MID$}}(Filename$, i%, 1)): COLOR 10      ' see {{Cl|ASCII}} codes
     {{Cl|SELECT CASE}} code%       'check for errors and highlight in red
	CASE 34, 42 TO 44, 47, 58 TO 63, 91 TO 93, 124: E% = E% + 1: COLOR 12 ' Qbasic errors
       'CASE 34, 42, 47, 58, 60, 62, 92, 124: E% = E% + 1: COLOR 12 ' '''QB64''' errors
        CASE 46: dot% = dot% + 1: IF dot% > 1 THEN E% = E% + 1: COLOR 12
     {{Cl|END SELECT}}     
     PRINT {{Cl|CHR$}}(code%);  'use LOCATE before FUNCTION call to place print
  NEXT  
  CheckName% = E%
END FUNCTION
{{CodeEnd}}
''Note: The QB64 character list is commented out. Comment out the Qbasic one if using QB64 list.

{{OutputStart}}
                         Hello,~1.mp3  Total Errors = 1
{{OutputEnd}}
:''Note:'' The screen output displays filename characters in green except for red comma Qbasic error.


''Example 2:'' A function that verifies that a file exists if it is NOT empty. Note: May create a file that is deleted if empty.
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
{{Cl|INPUT}} "Enter a file name: ", file$
{{Cl|IF}} Exist%(file$) {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|OPEN}} file$ {{Cl|FOR (file statement)|FOR}} {{Cl|INPUT (file mode)|INPUT}} {{Cl|AS}} #1: found% = -1   'function call demo
{{Cl|CLOSE}} #1
{{Cl|IF}} found% THEN {{Cl|PRINT}} "File exists!" {{Cl|ELSE}} {{Cl|PRINT}} "File not found!"
{{Cl|END}}

{{Cl|FUNCTION}} Exist% (filename$)
f% = {{Cl|FREEFILE}}
{{Cl|OPEN}} filename$ {{Cl|FOR (file statement)|FOR}} {{Cl|APPEND}} {{Cl|AS}} #f%
{{Cl|IF}} {{Cl|LOF}}(f%) {{Cl|THEN}} Exist% = -1 {{Cl|ELSE}} Exist% = 0: {{Cl|CLOSE}} #f%: {{Cl|KILL}} filename$
{{Cl|CLOSE}} #f% 
{{Cl|END FUNCTION}} '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}
{{small|Code by Ted Weissgerber}}



* '''QB64''' can use the [[_OPENCLIENT]], [[_OPENHOST]] or [[_OPENCONNECTION]] functions for TCP/IP internet connections. 



''See also:'' 
* [[OPEN COM]]
* [[CLOSE]], [[LOF]], [[EOF]], [[LOC]]
* [[PRINT (file statement)]], [[INPUT (file statement)]]
* [[GET]], [[PUT]], [[INPUT$]], [[SEEK (statement)]], [[SEEK]]
* [[LEN]], [[RESET]] 
* [[FILEATTR]], [[FIELD]], [[TYPE]]
* [[_FILEEXISTS]], [[_DIREXISTS]]
* [[_OPENCLIENT]], [[_OPENHOST]], [[_OPENCONNECTION]] {{text|(TCP/IP)}}
* [[Port Access Libraries]] {{text|(COM or LPT registers)}}


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