Routines (alphabetical) > Routines: R > READS

# READS

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 Explicitly 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

4.0 | Introduced

## See Also

READ/READF, READU