READ Statement: Reading Character Data (MATRIX-END MATRIX command)

The READ statement reads data into a matrix or submatrix from a character-format file--that is, a file containing ordinary numbers or words in readable form. The syntax for the READ statement is:

READ  variable reference
  [/FILE = file reference]
   /FIELD = c1 TO c2 [BY w]
  [/SIZE = size expression]
  [/MODE = {RECTANGULAR}]
           {SYMMETRIC  }
  [/REREAD]
  [/FORMAT = format descriptor]

• The file can contain values in freefield or fixed-column format. The data can appear in any of the field formats supported by DATA LIST.
• More than one matrix can be read from a single input record by rereading the record.
• If the end of the file is encountered during a READ operation (that is, fewer values are available than the number of elements required by the specified matrix size), a warning message is displayed and the contents of the unread elements of the matrix are unpredictable.