10.6.21 STATUS Keyword

The STATUS keyword specifies the status of the file that you wish to open. It takes the following form:

STATUS = sta

sta

Is a character expression with one of the following values:

• 'OLD': Open a previously created file.

• 'NEW': Create a new file; if the file already exists, an error occurs.

• 'SCRATCH': Create a new file and delete it when it closes.

• 'UNKNOWN': First try 'OLD'; if the file is not found, use 'NEW' and create a new file.

The default is 'UNKNOWN'. This is also the default value if you implicitly open a file by using WRITE. However, if you implicitly open a file by using READ, the default value is 'OLD'. If you specify the compiler option NOF77 (or OPTIONS /NOF77), the default value is 'NEW'.

Scratch files (STATUS='SCRATCH') are created in the user's working directory and are visible while they are open. When they are closed, they are deleted.

Note

The STATUS keyword is also used in CLOSE statements to specify the status of a file after the file is closed. However, in CLOSE statements the STATUS values are the same as those listed for the DISPOSE keyword (see Section 10.6.9).