ASSOCIATEVARIABLE

 Indicates a variable that is updated after each direct access I/O
 operation, to reflect the record number of the next sequential
 record in the file.  It takes the following form:

 ASSOCIATEVARIABLE = asv

 asv  Is an integer variable.  It cannot be a dummy argument
      to the routine in which the OPEN statement appears.
      Use only in direct access mode.  

                                NOTE

         Direct access  READ,  direct  access  WRITE,  FIND,
         DELETE, and REWRITE statements can affect the value
         of the variable.