Parameters

logical-name[:]

   Specifies the logical name of the input file from which a record
   is to be read. Use the logical name assigned by the OPEN command
   when the file was opened. (The OPEN command assigns a logical
   name to a file and places the name in the process logical name
   table.)

   In addition, you can specify the process-permanent files
   identified by the logical names SYS$INPUT, SYS$OUTPUT, SYS$ERROR,
   and SYS$COMMAND.


symbol-name

   Specifies the name of a symbol to be equated to the contents of
   the record. The name must be 1 to 255 alphanumeric characters and
   must start with an alphabetic letter, an underscore (_),  or a
   dollar sign ($).

   When you specify a symbol name for the READ command, the command
   interpreter places the symbol name in the local symbol table
   for the current command level. If the symbol has already been
   defined, the READ command redefines it to the new value being
   read.