READ:text

line_range

 A scalar appended to the file name, file\n, specifies the starting
 record. The first n-1 records will be skipped. 

 A vector appended to the file name, file\x, specifies each record to
 read. The first x[1]-1 records will be skipped. The data will be read
 from records x[1], x[2], ..., x[#]. Records x[1]+1 to x[2]-1 will be
 skipped. The vector x must be monotonically increasing.

format

 Syntax: READ\TEXT\FORMAT file{\line_range} (frmt) txtvar

 By default, when no format is entered, the entire line, up to 255
 characters is read. The \FORMAT qualifier must be used to indicate that
 a format is present. The format must be enclosed in parentheses, ( and ).
 Allowable formats are:  nX  -->  skip over n characters
                         An  -->  read n characters
 For example: (2X,A10)  means to skip the first two characters and
 read the next 10 characters.

unformatted

 Syntax: READ\TEXT\UNFORMATTED file{\line_range} (frmt) txtvar

 If the \UNFORMATTED qualifier is used, the file is assumed to be an
 unformatted binary file.  By default, the first record is read. The
 (frmt) paramter is a prescription that specifies how the record is to
 be read and is required when the \UNFORMATTED qualifier is used. The
 prescription must be enclosed in parenthesis, ( and ). The only
 allowable prescription is (An), which means to read n characters. For
 example: (A10)  means to read the first 10 characters from the record.

examples

 Read a character string from the fourth record of file DUM.DAT into
 text variable TXT, and then draw the character string:
   READ\TEXT DUM.DAT\4 TXT
   TEXT TXT

 Read 5 character strings from records 4 to 8 of DUM.DAT into array
 text variable TXT, and then draw the 3rd element of TXT:
   READ\TEXT DUM.DAT\[4:8] TXT
   TEXT TXT[3]