/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb PASCAL, Input Output, Direct Access, FIND  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  The FIND procedure positions a file at  a  specified  component.
  The  file  must  be  open  for  direct  access  and must contain
  fixed-length components.

  Syntax:

     FIND( file_variable, component-number
           [[, ERROR := error-recovery]] );

  The 'file_variable' is the name of the file variable  associated
  with a file that is open for direct access.

  The 'component-number' is a  positive  integer  expression  that
  indicates  the  component at which the file is to be positioned.
  If the component number is zero or negative,  a  run-time  error
  occurs.

  The 'error-recovery' specifies the action  to  be  taken  if  an
  error occurs during execution of the routine.  By default, after
  the first error, the error message is printed and  execution  is
  stopped.

  The FIND procedure allows direct access to the components  of  a
  file.   You  can  use  the  FIND  procedure  to  move forward or
  backward in a file.

  After execution of the FIND procedure, the file is positioned at
  the  specified  component.  The file buffer variable assumes the
  value of the component, and the file mode is set to  inspection.
  If   the  file  has  relative  organization,  the  current  file
  component is locked.  If there  is  no  file  component  at  the
  selected  position,  the  file  buffer is undefined (UFB becomes
  TRUE) and the mode becomes undefined.  After any call  to  FIND,
  the value of EOF is undefined.

  You can use the FIND procedure only when reading a file that was
  opened  by the OPEN procedure.  If the file is open because of a
  default open (that is, with EXTEND, RESET, or REWRITE),  a  call
  to  FIND  results in a run-time error because the default access
  method is sequential.

  See the "Compaq Pascal Language Reference Manual" for a complete
  description of the FIND procedure.