% @(#)read_tabl.hlq	17.1.1.1 (ESO-IPG) 01/25/02 17:43:52 
%++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
%.COPYRIGHT  (c)  1990 European Southern Observatory
%.IDENT      read_tabl.hlq
%.AUTHOR     JDP, IPG/ESO
%.KEYWORDS   MIDAS, help files, READ/TABLE
%.PURPOSE    On-line help file for the command: READ/TABLE
%.VERSION    1.0  17-OCT-1983 : Creation, JDP
%----------------------------------------------------------------
\se
SECTION./TABL
\es\co
READ/TABLE					17-OCT-1983  JDP
\oc\su
READ/TABLE table [column_sel] [row_sel] [form]
	display table elements
\us\pu
Purpose:      
              Read table elements.
\up\sy
Syntax:       READ/TABLE table [column_sel] [row_sel] [form]
\ys\pa
              table      = table name
\ap\pa
              column_sel = column reference(s) of the listed column(s);
                           the comma is used to separate columns, usually only
			   one ":" is necessary at the beginning,
			   e.g. :a,b,c
                           All the columns are listed by default.
			   Column names which start with the letter "s" 
			   need to be entered with ":", 
			   e.g. :a,b,:some_column,c
			   because otherwise they are interpreted as column
			   :SEQUENCE
\ap\pa
              row_sel    = sequence numbers of the row(s) to be printed, 
                           commas can be used for enumeration, and a double
                           dot for ranges 
                           All the rows are listed by default.
\ap\pa
              form       = optional format file (type .FMT)
\ap\sa
See also:
              PRINT/TABLE, WRITE/TABLE, CREATE/TABLE
\as\no
Note:         
              If the format file is included, only the columns referenced by
              the DEFINE/FIELD command are listed.
              (See the command CREATE/TABLE for description of the format
	      files.)
	      Column names will be printed in the header with the length of
	      the column entries. This might lead to a significant abbreviation
	      of the column name, e.g., if the column entries consist of one
	      digit, only the first character of the column name will appear.
	      Use a format file to avoid confusion between columns with similar
	      names.
              The NULL values will be listed as a "*" for all types of 
              columns except for character columns. In that case they will
              be listed as an empty field.   
	      Instead of read/tab the short form: 
	      {tablename},:{columnname},{rownumber} 
	      e.g. mytable,:radvel,20 can be used to access a single table
	      element. 
\on\exs
Examples:
\ex
              READ/TABLE mytable :RA,DEC @1..10,1000,9999..
                Display the columns :RA and :DEC in rows 1 to 10, 1000, and 
                from 9999 to the end of table `mytable.tbl'.
\xe\ex 
              READ/TABLE mytable :RA,:SKY,DEC
                Display the columns :RA, then :SKY, and :DEC of 'mytable.tbl' 
\xe\sxe