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Get_Current_Output_Channel

See Also: File I/O Commands, Direct_Input, Get_Channel_Position, Get_Current_Input_Channel, Sequential File I/O

Purpose

To retrieve the number of the sequential file channel currently being used for output.

Syntax

Get_Current_Output_Channel To {variable}

Argument Explanation

  • variable: A variable that will hold the default output channel.

What It Does

The Get_Current_Output_Channel command returns the default output channel into the specified variable, variable. Writeln and other sequential output commands write to the default output channel.

Example

Integer iDefaultChannel
// Retrieve the current default output channel.
Get_Current_Output_Channel To iDefaultChannel
Showln "The current output channel is " iDefaultChannel

Notes

Using Get_Current_Output_Channel causes the current output channel number to change to the mentioned channel and does not close the previously opened device on that channel. This technique is useful when the channel-dependent variables (such as SeqEOF) need to be processed.

Caution: Unexpected behavior can result from mixing sequential I/O code that uses channels with code that does not, since sequential I/O code that does not use explicit channel numbers will use the default channel or the last channel explicitly specified. We recommend always explicitly using channel numbers.