/sys$common/syshlp/HELPLIB.HLB  —  READ  Qualifiers  /KEY
       /KEY=string

    Reads a record with the key that matches the specified character
    string. Binary and integer keys are not allowed. This qualifier,
    when used together with the /INDEX qualifier, allows you random
    access to indexed files.

    Key matches are made by comparing the characters in the /KEY
    string to characters in the record key.

    To read records at random in an indexed file, you must specify
    the /KEY qualifier. Once a record is read randomly, all
    subsequent reads without the /KEY qualifier access records in
    the indexed file sequentially.
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