# READ for ISAM

> [HTML Version](readforisam.htm)

_Doc added May 2021_

All of the [READ for random access](read.htm.md) statement variations may be used with ISAM files. Note, however:

•	Each open ISAM file channel refers to both an index (IDX) and data (IDA) file. READ operations implicitly apply to only the IDA.

•	Although you _can_ manually set the record number variable and read from IDA file independent of the index (as you would with a random access file), typically you would use an [ISAM File Statements](isamstatements.htm.md) (codes 1, 2, 7, or 8) to establish the record number.

See [ISAM File Statements](isamstatements.htm.md) for examples of ISAM operations involving READ statements.