===== Open and Openb (Statement) =====
==== Format ====
**open** [[stringexpressions|file_name]]\\
**open**([[stringexpressions|file_name]])\\
**open** [[integerexpressions|open_file_number]], [[stringexpressions|file_name]]\\
**open**([[integerexpressions|open_file_number]], [[stringexpressions|file_name]])\\
**openb** [[stringexpressions|file_name]]\\
**openb**([[stringexpressions|file_name]])\\
**openb** [[integerexpressions|open_file_number]], [[stringexpressions|file_name]]\\
**openb**([[integerexpressions|open_file_number]], [[stringexpressions|file_name]])

==== Description ====
Opens a file for reading and writing.  The [[stringexpressions|file_name]] is specified as a string, and may be an absolute or relative path.  If the file number is not specified file number zero (0) will be used.\\
Openb opens the file in a "binary safe" mode. This type of file open is recommended for files where the [[readbyte|Readbyte]] and [[writebyte|Writebyte]] statements are used for input/output.
==== Note ====
BASIC256 may have up to 8 files open at a single time.  The files are numbered from 0 to 7.  Opening a file to a number while another is already open to that number will close the open file.

==== See Also ====
{{page>en:start#File and Serial Port Input/Output&noheader}}

==== History ==== 
|0.9.?|openb was added to open binary files|