# OPEN: ACCESS Specifier

The ACCESS specifier indicates the access method for the connection of the file. It takes the following form:

ACCESS = acc

acc | Is a scalar default character expression that evaluates to one of the following values:
'DIRECT' | Indicates direct access.
'SEQUENTIAL' | Indicates sequential access.
'STREAM' | Indicates stream access, where the file storage units of the file are accessible sequentially or by position.
'APPEND' | Indicates sequential access, but the file is positioned at the end-of-file record.

The default is 'SEQUENTIAL'.

There are limitations on record access by file organization and record type.

Parent topic: OPEN Statement Specifiers