What is the purpose of the FLOWOVER option in an INPUT statement?

The FLOWOVER option in an INPUT statement is primarily used to facilitate the reading of data from lines that may contain missing values. When FLOWOVER is specified, if the current line being read does not have the necessary data, the INPUT statement will automatically take the data from the next line instead. This allows for smoother data capture and ensures that the reading process continues without interruption.

This behavior is especially useful in datasets where records may not be consistently filled. By using FLOWOVER, it takes advantage of the data from subsequent lines when the current line lacks certain expected values, providing a more robust solution for handling unevenly populated datasets.

Contextually, it’s important to understand how this option contrasts with the other choices. For instance, the option that refers to stopping after one record doesn’t align with the objective of FLOWOVER, which is to keep processing the data until it successfully retrieves the required information. Similarly, the notion of simply reading the next record does not capture the nuance of handling missing data effectively. While skipping lines could seem somewhat related, it's not the primary function of FLOWOVER; it is designed to read next available data rather than bypass data opportunities entirely. Thus, the essence of FLOWOVER is its specific mechanism for data continuity in the presence of incomplete