+The @code{READ} command reads numeric data from an SPSS system file,
+SPSS/PC+ system file, or SPSS portable file into a matrix variable or
+submatrix:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item
+To read data into a variable, specify just its name following
+@code{GET}. The variable need not already exist; if it does, it is
+replaced. The variable will have as many columns as there are
+variables specified on the @code{VARIABLES} subcommand and as many
+rows as there are cases in the input file.
+
+@item
+To read data into a submatrix, specify the name of an existing
+variable, followed by an indexing expression, just after @code{GET}.
+The submatrix must have as many columns as variables specified on
+@code{VARIABLES} and as many rows as cases in the input file.
+@end itemize
+
+Specify the name or handle of the file to be read on @code{FILE}. Use
+@samp{*}, or simply omit the @code{FILE} subcommand, to read from the
+active file. Reading from the active file is only permitted if it was
+already defined outside @code{MATRIX}.
+
+List the variables to be read as columns in the matrix on the
+@code{VARIABLES} subcommand. The list can use @code{TO} for
+collections of variables or @code{ALL} for all variables. If
+@code{VARIABLES} is omitted, all variables are read. Only numeric
+variables may be read.
+
+If a variable is named on @code{NAMES}, then the names of the
+variables read as data columns are stored in a string vector within
+the given name, replacing any existing matrix variable with that name.
+Variable names are truncated to 8 bytes.
+
+The @code{MISSING} and @code{SYSMIS} subcommands control the treatment
+of missing values in the input file. By default, any user- or
+system-missing data in the variables being read from the input causes
+an error that prevents @code{GET} from executing. To accept missing
+values, specify one of the following settings on @code{MISSING}:
+
+@table @asis
+@item @code{ACCEPT}
+Accept user-missing values with no change. By default, system-missing
+values still yield an error. Use the @code{SYSMIS} subcommand to
+change this treatment:
+
+@table @asis
+@item @code{OMIT}
+Skip any case that contains a system-missing value.
+
+@item @i{number}
+Recode the system-missing value to @i{number}.
+@end table
+
+@item @code{OMIT}
+Skip any case that contains any user- or system-missing value.
+
+@item @i{number}
+Recode all user- and system-missing values to @i{number}.
+@end table
+
+The @code{SYSMIS} subcommand has an effect only with
+@code{MISSING=ACCEPT}.
+