freefile to make appendable a random file?

[Clippy]

You need a record placeholder in the PUT otherwise it will write over beginning records. PUT assumes it's own consecutive record places if you dont. That is why you lost data.

PUT #fh, 6, names  'writes to the 6th record.  ALWAYS use a record number!
You can use a FOR loop or counter variable.

So how do you find out how many records are already in the file?

Code:

recordlen% = LEN(names) 'recordlen is always an Integer!

NumRecords% = LOF(fh) \ recordlen  'you may want to print the value.

To add records use PUT placeholders above the number of old records.

Ted