PROCEDURE (t: Table) Read (row: INTEGER; VAR data: ANYREC)
NEW, ABSTRACT
Reads the row'th row of the result table into the interactor data.
... Pointers must not be NIL with the exception of POINTER TO ARRAY OF CHAR. If such a pointer is NIL or the bound array is too small to receive the corresponding string, a new array of suitable length is allocated automatically...

DEFINITION SqlDrivers;

...
String = POINTER TO ARRAY OF CHAR;

Table = POINTER TO ABSTRACT RECORD
...
(t: Table) ReadVarString (row, column: INTEGER; OUT str: String), NEW, ABSTRACT
END;

IF str = NIL THEN NEW(str, 1) END; (* allow recycling of string by making parameter a VAR again? *)