'tables.txt now includes the array names on a separate line before the array items
    open "C:\LibBas\_MyLibBas\matchmaker\tables.txt" for input as #tbl
    for j = 1 to 4
        input #tbl, xx$   'get array name      
        print xx$
        call getTable xx$()  
    next
    
   for j = 1 to 7     'checking the arrays
        print j,religion$(j),race$(j),pet$(j),television$(j)  'shows only blanks
   next
   close #tbl  
   end

 sub getTable arr$() 
    input #tbl,x$    'get array item
    n=1
    while word$(x$,n) <> ""
        arr$(n) = word$(x$,n)    'this seems to work 
        print, arr$(n)  'show the array item
        n=n+1
    wend
    end sub

 

religion$
Buddist Catholic Muslim Mormon Protestant Other None
race$
White Black Asian Polynesian Hispanic
pet$
Birds Cats Dogs Fish 
television$
Drama Comedy Game Cops Mystery Sci-Fi Reality
 

category$(1) = "religion" : category$(2) = "race" : category$(3) = "pet"
count(1) = 7 : count(2) = 5 : count(3) = 4
name$(1,1) = "Buddist" : name$(1,2) = "Catholic" : ... etc.
name$(2,1) = "White" : name$(2,2) = "Black" : name$(2,3) = "Asian" : ... etc.
name$(3,1) = "Bird" : name$(3,2) = "Cat" : name$(3,3) = "Dog" : ... etc.