234 Chapter 4
Command Definition F-K
FILE
FILE
Declares the file attributes to be used when a file is opened. This declaration, informally
known as a file equation, may be used to override programmatic or system default file
specifications. With the addition of shared parameters from the NS3000/XL AdvanceNet
subsystem, the declaration may specify a formal file designator that may be used to access
a remote file or device in a subsequent command or intrinsic. NS3000/XL AdvanceNet is
not part of the HP 3000 Series 900 Computer System Fundamental Operating System and
must be purchased separately.
Syntax
FILE formaldisgnator=[ *formaldisgnator | $NULL $NEWPASS $OLDPASS $STDIN $STDINX $STDLIST
filereference ]
[ :nodespec ,filedomain ]
[ :DEV=[ [ envname] #] [ device] [ ,[ outpri] [ ,numcopies]]]
[ ;VTERM] [ ;ENV=envfile[ :nodespec]]
[ ;option] [ ;access][ ; disposition]
[ ;DEFBLK | ;OPTMBLK]
Parameters
formaldesignator A formal file designator in the format:
filename[.groupname[.accountname]][:nodespec]
The filename, groupname, and accountname are the identifiers that form a
fully qualified file name. Each identifier may contain from one to eight
alphanumeric characters, beginning with an alphabetic character. This file
name may be used to identify the file in subsequent commands or intrinsic
calls.
The nodespec extension of the formal file designator, explained below, is a
parameter shared with the NS3000/XL AdvanceNet subsystem. It is not
part of the fundamental operating system. MPE/iX accepts this extended
formal file designator, with a node specification following a colon (:), in the
FILE and RESET commands and in the FOPEN and HPFOPEN intrinsics.
If formaldesignator is not equated to another file designation, the parameter
specifies the name of an actual file. Placing an asterisk ahead of the
parameter (*formaldesignator) establishes a backreference to a formal file
designator defined in a FILE command.
The backreferenced form, *formaldesignator, is valid only if it appears on the
right side of the equal sign (=).
