8 File Storage

Syntax Terms

file name on HP-UX

The maximum length of an Eloquence file name depends upon how the HP-UX operating system is configured; however, the maximum length bounds for configuration are from 14 to 255 characters. Of these 14 to 255 characters, 5 spaces are designated for the file name extension (for example, .DATA, .PROG, .FORM). The remaining 9 to 250 characters are user supplied. To further explain, suppose the system is configured such that file names can have a maximum length of 14 characters. Of these 14 characters, 5 character spaces are reserved for the file name extension (.DATA, .PROG, .FORM). This leaves a maximum of 9 characters spaces to be supplied by the user. The user can choose to supply a name that is from 1 to 9 characters in length. Note that the name supplied does not have to be 9 characters long. Nine is the maximum length the name can be.

The file name cannot contain a comma (,) or colon (:).

It is recommended that HP-UX wildcard characters not be used in Eloquence file names. Using them could cause problems when addressing these files using HP-UX commands. For example, if you delete the Eloquence file TEST*.DATA from the HP-UX prompt, all files beginning with the letters TEST and having the extension .DATA would be deleted. HP-UX wildcard characters are as follows:

                  $ ? * [ ] / \ ( ) @ " ' ' ^ # ;

file name on Windows NT

The maximum length of an Eloquence file name under Windows NT can be 64 character, this includs the extension.It is not recommened to use characters, which have a special meaning on Windows NT.

file number

The number assigned to a data file by an ASSIGN statement. Its range is from 1 through 10.

volume label

A one- to eight-character string assigned to an HP-UX directory in either the global, group, or user configuration file. Blanks, nulls, commas, and colons are ignored.

volume spec

A string within quotes containing either a unit spec (see below) or a volume label preceded by a comma.

file spec

A string expression of the form "file name[,volume spec]" The file name, in this instance, is the user supplied name described above under "file name". The optional volume spec is needed when addressing a mass storage device other than the default device (see page 204 ). Notice that the string expression must be within quotes.

unit spec

A string expression of the form :volume letter[select code[,device number[,unit code]]] The volume letter can be any uppercase letter A through Z. The select code, device number, and unit code can be an integer from 0 through 9.

Unit spec are not supported on Windows NT and not recommended to use on HP-UX.