Difference between revisions of "File version"
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=See also= | =See also= | ||
| − | * [https://docs.vmssoftware.com/guide-to-openvms-file-applications | + | * [https://docs.vmssoftware.com/guide-to-openvms-file-applications OpenVMS Guide to File Applications] |
| − | * [https://docs.vmssoftware.com/vsi-openvms-user-s-manual | + | * [https://docs.vmssoftware.com/vsi-openvms-user-s-manual OpenVMS User's Manual] |
Revision as of 20:08, 10 October 2022
A file version number is a part of the file specification preceded with a semicolon (;) or a period(.) that tells you which version of the file that is. Each file version is stored as a separate file with different FIDs.
Version numbers are decimal numbers from 1 to 32,767. When you create a file with a file name that is unique in the directory, the file is assigned version number 1 (unless a different version number is explicitly specified). If a file with a non-unique name is created, it is assigned the next file version. If you attempt to create a new file with a version number higher than 32767, you will receive an error message.
Version number defaults
Various commands default to different version numbers.
| Command | Default version numbers |
|---|---|
| TYPE | Highest version number |
| DIRECTORY | All version numbers |
| PURGE | All version numbers but the highest (you cannot specify a version number; if you need to keep more than one version, use the /KEEP qualifier) |
| DELETE | No default (version must be specified explicitly) |
Relative version numbers
Relative version numbers can be used to point to various versions of a file if the actual file versions are unknown.
| Relative version number | Meaning |
|---|---|
| None (;) | Highest version |
| 0 | Highest version |
| -1 | Second highest version |
| -2 | Third highest version |
| -0 | Lowest version |
Version limit
A version limit can be imposed on a file or all files created in a given directory. If a file version is created beyond the limit, the lowest existing version of that file will be purged.
To set a version limit on a file, use the SET FILE/VERSION_LIMIT=n command. By default, the version limit is 0, which means unlimited versions (the number is still limited by the Files-11 architectural limit of 32,767. To set a version limit on all files created in a certain directory, use the /VERSION_LIMIT qualifier with the SET DIRECTORY or CREATE/DIRECTORY command. To view the version limit on a file, use the DIRECTORY/FULL command or F$FILE_ATTRIBUTES(filename,"VERLIMIT") lexical function.
