File specification
A file specification is the path the system uses to locate and identify a file. It consists of a node name, device, directory or directories, file name, file type, and file version. You do not have to include all the elements of a complete file specification. However, you must specify enough of the file specification so that, when combined with default components, the system can locate and identify the correct file.
Contents
Parts of a file specification
DENVER::DKA100:[RD.PROJECTS.SAMBA]SETUP.COM;15
| Name | Description | Example | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Node name | Name of the node that the file is located on (or through which it should be accessed). Do not specify the node name if you are accessing a file on the same node. | DENVER:: | Current node |
| Device | Name of the device that the file resides on | DKA100: | The device where the default directory resides |
| Directory | Directory or set of directories in which the file is located. Nested directories are separated with a period (.). You do not have to include the master file directory | [RD.PROJECTS.SAMBA] | The default directory |
| File name | Name of the file | SETUP | None |
| File extension | Extension (type) of the file | .COM | File extension |
| File version | Version of the file | ;15 | File version |
Network file specifications
There are three formats for network file specifications:
- Conventional
- Foreign
- Task
In each format, the node specification can include an access control string.
Conventional file specification
The conventional format for files is: node::device:[directory]filename.type;version
Foreign file specification
A foreign file specification is a file that does not conform to OpenVMS syntax. The format used to provide a foreign file specification is:
node::"foreign-file-spec-string"
For example:
$ COPY BOSTON::"TEST?.DAT" *
Task file specification
A task specification string identifies a program to be executed on the remote node. You can use task specification strings within a program to enable the program to communicate with another program on a remote node. The format used to indicate a task specification string is: node::‘‘task-spec-string’’ This specification identifies the program TEST2 on the remote node BOSTON:
BOSTON::"TASK=TEST2"
