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
[hide]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"
