SYSTEM@CRNLNS.BITNET (07/27/87)
Jo, You can't spool files that are on tape because DEC's symbionts access files by their "id number"s, not by filename. This causes several inconveniences, one of which you have discovered. Since tapes don't have index files, their files can't be accessed by id. Another problem that this causes is that one cannot modify a .COM file after submitting it to batch. Since the input symbiont accesses by file id, batch will try to use the old file. If you delete the old one (eg with a purge command), the batch job won't run, but will crash with an "invalid SYS$INPUT" error. Some non-DEC symbionts use the real file name, but they can't print files that have been COPYed to the printer. (An example of this is Art Stine's PostScript symbiont.) A copy command actually creates a scratch file on the intermediate spool device that only has an id, and does not appear in any directory by name. grump.grump. Now if some C expert were to send me some routines for doing i/o to a file opened by id (presumably using RMS instead of the C i/o library), I would be glad to incorporate them. I hope this helps. Selden E. Ball, Jr. (Wilson Lab's network and system manager) Cornell University NYNEX: +1-607-255-0688 Laboratory of Nuclear Studies BITNET: SYSTEM@CRNLNS Wilson Synchrotron Lab ARPA: SYSTEM%CRNLNS.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Judd Falls & Dryden Road PHYSnet/HEPnet/SPAN: Ithaca, NY, USA 14853 LNS61::SYSTEM = 44283::SYSTEM (node 43.251)