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BB-PBQUC-BM_1990
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help/append.hlp
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APPEND command
Adds the contents of one or more source files to the end of a new or
existing destination file on disk, leaving the original source files
unchanged.
Format
@APPEND (SOURCE FILE) source filespec(s) (TO) destination
filespec,
@@subcommand
where:
source filespec(s) is a single file specification, or a
series of them separated by commas.
destination filespec is the specification of the destination
file on disk; this can be a new file.
@@subcommand means that after a final comma you can
type an optional keyword, modifying the
mode or format of information transfer.
APPEND Subcommands (when used with the paper tape reader - PTR:)
ASCII
Specifies that the files being appended are written in ASCII
mode, with 36-bit words each consisting of five 7-bit bytes and a
parity bit; the parity bit means that the eighth hole of the
paper tape is never punched.
BINARY
Specifies that the files being appended are composed of 36-bit
words, each consisting of six 6-bit bytes, with the seventh hole
of the paper tape set always to 0 and the eighth hole set always
to 1; causes a checksum calculation.
BYTE n
Specifies that the byte size of the destination file is to be n
(any decimal number). If you do not give the BYTE subcommand,
the destination file will have the same byte size as the source
file.
IMAGE
Specifies that the files being appended are composed of 36-bit
words, each consisting of one 8-bit byte; the 28 most significant
bits are lost on output.
IMAGE BINARY
Same as BINARY, but lacking the checksum.
APPEND Subcommands (when used with devices other than the paper tape
reader)
ASCII
Specifies that the files being appended are written in ASCII
mode, with 36-bit words each consisting of five 7-bit bytes and a
parity bit; the parity bit means that the least significant bit
is set to 0 on input and is lost on output.
BINARY
Calls for a direct transfer of data in 36-bit bytes.
BYTE n
Specifies that the byte size of the destination file is to be n
(any decimal number). If you do not give the BYTE subcommand,
the destination file will have the same byte size as the source
file.
IMAGE same as BINARY.
IMAGE BINARY same as BINARY.
Output
As each file is appended, the system prints its specification and
the word [OK]. Also, if recognition is used on the destination
file specification, the system prints its status (Old generation,
New generation, New file, or Superseding, for disk files; or OK,
if the files are appended to a non-disk device).
Characteristics
Files Appended in Order Specified
The APPEND command attaches source files to the destination file
in the order you specify them; the contents of the last specified
source will appear at the end of the destination file when APPEND
is finished.
Subcommands Optional
For most purposes you do not need to use subcommands when
transferring information with the APPEND command. These
subcommands, specifying the format of the appended files, are
required only when using certain devices (for example, devices of
the form MTn: (tape drives) using labeled tapes, or PTR: (paper
tape reader)) or under particular conditions (for example, when
transferring files over network facilities). If you are
appending information from disk files or from your terminal and
you do not use any subcommands, the data will be appended as
written, whether in a standard format (usually ASCII or binary)
or not.
Special Cases
Wildcard Characters
Wildcard characters (* and %) can be used in source file
specifications only. The files are then appended in alphabetical
order.
Appending Information from your Terminal
If you type TTY: in place of source file specifications, the
system appends any characters you then type (after completing the
command itself), until you give a CTRL/Z to return your terminal
to TOPS-20 command level. CTRL/U, CTRL/R, CTRL/W, and the Delete
key can be used to edit the current line of terminal input.
Restrictions
Source Files With Differing Formats
You can use the APPEND command to transfer data from a magnetic
tape, terminal, card reader, paper tape reader, or other device
to disk files, but if source files written in differing formats
are specified within the same command, some data can be lost in
the transfer.
Mixing Sequenced and Unsequenced Files
Source files created by the EDIT program should not contain
sequence numbers when they are appended. Mixing files that
contain sequence numbers with files that do not will cause EDIT
to function improperly if used on the resulting file.
Appending to Archived Files
You can append the contents of an archived file to another file,
by specifying it as the first (or source) argument of an APPEND
command. You can then edit the resulting file, because it does
not gain archive status although part of its contents are the
same as those of the archived file; the archived file remains
unchanged. However, you cannot give the specification of an
archived file as the second (or destination) argument of an
APPEND command, as this would change the file's contents.
Related Commands
COPY
For making copies of files.
Examples
1. Use the APPEND command to join two files.
@APPEND FORT.FOR FIL.FOR
FORT.FOR.8 [OK]
2. Append two files to the end of a third file.
@APPEND FORT.FOR, GORT.FOR GIL.FOR
FORT.FOR.8 [OK]
GORT.FOR.6 [OK]
3. Access a directory and append a file from it to a file in
your connected directory.
@ACCESS <MANUALS>
Password:___
@APPEND <MANUALS>REL3A.MEM REL3A.MEM
<MANUALS>REL3A.MEM.4 [OK]
@END-ACCESS <MANUALS>
4. Use a wildcard character (%) to append several files to the
end of another file.
@APPEND %ORT.FOR HIL.FOR
FORT.FOR.8 [OK]
GORT.FOR.6 [OK]
HORT.FOR.3 [OK]
MORT.FOR.2 [OK]
5. Use a wildcard character with the APPEND command to create a
new file.
@APPEND *.TXT BACKUP.TXT
MAIL.TXT.1 [OK]
NEWRUN.TXT.1 [OK]
NX.TXT.1 [OK]
6. Append a message from your terminal to the beginning of the
file created in Example 5. Use the symbolic generation
number -1 to specify this action.
@APPEND TTY:,BACKUP.TXT BACKUP.TXT.-1
TTY:
!THIS IS A BACKUP FILE FOR ALL TEXT FILES.
^Z
BACKUP.TXT.1 [OK]