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BB-PBQUC-BM_1990
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help/copy.hlp
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COPY command
The COPY command creates a copy of a file.
Format
@COPY (FROM) source filespec (TO) destination filespec,
@@subcommand
where:
source filespec is the specification of the file or
device whose contents you want to copy.
destination filespec is the specification of the file or
device in which you want to store a copy
of the file.
Default - same as source filespec
but in your connected
directory, if necessary
using the next higher
generation number
@@subcommand means that after a final comma you can
specify the mode and format of the
transfer with one of the following
subcommands:
COPY Subcommands
(when used with the paper tape reader
or paper tape punch - PTR: or PTP:)
ASCII specifies that the file being copied is
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 file being copied is
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. See
also Hints - Viewing Display Screen Data
below.
IMAGE specifies that the file being copied is
composed of 36-bit words, each consisting of
one 8-bit byte; the 28 most significant bits
are set to 0 on input and are lost on output.
IMAGE BINARY same as BINARY, but lacking the checksum
calculation.
COPY Subcommands
(when used with devices other than the paper
tape reader or paper tape punch)
ASCII specifies that the file being copied is
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. See
also Hints - Viewing Display Screen Data,
below.
IMAGE same as BINARY.
IMAGE BINARY same as BINARY.
---
| ALWAYS
SUPERSEDE | NEVER sets the condition under which COPY
| NEWER overwrites the destination file of the same
| OLDER name.
---
ALWAYS allows the source file to be copied to the
destination file.
Default for COPY command
NEVER does not copy the file if the destination
file already exists.
OLDER allows the source file to be copied to the
destination file if
o no version of the destination file
exists, or
o the generation number is less than or
equal to the generation number specified
in the destination file and the file's
write date is older than the source file.
NEWER same as OLDER except allows the copy if the
file's write date is "newer" than the source
file.
Output
As each file is copied, the system prints the specifications of
the source and destination files and the word [OK]. The delay
before you see this [OK] indicates how long it took to copy the
file. If you use recognition on the destination file
specification, the system prints, !New Generation!, !New File!,
or !Superseding!, to indicate the status of disk files, or !OK!,
if the file is copied to a non-disk device.
Characteristics
Optional Subcommands With Paper Tape
Each subcommand, when used to copy information from the
paper tape reader (PTR:), specifies an interpretation of
eight-bit bytes, represented as eight-hole lines on paper
tape. When used with the paper tape punch (PTP:), each
subcommand specifies a mapping of information to the
eight-bit bytes of paper tape.
Optional Subcommands With Other Devices
Each subcommand can be used under particular conditions, for
example, when transferring files over network facilities
(using DCN: and SRV:), to specify the byte size of
information being copied. In general, you can use COPY
command subcommands whenever you need to specify the byte
size of information being copied.
Hints
RENAME Faster Than COPY for Transferring Files
For moving a set of files from one directory to another on
the same structure, the RENAME command is a faster and more
efficient means than COPY. This is because RENAME only
changes the file specifications; it does not copy the
contents of the files. Also, a file transfer with the
RENAME command leaves only one set of files, while a
transfer with the COPY command leaves two sets: the
original copies and the destination copies. The original
copies are often unnecessary and must be deleted.
Using Devices as Source and/or Destination Filespecs
By specifying a device as the source and/or destination
filespec, you can use the COPY command to transfer
information between card- or paper-tape-handling devices,
magnetic tape drives, line printers, terminals, or other
output devices. However, the PLOT, PRINT, PUNCH and TYPE
commands, and appropriate utility programs (such as DUMPER
and EDIT), offer more flexibility for most applications.
Copying To or From TTY:
You can simulate the action of the CREATE command for
creating files by copying from device TTY: to a new
filespec, ending your input with a CTRL/Z; use CTRL/U,
CTRL/R, CTRL/W, and the DELETE key to edit the current
line of terminal input. You can simulate the action of
the TYPE command for displaying files by copying from
an existing filespec to device TTY:.
Viewing Display Screen Data
If you specify TTY: as the destination filespec and
then give the BYTE 8 subcommand, characters in the
source file will be sent literally to your terminal.
Do this to examine special display screen data (for
8-bit ASCII files only).
Erasing the Contents of a File While Keeping the Filespec
You can erase the contents of a file by copying from
device NUL: to the file. NUL: is a receptacle for
unwanted program output and a supplier of null input.
Spooled Output Action
If you send information to output devices using the
COPY command, your request is processed according to
the status of the SPOOLED-OUTPUT-ACTION parameter,
which you set with the SET SPOOLED-OUTPUT-ACTION
command.
Using Wildcards in Source and/or Destination Filespecs
You can use wildcard characters (* and %) in source
and/or destination filespecs to copy many files at a
time. Default values will be assumed for filespec
fields you do not specify. Note that if you use
wildcard characters to copy more than one source file
into a single destination file on disk, the contents of
each source file will appear in a different generation
of the destination file; the highest generation will
contain a copy of the last source file only. Use the
APPEND command to put the contents of several files
into a single file.
Specifying a New Account or Protection Number
The COPY command lets you specify the new file's
protection number, and the account to which storage
fees for it will be charged. Follow the new file
specification with a semicolon (;) and the letter P
before giving a new 6-digit protection number, and with
a semicolon and the letter A before giving a new
account (which must be valid for your user name). If
you do not specify an account for a new file, it will
take as a default the account you gave in your most
recent LOGIN or SET ACCOUNT command. However,
non-default protection numbers will be maintained for
higher generations of existing files, unless you
specify otherwise in the COPY command that creates that
higher generation.
Restrictions
Copying Archived Files
You can make a copy of an archived file by specifying it as
the first (or source) argument in a COPY command, and
specifying a file of different name or type as destination.
You can edit the new file, because it does not have archive
status although it has the same contents as the original
file. However, you cannot give the specification of an
archived file as the second (or destination) argument of a
COPY command, as this would replace the file's contents. If
you attempt to do so, whatever source argument you supply
will be copied into the next higher generation of the
archived file, leaving the archived file intact. And, if
you include the generation number when specifying an
archived file as the second argument of a COPY command, the
command will fail.
Warning
Destroying the Previous Contents of Files
If you give a destination file specification that includes a
generation number, the source file will be copied into that
file, replacing any previous contents if that generation of
the file already exists. Those contents cannot be
recovered. But see Restrictions - Copying Archived Files,
above.
Related Commands
APPEND for adding information to a file or
putting the contents of many files
into a single file
RENAME for changing only the specification
of a file
SET SPOOLED-OUTPUT-ACTION for changing the setting of the
SPOOLED-OUTPUT-ACTION parameter,
which determines when files copied
to output devices are processed
DIRECTORY with the TIMES for displaying the date and time
WRITE subcommand and VD that the file was written
Examples
1. Make an extra copy of a file in your connected directory.
@COPY FORT.TXT BACKUP.TXT
FORT.TXT.1 => BACKUP.TXT.3 [OK]
2. Copy a file from your directory into another user's
directory, allowing the destination file to be labeled with
default file specification (the source file specification).
@ACCESS <SARTINI>
Password:___
@COPY TEST1.CBL <SARTINI>
TEST1.CBL.2 => <SARTINI>TEST1.CBL.2 [OK]
@END-ACCESS <SARTINI>
3. Use a wildcard character to copy several files from your
directory on another structure to magnetic tape.
@ACCESS SNARK:
@COPY SNARK:NA*.TST MT2:
SNARK:NACCESS.TST.2 => MT2:NACCESS.TST [OK]
SNARK:NADVISE.TST.2 => MT2:NADVISE.TST [OK]
SNARK:NAPPEND.TST.2 => MT2:NAPPEND.TST [OK]
SNARK:NASSIGN.TST.2 => MT2:NASSIGN.TST [OK]
SNARK:NATTACH.TST.2 => MT2:NATTACH.TST [OK]
@END-ACCESS SNARK:
4. Use the COPY command to create a short text file.
@COPY TTY: NEW-FILE.TXT
TTY: => NEW-FILE.TXT.2
THIS FILE WAS CREATED USING THE COPY COMMAND.
^Z
@
@TYPE NEW-FILE.TXT
THIS FILE WAS CREATED USING THE COPY COMMAND.
5. Copy a file from your directory into another user's
directory. Give the SUPERSEDE NEVER subcommand to cancel the
COPY command if the other user already has a copy of the
file.
@ACCESS <STEVENS>
Password:___
@COPY STATS.TXT <STEVENS>,
@@SUPERSEDE NEVER
@@
STATS.TXT.1 => <STEVENS>STATS.TXT.3
%Not superseding current file