Adds the contents of one or more specified input files to the end
of the specified output file.
Format
APPEND input-filespec[,...] output-filespec
1 – Parameters
input-filespec[,...]
Specifies the names of one or more input files to be appended.
Multiple input files are appended to the output file in the order
specified. If you specify more than one input file, separate each
file specification with either a comma (,) or a plus sign (+).
The asterisk (*) and the percent sign (%) wildcard characters are
allowed in the input file specifications.
output-filespec
Specifies the name of the file to which the input files will be
appended.
You must specify at least one field in the output file
specification. If you do not specify a device or directory, the
APPEND command uses the current default device and directory.
Other unspecified fields default to the corresponding fields of
the first input file specification.
If you use the asterisk (*) wildcard character in any fields
of the output file specification, the APPEND command uses the
corresponding field of the input file specification. If you are
appending more than one input file, the APPEND command uses the
corresponding fields from the first input file.
2 – Qualifiers
2.1 /ALLOCATION
/ALLOCATION=number-of-blocks
Forces the initial allocation of the output file to the
specified number of 512-byte blocks. If you do not specify the
/ALLOCATION qualifier, or if you specify it without the number-
of-blocks parameter, the initial allocation of the output file is
determined by the size of the input file.
The allocation size is applied only if a new file is actually
created by using the /NEW_VERSION qualifier.
2.2 /BACKUP
Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the
/SINCE qualifier. The /BACKUP qualifier selects files according
to the dates of their most recent backups. This qualifier
is incompatible with the /CREATED, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED
qualifiers, which also allow you to select files according
to time attributes. If you specify none of these four time
qualifiers, the default is the /CREATED qualifier.
2.3 /BEFORE
/BEFORE[=time]
Selects only those files dated prior to the specified time. You
can specify time as absolute time, as a combination of absolute
and delta times, or as one of the following keywords: BOOT,
LOGIN, TODAY (default), TOMORROW, or YESTERDAY. Specify one of
the following qualifiers with the /BEFORE qualifier to indicate
the time attribute to be used as the basis for selection:
/BACKUP, /CREATED (default), /EXPIRED, or /MODIFIED.
For complete information on specifying time values, see the
OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic Date.
2.4 /BLOCK_SIZE
/BLOCK_SIZE=n
Overrides the default block size (124) used by COPY. You can
specify a value in the range of 1 through 127.
2.5 /BY_OWNER
/BY_OWNER[=uic]
Selects only those files whose owner user identification code
(UIC) matches the specified owner UIC. The default UIC is that of
the current process.
Specify the UIC by using standard UIC format as described in the
OpenVMS User's Manual.
2.6 /CONFIRM
/CONFIRM
/NOCONFIRM (default)
Controls whether a request is issued before each append operation
to confirm that the operation should be performed on that file.
The following responses are valid:
YES NO QUIT
TRUE FALSE <Ctrl/Z>
1 0 ALL
<Return>
You can use any combination of uppercase and lowercase letters
for word responses. Word responses can be abbreviated to one or
more letters (for example, T, TR, or TRU for TRUE), but these
abbreviations must be unique. Affirmative answers are YES, TRUE,
and 1. Negative answers include: NO, FALSE, 0, and pressing
Return. Entering QUIT or pressing Ctrl/Z indicates that you want
to stop processing the command at that point. When you respond by
entering ALL, the command continues to process, but no further
prompts are given. If you type a response other than one of
those in the list, DCL issues an error message and redisplays
the prompt.
2.7 /CONTIGUOUS
/CONTIGUOUS
/NOCONTIGUOUS
Specifies that the output file must occupy physically contiguous
disk blocks. By default, the APPEND command creates an output
file in the same format as the corresponding input file and does
not report an error if not enough space exists for a contiguous
allocation. This qualifier is relevant only with the /NEW_VERSION
qualifier.
If an input file is contiguous, the APPEND command attempts to
create a contiguous output file, but does not report an error if
there is not enough space. If you append multiple input files of
different formats, the output file may or may not be contiguous.
Use the /CONTIGUOUS qualifier to ensure that the output file is
contiguous.
2.8 /CREATED
/CREATED (default)
Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
qualifier. The /CREATED qualifier selects files based on their
dates of creation. This qualifier is incompatible with the
/BACKUP, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED qualifiers, which also allow
you to select files according to time attributes. If you specify
none of these four time qualifiers, the default is the /CREATED
qualifier.
2.9 /EXCLUDE
/EXCLUDE=(filespec[,...])
Excludes the specified files from the append operation.
You can include a directory but not a device in the file
specification. Wildcard characters (* and %) are allowed in the
file specification. However, you cannot use relative version
numbers to exclude a specific version. If you specify only one
file, you can omit the parentheses.
2.10 /EXPIRED
Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
qualifier. The /EXPIRED qualifier selects files according to
their expiration dates. (The expiration date is set with the
SET FILE/EXPIRATION_DATE command.) The /EXPIRED qualifier
is incompatible with the /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /MODIFIED
qualifiers, which also allow you to select files according
to time attributes. If you specify none of these four time
qualifiers, the default is the /CREATED qualifier.
2.11 /EXTENSION
/EXTENSION=number-of-blocks
Specifies the number of blocks to be added to the output file
each time the file is extended. When you specify the /EXTENSION
qualifier, the /NEW_VERSION qualifier is assumed and need not be
typed on the command line. This qualifier is relevant only with
the /NEW_VERSION qualifier.
The extension value is applied only if a new file is actually
created.
2.12 /LOG
/LOG
/NOLOG (default)
Controls whether the APPEND command displays the file
specifications of each file appended. If the /LOG qualifier is
specified, the command displays the file specifications of the
input and output files as well as the number of blocks or records
appended after each append operation.
2.13 /MODIFIED
Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
qualifier. The /MODIFIED qualifier selects files according to
the dates on which they were last modified. This qualifier
is incompatible with the /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /EXPIRED
qualifiers, which also allow you to select files according
to time attributes. If you specify none of these four time
modifiers, the default is the /CREATED qualifier.
2.14 /NEW_VERSION
/NEW_VERSION
/NONEW_VERSION (default)
Controls whether the APPEND command creates a new output file
if the specified output file does not exist. (By default, the
specified output file already exists.) If the specified output
file does not already exist, use the /NEW_VERSION qualifier to
create a new output file. If the output file does exist, the
/NEW_VERSION qualifier is ignored and the input file is appended
to the output file.
2.15 /PROTECTION
/PROTECTION=(ownership[:access][,...])
Specifies protection for the output file.
o Specify the ownership parameter as system (S), owner (O),
group (G), or world (W).
o Specify the access parameter as read (R), write (W), execute
(E), or delete (D).
The default protection, including any protection attributes not
specified, is that of the existing output file. If no output file
exists, the current default protection applies. This qualifier is
relevant only with the /NEW_VERSION qualifier.
For more information on specifying protection codes, see the VSI
OpenVMS Guide to System Security.
2.16 /READ_CHECK
/READ_CHECK
/NOREAD_CHECK (default)
Reads each record in the input files twice to verify that it has
been read correctly.
2.17 /SINCE
/SINCE[=time]
Selects only those files dated on or after the specified time.
You can specify time as absolute time, as a combination of
absolute and delta times, or as one of the following keywords:
BOOT, JOB_LOGIN, LOGIN, TODAY (default), TOMORROW, or YESTERDAY.
Specify one of the following qualifiers with the /SINCE qualifier
to indicate the time attribute to be used as the basis for
selection: /BACKUP, /CREATED (default), /EXPIRED, or /MODIFIED.
For complete information on specifying time values, see the
OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic Date.
2.18 /WRITE_CHECK
/WRITE_CHECK
/NOWRITE_CHECK (default)
Reads each record in the output file after the record is written
to verify that it was appended successfully and that the output
file can subsequently be read without error.
3 – Examples
1.$ APPEND TEST3.DAT TESTALL.DAT
The APPEND command appends the contents of the file TEST3.DAT
from the default disk and directory to the file TESTALL.DAT,
also located on the default disk and directory.
2.$ APPEND BOSTON"BILL_BESTON YANKEE"::DEMO1.DAT, DEMO2.DAT
$ _To: DALLAS::DISK1:[MODEL.TEST]TEST.DAT
This APPEND command adds the contents of the files DEMO1.DAT
and DEMO2.DAT at remote node BOSTON to the end of the file
TEST.DAT at remote node DALLAS.