MPE/iX Glossary of Terms and Acronyms (32650-90887)

30 Chapter1
Glossary of Terms
file identifier A number associating a name with a file system object. For example, when
you "open" a file using its name, the operating system returns a unique
number for your use. This number is the file identifier.
file independence File independence means that data files are shareable among all the
Hewlett-Packard programming languages. For instance, an HP Pascal/iX
program can read files created using any of the other supported
programming languages.
file information display (FID) A display of file characteristics, an error message, an
error number, and current FOPEN intrinsic parameters provided when
certain file input/output errors occur.
file label A descriptive entry on disk containing the file name, file code, record size,
file format, current end-of-file mark, maximum number of records,
blocking factor, number of disk sectors in use, number of extents currently
allocated, and maximum number of extents. Use the LISTF,2 command to
display the file label.
file mark A uniquely formatted area on a magnetic tape used to separate files. Also
referred to as a tape mark.
file name An MPE/iX file name is a string of up to eight alphanumeric characters,
the first of which must be an alphabetic character.
file number An integer value assigned by the FOPEN intrinsic that is used to refer to a
file in a user program. File numbers zero through seven are reserved for
the MPE/iX operating system.
file pointer A logical record pointer kept by the operating system to indicate the next
sequential record to be accessed in a file. The pointer is set to the first
record when the file is opened.
file space The number of sectors of disk space that a group, or account is using. It is
displayed by executing the MPE/iX REPORT command.
file specification The "full" name of a file. This includes the file name, group, and
account.
file state The condition of a file. This can include OPEN, READY, ACTIVE, LOCKED,or
WAIT. An OPEN file, for example, is one currently being accessed by a user
or a program.
file system The part of the operating system that handles access to input/output
devices, data blocking, buffering, data transfers, and deblocking.
firmware A set of microcode instructions that are executable by the CPU. These are
permanently stored in read-only memory (ROM) or writable control store
(WCS).
fixed disk A large capacity disk that is fixed inside a disk drive and cannot be
removed.
fixed-length record A record that always contains the same number of characters or
words. Fixed-length records within a single file are always the same
length.