pTAL Conversion Guide

Compiler Operation
pTAL Conversion Guide—527302-002
19-2
Output Files
Native Compiler
The input file for the native compiler must be an edit-format disk file. The compiler
reads a maximum of 132 characters per record and ignores characters after the 132nd.
The compiler does not read input from a terminal or from any other source or file
format.
In general, the compiler opens each source file as it needs it and keeps it open until
the end of the compilation. This ensures that the contents of a file cannot change after
the compiler reads it but before it creates a listing. You can open a source file for read
access while the compiler is compiling your program, but, in general, you cannot open
it for write access.
In some situations, however, the compiler might close a source file after it reads it, but
before it creates a listing. If you edit the file before the compiler creates its output
listing, the source code listed for some portions of your compilation might be
inaccurate. The compiler reports a warning if it discovers that part of your source file
has changed.
To ensure that the information in your listing is accurate, do not alter the source files
used in a compilation until the compilation ends.
Output Files
TAL Compiler
The output file for the TAL compiler can be:
•
Terminal
•
Printer
•
Spooler
•
Process
Native Compiler
The output file for the native compiler can be:
•
Terminal
•
Printer
•
Spooler
•
Process
•
Entry-sequenced file
•
Relative file
•
Edit-format file
If you direct output to a disk file that does not exist, the compiler creates an edit-format
file and writes its list output to the newly created file.
If you direct output to an edit-format file that already exists, the compiler appends the
output from your current compilation to the end of the existing file.