pTAL Reference Manual (H06.08+)

Glossary
HP pTAL Reference Manual—523746-006
Glossary-6
file system
file system. In the Open System Services (OSS) environment, a collection of files and file
attributes. A file system provides the namespace for the file serial numbers that
uniquely identify its files. Open System Services provides a file system (see also
ISO/IEC IS 9945-1:1990 [ANSI/IEEE Std. 1003.1-1990], Clause 2.2.2.38); the
Guardian application program interface (API) provides a file system; and OSS Network
File System (NFS) provides a file system. (OSS NFS filenames and pathnames are
governed by slightly different rules than OSS filenames and pathnames.) Within the
OSS and OSS NFS file systems, filesets exist as manageable objects.
On an HP NonStop™ system, the Guardian file system for an Expand node is a subset
of the OSS virtual file system. Traditionally, the API for file access in the Guardian
environment is referred to as the Guardian file system .
In some UNIX and NFS implementations, the term file system means the same thing
as fileset . That is, a file system is a logical grouping of files that, except for the root of
the file system, can be contained only by directories within the file system. See also
fileset.
filler bit. A declaration that allocates a bit place holder for data or unused space in a
structure.
filler byte. A declaration that allocates a byte place holder for data or unused space in a
structure.
flat segment. A type of logical segment. Each flat segment has its own distinct address
range within the process address space that never overlaps the range of any other
allocated segments. Thus all allocated flat segments for a process are always available
for use concurrently. Compare to selectable segment.
formal parameter. A specification, within a procedure or subprocedure, of an argument that
is provided by the calling procedure or subprocedure. Compare to actual parameter.
FORWARD procedure declaration. A procedure declaration that includes the FORWARD
keyword but no procedure body; a declaration that allows you to call a procedure
before you declare the procedure body.
global variable. A variable that has global scope; that is, a variable that is declared at the
program level (not in a procedure or subprocedure). A global variable is visible
everywhere in the program after the point where it is declared. Compare to local
variable and sublocal variable.
group comparison expression. An expression that compares a variable with another
variable or with a constant.
high PIN. A process identification number (PIN) that is greater than 255. Compare to low
PIN.
home terminal. Usually the terminal from which a process was started.