TACL Reference Manual

Glossary
HP NonStop TACL Reference Manual—429513-018
Glossary-4
file lock.
file lock. A mechanism that restricts access to a file by all processes except the lock
owner.
file. As used here, a file refers to an organized collection of data stored on a disk. In
general, a file can be a disk file, a process, or a device.
file name. A unique name for a file. This name is used to open a file and thereby provides
a connection between the opening process and the file. File names consist of one to
eight alphanumeric characters, the first of which must be alphabetic. file name
template. A sequence of characters including the asterisk (*) and question mark (?)
that matches existing file names by expanding each asterisk to zero or more letters,
digits, dollar signs ($), and pound signs (#) and replacing each question mark with
exactly one letter, digit, dollar sign, or pound sign.
file system. A set of operating system procedures and data structures that provides for
communication between a process and a file, which can be a disk file, a device other
than a disk, or another process.
FILLER byte. A portion of a STRUCT that is used only to maintain the alignment of
adjacent STRUCT items.
frame. A local environment managed by the #FRAME, #UNFRAME, and #RESET built-in
functions.
fully qualified file name. The complete name of a file, including the node name. For
permanent disk files, this file name consists of a node name, volume name, subvolume
name, and file ID. For temporary disk files, the file name consists of a node name, a
subvolume name, and a temporary file ID. For a device, the file name consists of a
node name and a device name or logical device number. For a named process, the file
name consists of a node name, and a process name. For an unnamed process, the file
name consists of a node name, CPU number, PIN, and sequence number. Contrast
with partially qualified file name.
function. An operation or set of operations that is invoked by the appearance of the
function name and its arguments at the point where the result of the function is wanted.
A built-in function is hard coded into TACL; users can define other functions. Variable
types for functions include TEXT, MACRO, and ROUTINE.
GMT. See Greenwich mean time (GMT).
godmother. See job ancestor.
Greenwich mean time (GMT). The mean solar time for the meridian at Greenwich,
England.
Gregorian date. A date specified according to the common calendar using the month of
the year (January through December), the day of the month, and the year A.D.