INITFILE

Initialize File

This directive allows an existing file to be cleared of all data and still retain its original size.

Syntax

INITFILE file-name [,ERR=line-ref|,ERC=error-code]

file-name: is any string of 8 characters or fewer used to identify this file.
line-ref: is the program line number or label to branch to if this directive produces an error.
error-code: is a programmer-defined error code. Valid values are positive or negative whole numbers.

This directive is generally available starting with release level 8.0.

This single directive is designed to replace several directives previously necessary to clear an existing file. For example:

INITFILE FILE**_**NAME$

replaces:

OPEN (1) FILE**_NAME$
LET FILE_FID$ = FID (1)
CLOSE (1)
ERASE FILE_NAME$
FILE FILE_**FID$

If the file type is an MSORT or TISAM, XFD(1,5) is used in place of FID(1) in the statements above.

If a file-name is specified that cannot be found on the available logical disk directories, an ERR=12 results.

If a file-name is specified that is OPEN to another task or on another channel for this task, an ERR=0 results.