Components of an FCOPY Command

"FROM" and "TO" Files

A fromfile is the input file for an FCOPY command. It contains the data you want to copy. A tofile is the output file to which you want to copy the data.

You identify a fromfile for an FCOPY command with the FROM parameter. It has the following format:

   >FROM[={fromfile

                * <file>

                *

                <empty>}]

The value you assign to FROM can be an input file name (fromfile); an asterisk (*) plus a file name, if desired; an asterisk (*); or nothing at all (<empty>). An asterisk preceding the fromfile backreferences the fromfile named in a previously set file equation. An asterisk, alone, specifies continued use of the fromfile specified in the previous command. If you leave FROM empty, you can use your terminal (or a spoolfile during a job) as the input file.

In the example below, the FROM parameter describes an input file named INFO1 for an FCOPY command.

   >FROM=INFO1

You specify a tofile with the TO parameter. TO has the following format in MPE V/E:

   ;TO[={(datafile,keyfile)

           tofile

           * <file>

           *

          <empty>}]

The value that you assign to TO can be the names of data and key files for a new KSAM V/E file (datafile and keyfile); the name of the output file (tofile); an asterisk (*) plus a file name, if desired; an asterisk; or nothing at all (<empty>). An asterisk preceding a tofile name backreferences the tofile named in a previously set file equation. An asterisk, alone, specifies continued use of the tofile specified in the previous command. For details, see "Defining Files" later in this chapter. If you leave TO empty, you can copy files to your terminal (or to a printer during a job).

TO has the following format in MPE XL:

   ;TO [={{(datafile,keyfile)

           (tofile)}

           tofile

           *<file>

          <empty>}]

You use a single file name enclosed in parentheses (tofile) to create a KSAM XL file. You still use the names of data files and key files to create a new CM KSAM file (datafile and keyfile). The other values are the same as those described above. For more information, refer to Using KSAM XL (32650-90168).

The example below describes an output file named OUTFILE for an FCOPY command.

   ;TO=OUTFILE

For more information on the FILE command, refer to the MPE V/E Commands Reference Manual (32033-90006) or the MPE XL Commands Reference Manual (32650-90003).

FCOPY Commands

In addition to specifying input and output files in an FCOPY command, you also define the functions that you want FCOPY to perform. Each function has its own syntax, and there are guidelines for its use. The NEW function, for example, lets you create a new disk file. An example of an FCOPY command using the NEW function is shown below:

   :FCOPY

   >FROM=OLDFILE;TO=NEWFILE;NEW

Chapter 3 contains more examples that illustrate the use of FCOPY commands, and chapter 5 describes all FCOPY functions in detail. Table 2-1 lists the FCOPY functions and brief descriptions in alphabetical order.