Chapter 4 235
Command Definition F-K
FILE
$NULL Actual file designator of a system-wide file that is always treated as an
empty file. When $NULL is accessed by a program for input, that program
receives only an end-of-file indication. When it is accessed by a program for
output, the associated write request is accepted by MPE/iX, but no
physical output is actually performed.
Do not specify parameters or options for $NULL files; if you do, you will
receive an error.
$NEWPASS The system-wide name of the temporary job file. When $NEWPASS is
closed, it is referenced by the name $OLDPASS. Opening $NEWPASS
destroys any previous $OLDPASS temporary file.
$OLDPASS The system-wide name of the last temporary file that was closed as
$NEWPASS.
$STDIN The system-wide name of the standard job input device. A colon (:) as the
first character read on this file indicates end-of-file. You will receive an
error if you specify the DEV= option, VTERM parameter, or any of the option
parameters or options with $STDIN; there are restrictions on the disposition
parameters and options as well.
$STDINX The same as $STDIN except that a colon can be read as the first character
and received as data. An EOD produces an end-of-file on $STDINX.
You will receive an error if you specify the VTERM parameter or any of the
option parameters or options with $STDINX; there are restrictions on the
disposition parameters and options as well.
$STDLIST The system-wide name for the standard job or session list device. You will
receive an error if you specify the VTERM parameter or any of the option
parameters or options with $STDLIST; there are restrictions on the
disposition parameters and options as well.
filereference The actual file designator of the file. If the name does not begin with a dot
(.) or slash (/), the name is considered to follow standard MPE file naming
syntax rules. File names will be in the following format:
filename[/lockword][.groupname[.accountname]]
Each identifier may contain from one to eight alphanumeric characters,
beginning with an alphabetic character. The file name resolution is as
follows:
•iffilename = FN, look for file FN in the CWD (current working directory)
•iffilename = FN.GP, look for file FN in group GP of the logon account
(regardless of the current working directory)
•iffilename = FN.GP.AC, look for file FN in group GP of account AC.
In a batch job, the file fails to open if the file has a lockword that is not
specified in filereference. In a session, MPE/iX prompts you for a lockword if
one exists.
