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Adds the contents of one or more source files to the end of a new or existing destination file on disk, leaving the original source files unchanged.
@APPEND (SOURCE FILE) source filespec(s) (TO) destination filespec, @@subcommand
where:
ASCII | specifies that the files being appended are written in ASCII mode, with 36-bit words each consisting of five 7-bit bytes and a parity bit; the parity bit means that the eighth hole of the paper tape is never punched. |
BINARY | specifies that the files being appended are composed of 36-bit words, each consisting of six 6-bit bytes, with the seventh hole of the paper tape set always to 0 and the eighth hole set always to 1; causes a checksum calculation. |
BYTE n | specifies that the byte size of the destination file is to be n (any decimal number). If you do not give the BYTE subcommand, the destination file will have the same byte size as the source file. |
IMAGE | specifies that the files being appended are composed of 36-bit words, each consisting of one 8-bit byte; the 28 most significant bits are lost on output. |
IMAGE BINARY | same as BINARY, but lacking the checksum. |
ASCII | specifies that the files being appended are written in ASCII mode, with 36-bit words each consisting of five 7-bit bytes and a parity bit; the parity bit means that the least significant bit is set to 0 on input and is lost on output. |
BINARY | calls for a direct transfer of data in 36-bit bytes. |
BYTE n | specifies that the byte size of the destination file is to be n (any decimal number). If you do not give the BYTE subcommand, the destination file will have the same byte size as the source file. |
IMAGE | same as BINARY. |
IMAGE BINARY | same as BINARY. |
As each file is appended, the system prints its specification and the word [OK]. Also, if recognition is used on the destination file specification, the system prints its status (Old generation, New generation, New file, or Superseding, for disk files; or OK, if the files are appended to a non-disk device).
The APPEND command attaches source files to the destination file in the order you specify them; the contents of the last specified source will appear at the end of the destination file when APPEND is finished.
For most purposes you do not need to use subcommands when transferring information with the APPEND command. These subcommands, specifying the format of the appended files, are required only when using certain devices (for example, devices of the form MTn: (tape drives) using labeled tapes, or PTR: (paper tape reader)) or under particular conditions (for example, when transferring files over network facilities). If you are appending information from disk files or from your terminal and you do not use any subcommands, the data will be appended as written, whether in a standard format (usually ASCII or binary) or not.
Wildcard characters (* and %) can be used in source file specifications only. The files are then appended in alphabetical order.
If you type TTY: in place of source file specifications, the system appends any characters you then type (after completing the command itself), until you give a CTRL/Z to return your terminal to TOPS-20 command level. CTRL/U, CTRL/R, CTRL/W, and the Delete key can be used to edit the current line of terminal input.
You can use the APPEND command to transfer data from a magnetic tape, terminal, card reader, paper tape reader, or other device to disk files, but if source files written in differing formats are specified within the same command, some data can be lost in the transfer.
Source files created by the EDIT program should not contain sequence numbers when they are appended. Mixing files that contain sequence numbers with files that do not will cause EDIT to function improperly if used on the resulting file.
You can append the contents of an archived file to another file, by specifying it as the first (or source) argument of an APPEND command. You can then edit the resulting file, because it does not gain archive status although part of its contents are the same as those of the archived file; the archived file remains unchanged. However, you cannot give the specification of an archived file as the second (or destination) argument of an APPEND command, as this would change the file's contents.
COPY | for making copies of files |
@APPEND FORT.FOR FIL.FOR FORT.FOR.8 [OK]
@APPEND FORT.FOR, GORT.FOR GIL.FOR FORT.FOR.8 [OK] GORT.FOR.6 [OK]
@ACCESS <MANUALS> Password:___ @APPEND <MANUALS>REL3A.MEM REL3A.MEM <MANUALS>REL3A.MEM.4 [OK] @END-ACCESS <MANUALS>
@APPEND %ORT.FOR HIL.FOR FORT.FOR.8 [OK] GORT.FOR.6 [OK] HORT.FOR.3 [OK] MORT.FOR.2 [OK]
@APPEND *.TXT BACKUP.TXT MAIL.TXT.1 [OK] NEWRUN.TXT.1 [OK] NX.TXT.1 [OK]
@APPEND TTY:,BACKUP.TXT BACKUP.TXT.-1 TTY: !THIS IS A BACKUP FILE FOR ALL TEXT FILES. ^Z BACKUP.TXT.1 [OK]
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