1  WRITE
   Writes the specified data as one record to an open file specified
   by a logical name.

   All qualifiers must precede all data item expressions.

   Format

     WRITE  logical-name expression[,...]
 

2  Parameters
 

logical-name

   Specifies the logical name assigned to the output file. Use the
   logical name assigned by the OPEN command. In interactive mode,
   specify the process-permanent files identified by the logical
   names SYS$INPUT, SYS$OUTPUT, SYS$ERROR, and SYS$COMMAND. (The
   OPEN command assigns a logical name to a file and places the name
   in the process logical name table.)
 

expression[,...]

   Specifies data to be written as a single record to the output
   file. You can specify data items using character string
   expressions, which may be symbol names, character strings in
   quotation marks (" "),  literal numeric values, or a lexical
   function. For more information on string expressions, see the
   OpenVMS User's Manual.

   You can specify a list of expressions separated by commas (,);
   the command interpreter concatenates the items into one record
   and writes the record to the output file.

   The maximum size of any record that can be written is less than
   1024 bytes, and the value of any symbol that is specified as part
   of a record cannot exceed 255 characters; however, if you specify
   the /SYMBOL qualifier, the maximum record size is 2048 bytes and
   the value of a symbol can exceed 255 characters.
 

2  Qualifiers
 

/ERROR

      /ERROR=label

   Transfers control on an I/O error to the location specified by
   label (in a command procedure). If no error routine is specified
   and an error occurs during the writing of the file, the current
   ON condition action is taken. The /ERROR qualifier overrides any
   ON condition action specified. If an error occurs and control
   passes successfully to the target label, the reserved global
   symbol $STATUS retains the error code.
 

/SYMBOL

   Causes the expression to be interpreted and its expanded value
   placed in a 2048-byte (instead of a 1024-byte) buffer before
   the write operation is performed. If you specify multiple
   expressions, their values are concatenated and placed in the
   2048-byte buffer. Use the /SYMBOL qualifier to write a very large
   record.

   If you do not use the /SYMBOL qualifier, the entire command,
   including the expression or expressions, is placed in a 1024-byte
   buffer.
 

/UPDATE

   Replaces the last record read with the record specified with the
   expression parameter. You must be able to read and write to a
   file to use the /UPDATE qualifier. Use the WRITE/UPDATE command
   only after a READ command. The WRITE/UPDATE command modifies the
   last record you have read.

   With sequential files, you must replace a record with another
   record of the same size when you use the WRITE/UPDATE command.
 

/WAIT

      /WAIT (default)
      /NOWAIT

   If you specify /NOWAIT, the Put service to a mailbox device uses
   the IO$M_NOW modifier, which causes the operation to complete
   immediately instead of synchronizing with another reader of the
   mailbox.

   Currently this qualifier is supported on Alpha and Integrity
   servers only.
 

2  Examples

   1.$ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "Beginning second phase of tests"

     The WRITE command writes a single line of text to the current
     output device.

   2.$ OPEN/APPEND OUTPUT_FILE TRNTO::DKA1:[PGM]PLAN.DAT
     $ WRITE OUTPUT_FILE "BEGINNING PHASE 3"

     In this example, the OPEN/APPEND command opens the file
     PLAN.DAT at the remote node TRNTO and positions the pointer
     at the end of the file. The WRITE command writes a record to
     the end of the file PLAN.DAT.
 


   3.$ OPEN/WRITE OUTPUT_FILE TESTFILE.DAT
     $ INQUIRE ID "Assign Test-id Number"
     $ WRITE/ERROR=WRITE_ERROR  OUTPUT_FILE  "Test-id is ",ID
     $ WRITE/ERROR=WRITE_ERROR  OUTPUT_FILE  ""
     $ !
     $ WRITE_LOOP:
        .
        .
        .
     $ GOTO WRITE_LOOP
     $ END_LOOP:
     $ !
     $ CLOSE OUTPUT_FILE
     $ PRINT TESTFILE.DAT
     $ EXIT
     $ !
     $ WRITE_ERROR:
     $ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "There was a WRITE error."
     $ CLOSE OUTPUT_FILE
     $ EXIT

     In this example, the OPEN command opens the file TESTFILE.DAT;
     the INQUIRE command requests an identification number to be
     assigned to a particular run of the procedure. The number
     entered is equated to the symbol ID. The WRITE commands write
     a text line concatenated with the symbol name ID and a blank
     line.

     The lines between the label WRITE_LOOP and END_LOOP process
     information and write additional data to the file. When the
     processing is finished, control is transferred to the label
     END_LOOP. The CLOSE and PRINT commands at this label close the
     output file and queue a copy of the file to the system printer.

     The label WRITE_ERROR is used as the target of the /ERROR
     qualifier to the WRITE command; if an error occurs when a
     record is being written, control is transferred to the label
     WRITE_ERROR.

   4.$ OPEN/APPEND MYFILE [LAMPERT]TESTING.DAT
     $ WRITE/SYMBOL MYFILE A,B,C

     This example assumes that the symbols A, B, and C have
     already been defined. The OPEN/APPEND command opens the file
     [LAMPERT]TESTING.DAT and positions the pointer at the end of
     the file. The WRITE/SYMBOL command concatenates the values of
     the symbols A, B, and C and writes this data to a new record at
     the end of the file.