If a version of the file exists, a new file created with fopen inherits certain attributes from the existing file unless those attributes are specified in the fopen call. The following attributes are inherited: Record format Maximum record size Carriage control File protection If you specify a directory in the filename and it is a search list that contains an error, Compaq C for OpenVMS Systems interprets it as a file open error. The file control block can be freed with the fclose function, or by default on normal program termination.