/BEST_TRY_CONTIGUOUS /NOBEST_TRY_CONTIGUOUS Indicates whether the Files-11 output file is to be allocated contiguously on a "best effort" basis; that is, whether EXCHANGE will attempt to place the file on consecutive physical disk blocks. If insufficient contiguous space is available, the file occupies the largest available contiguous space plus additional extents as necessary for the rest of the allocation. You can apply this qualifier only to a Files-11 output file. The /BEST_TRY_CONTIGUOUS qualifier has no effect when you copy files to magnetic tape volumes. When you would like a file from a magnetic tape to be copied contiguously, use both the /ALLOCATION and the /BEST_TRY_CONTIGUOUS qualifiers, because the size of the file on magnetic tape cannot be determined until after it is copied to the disk. If you do not know the exact size of the file, overestimate the size and specify /TRUNCATE (along with /ALLOCATION and /BEST_TRY_CONTIGUOUS) to avoid wasted space. The default is /NOBEST_TRY_CONTIGUOUS.