Re: updating a unix file through metacard

Scott Raney ((no email))
Wed, 30 Jun 93 8:58:40 MDT

>
> Is there a way to update a file through MetaCard. Do you make the changes
> first then close the file or do you do it antoher way.

If you "open file xxxx" (or "open file xxxx for update") you can both
read and write the file. At present there is no way to truncate the
file, however. If the file needs to get shorter, you'll need to open
it and read the contents, use shell("rm xxxx") to delete the file,
and then write it out again.

An "open file xxx for overwrite" feature is under consideration.
Another alternative would be "write eof to file xxxx", which would
truncate the file at the current position. This would require that
the engine make a copy of the file, since there is no portable way to
truncate a file in UNIX, but at least the script writer wouldn't have
to do it.

-- 
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* Scott Raney  303-447-3936            Remember: the better you look, *
* raney@metacard.com                   the more you'll see -- Lidia   *
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