Functions and CALL Routines under UNIX

FOPTNUM Function: UNIX

Returns the number of information items that are available for an external file.

Category:	External Files
UNIX specifics:	Information items available
See:	FOPTNUM Function in SAS Language Reference: Dictionary

Syntax
Details
See Also

Syntax

FOPTNUM(file-id)

file-id: specifies the identifier that was assigned when the file was opened, generally by the FOPEN function.

Details

Under UNIX, five information items are available for all types of files:

File Name
Owner Name
Group Name
Access Permission
File Size (bytes)

If you concatenate filenames, then an additional information item is available: File List. If you are using pipe files, then the only information item available is PIPE Command.

The open-mode specified in the FOPEN function determines the value that FOPTNUM returns.

Open Mode	FOPTNUM Value	Information Items Available
Append Input Update	6 for concatenated files 5 for single files	All information items available.
Output	5 for concatenated files 4 for single files	Because the file is open for output, the File Size information type is unavailable.
Sequential (using Pipe Device Type)	1	The only information item available is PIPE Command.

Open Mode

FOPTNUM Value

Information Items Available

Append

Input

Update

6 for concatenated files

5 for single files

All information items available.

Output

5 for concatenated files

4 for single files

Because the file is open for output, the File Size information type is unavailable.

Sequential

(using Pipe Device Type)

The only information item available is PIPE Command.

For an example of how to use the FOPTNUM function, see Example: File Attributes When Using the Pipe Device Type.