SAS/C Library Reference, Vol. 1

unlink -- Delete a File

SYNOPSIS

 #include <fcntl.h>

 int unlink(const char *name);

The synopsis for the POSIX implementation is

 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <unistd.h>

 int unlink(const char *name)

You may use either set of header files in your program.

DESCRIPTION

Under MVS, the unlink function deletes the MVS disk file, PDS member, or HFS file specified by the string that is pointed to by name.

Under CMS, unlink deletes the disk file specified by the CMS string that is pointed to by name.

RETURN VALUE

The unlink function returns 0 if the file is deleted. If the file cannot be deleted or name is invalid, - 1 is returned.

CAUTION

MVS

For ddn style filenames that do not refer to a PDS member, unlink means "to make empty." Other style filenames are deleted and uncataloged.

CMS

If the fileid has a blank filemode, it defaults to A1. The name function should not contain wild-card values such as * or =.

POSIX

For an OpenEdition HFS file, the directory entry is deleted. However, the file itself is deleted only when there are no links that refer to it.

IMPLEMENTATION

unlink is an alternate name for remove. See the implementation details for remove.

EXAMPLE

  #include <fcntl.h>
  #include <stdio.h>

  main()
  {
     int rc;

     rc = unlink("cms:testfile text a1");

     if (rc == 0)
        puts("The file has been unlinked/deleted.");
     else
        puts("The file could not be deleted.");
  }

RELATED FUNCTIONS

link