10.6.18 RECL Keyword

The RECL keyword specifies the logical length of records in a file. It takes the following form:

RECL = rl

rl

Is a numeric expression indicating the length of logical records in the file.

The value of rl does not include space for control information, such as two segment control bytes (if present). The specification is for record data only.

The value of rl is expressed in units of bytes or "longwords", depending on the record's format. Formatted records use byte units and unformatted records use "longword" units (which are equal to 4 bytes).

The interpretation and effect of the logical record length varies as follows:

• If the file contains segmented records, RECL specifies the maximum length for any segment (including the two segment-control bytes).

• If the file contains fixed-length records, RECL specifies the size of each record.

• If the file contains variable-length records, RECL specifies the maximum length for any record. A fixed-length file with unformatted records must have a record size that is an even multiple of four.

• Reading a fixed-length file with a record length different from the one used to create the file will produce indeterminate results.

You must specify RECL when you open files with fixed-length records.

The maximum length for rl depends on the record type and the setting of the CARRIAGECONTROL keyword, as shown in Table 10-2.

Table 10-2 Record Size (RECL) Limits on Tru64 UNIX Systems

The default value depends on the setting of the RECORDTYPE keyword, as shown in Table 10-3.

Table 10-3 Record Size (RECL) Default Values on Tru64 UNIX Systems