The copy command copies items to an output device, to another item-ID, or to another file.
copy file.reference itemlist*{(options)}
to: {(file.reference} {itemlist}
| options | n | Integer number that specifies the number of items to copy. Typically used for copying data for test files. |
| a | Activates assembly mlist format. | |
| d | Deletes original source item after copying. Not valid with the t or p option. | |
| f | Outputs a form feed between each item; only valid with the t and p option. | |
| i | Suppresses display of item-IDs when copying between files. | |
| m | Activates macro (assembly) format on terminal or printer output only. | |
| n | Activates nopage function on output to the terminal; only available with the t option. | |
| o | Overwrites existing items when duplicate item-IDs exist; has no effect if used with t or p option. | |
| p | Directs output to system printer, via the spooler. | |
| s | Suppresses display of line (attribute) numbers when used with the t or p option. | |
| s | Suppresses error message display when copying between files. | |
| t | Directs output to the terminal. | |
| u | If the item-ID is in the destination file, the item is copied to a new item-ID by creating a new item-ID composed of the original item-ID concatenated with a letter, starting with a lowercase a. | |
| x | Outputs in hexadecimal; only available with the t and p option. |
If an output device is not specified in the options (either to the terminal or printer), the prompt to: displays on the next line.
If copying to another file, a left parenthesis must precede the file name. A closing right parenthesis is not needed. If the file reference is not specified at the to: prompt, the items are copied to the source file.
If no item list is included, the items in the destination file are given the same item-IDs as the items in the source file.
The file reference may refer to a dictionary level by preceding the file reference with the word, DICT, followed by a space. No item list is required when the copy follows a select, sselect, get-list, or qselect (or any other list-generating process).
File-defining items are protected and cannot be copied with the copy command.
copy dict invoices customer.name (p copy invoices * (od to: (invoices,archive
copy dict invoices size to: (dict sales