copy Command

The copy command copies items to an output device, to another item-ID, or to another file.

Syntax

copy file.reference itemlist* {(options)}

to: {(file.reference} {itemlist}

Parameter(s)

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.

i

Suppresses display of item-IDs when copying between files.

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.

Example(s)

copy dict invoices customer.name (p

copy invoices * (od

to: (invoices,archive

 

copy dict invoices size

to: (dict sales

See Also

copy-list Command, cp Command, ct Command, delete Command, export Command, get-list Command, Header Files, list-item Command, move-file Command, qselect Command, rename-file Command, select Command, sselect Command, steal-file Command