When you copy tmp8 to tmp9, tmp9 is now whatever type file tmp8 was. Maybe you're expecting tmp9 to still be a msg file. If you want to copy the records you'll have to use fcopy instead. Fcopy from=tmp8;to=tmp9 Try that. John Zoltak North American Mfg Co > -----Original Message----- > From: H Campbell [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Thursday, February 18, 1999 3:35 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [HP3000-L] Message file question > > > Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong. I thought I could > use a message file to allow sequential reads of records in a file, > but I only seem to be able to get the first record. > Here is my test command file. tmp8 contains 4 identifiable records. > > build tmp9;rec=-80,,f,ascii;msg > copy tmp8,tmp9;yes > input _a < tmp9 > input _b < tmp9 > input _c < tmp9 > echo !_c > > The echo shows the first record. Can someone point to my error? > Thanks. > > -- H Campbell > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > H Gregory Campbell | [log in to unmask] > Systems Programmer | hcampbel@irishvma > Univ. of Notre Dame | > Notre Dame, Indiana, USA | (219) 631-5600 >