On March 10, 1998, [log in to unmask] wrote:

   << For some reason, I always got hung up on counting the number of
      records in a msg file, then reading no more than that number.
      I like this technique better.
      <snip>
      I wondered how this could be made easier, specifically without
      using a MSG file.
      <snip>
      Robelle's Qedit came to mind first.  That is, you could use something like
              !showdev DAT > tapef
              !run qedit.pub.robelle; parm=4; info='list tapef "(W)"'
              !if qeditcount > 0
              !   setvar tapeok  "YES"
              !else
              !   setvar tapeok  "NO"
              !endif
      And if you have MPEX, some variant of
              %print tapef; search="(W)"
      would likely work as well.
      
      While I hope both of these products are on most systems, they're
      not bundled with FOS.
      <snip> rest of stuff
            >>

I agree that these are all possible methods, but first, we do not have either of
these two products, and second, when MPE became a full fledged programming 
language complete with variables, we eliminated all command files that ran 
another program or subsystem such as Editor to do this type of work.

We are a 100% Speedware shop using Designer and have never seen any need for 
editor programs other than QUAD or (gasp) Editor for occasional operations duty.

We make extensive use on MSG message files for inter process communication and 
temp files as you do not have to keep track of pointers or index through the 
file, MPE does it for you.  

The extra code to check for a file's existence before doing anything with it is 
part of our standard procedures.  Our jobs or command files must produce NO 
ERRORS  as part of their routine operation, as our JEDI program will pick them 
up and Page someone. 

These type of command files are quick and require no third party products, so 
are useable on all current FOS machines.

FWIW
                                          Tony Peters                     
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My Thoughts, My Fault.  Don't blame anyone else, cause they have no idea 
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