When using Command Input-Output Redirection ("CIOR") a single ">"
     signifies create a new file or start at the beginning of an existing
     file, overwriting what is there.  By default CIOR will create a
     temporary file with REC=-256,,V,ASCII;DISC=10000 when a single ">" is
     used and will append to it when ">>" is specified.  Even if a
     permanent file of the same name exists, CIOR will create a new
     temporary file if ">" is used (in the absence of a file equation with
     ",OLD" and back reference to it).
 
     If ">>" is used, CIOR will create a temporary file if it does not
     already exist, in the absence of a file equation and back reference to
     it.
 
     Therefore if CIOR is used, a file equation with ACC=APPEND is not needed if
     ">>" is used.  In fact, if a temporary file is intended (the original
     question), a file equation is not necessary either.  Furthermore, all of
     the CIOR statements can be coded with ">>" (sample scenario: a WHILE loop).
 
     CIOR is very useful, especially when MPE/iX variable need to be inserted
     into a file.
 
     Leonard Berkowitz, Warren, Gorham & Lamont
 
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Append to PERM file?
Author:  Wray Smallwood <[log in to unmask]> at internet
Date:    04/04/96 5:56 PM
 
 
Even better a command file:
 
PARM DATA=""
FILE M=MYFILE,OLD;ACC=APPEND
IF NOT FINFO("*M","EXISTS")
  BUILD MYFILE;REC=-80,,F,ASCII;DISC=100
ENDIF
ECHO !DATA >>*M
 
Call it APPEND so that usage is
 
APPEND "data to the file"