MPE/iX File Designators

The file system recognizes two general classes of files:

These files are distinguished by the file names and other descriptors (such as group or account names) that reference them, as discussed below. You may use both the file name and descriptors, in combination, as either formal designators within your programs or as actual designators that identify the file to the system. Generally, however, most programmers use only arbitrary names as formal designators, and then equate them to appropriate actual file designators at run time. In such cases, the formal designators (user file names) contain from one to eight alphanumeric characters, beginning with a letter; the actual designators include a user or system file name, optionally followed by a group name, account name, and/or security lockword, all separated by appropriate delimiters. This technique facilitates maximum flexibility with respect to file references.