Byte-Stream Files

MPE/iX has been enhanced to support byte-stream file. Byte-stream files do not have a system-defined record structure. Information is stored as a "stream of bytes." By convention, a newline character divides lines of data. This file structure is compatible with the file structure on systems that use byte-stream files, such as HP-UX.

MPE utilities act on byte-stream files as if they are variable-length record format files; the utilities then save byte-stream files as variable-length record format files. This is also true for some MPE applications. To successfully treat byte-stream files as variable-length record format files, the byte-stream files must include newline characters at regular intervals.

Editing byte-stream files

MPE/iX emulation allows all tools to see Variable and Fixed files as a byte-stream. Therefore, the Shell can now manipulate the data in these two types of files as though they were byte-stream files. A program which does not purge the file can modify the byte-stream file with the emulator and get a byte-stream file.

To edit byte-stream files, you can use one of the following methods:

• Use the vi editor in the MPE/iX shell.

• Use editors such as HPEDIT.

• Convert the byte-stream file into a record-oriented file (for example, using FCOPY).

Editing byte-stream files using the vi editor

The vi editor is a standard UNIX editor that the POSIX .2 shell provides. Refer to the "VI Tutorial" in the MPE/iX Shell and Utilities User's Guide (36431-90002) or to The Ultimate Guide to the vi and ex Text Editors (97005-90015) for information on how to use vi.