1 03/31/83  tape_ansi_
 2 
 3 
 4 Function: The tape_ansi_ I/O module implements the processing of
 5 magnetic tape files according to the "American National Standards
 6 Institute's ANSI X3.27-1978", "Magnetic Tape Labels and File Structure
 7 for Information Interchange".  This document is referred to below as
 8 "the Standard".  In addition, the I/O module provides a number of
 9 features that are extensions to, but outside of, the Standard.  Using
10 these features may produce a nonstandard file, unsuitable for
11 interchange purposes.
12 
13 Entries in the module are not called directly by users; rather, the
14 module is accessed through the I/O system.  See the Programmer's
15 Reference Manual for a general description of the I/O system.
16 
17 
18 List of Definition of Terms:
19    For the purpose of this document, the following terms have the
20    meanings indicated.  They represent a simplification and
21    combination of the exact and complete set of definitions found
22    in the Standard.
23 record
24    related information treated as a unit of information.
25 block
26    a collection of characters written or read as a unit.  A block may
27    contain one or more complete records, or it may contain parts of one
28    or more records.  A part of a record is a record segment.  A block
29    does not contain multiple segments of the same record.
30 
31 
32 file
33    a collection of information consisting of records pertaining to a
34    single subject.  A file may be recorded on all or part of a volume,
35    or on more than one volume.
36 volume
37    a reel of magnetic tape.  A volume may contain one or more complete
38    files, or it may contain sections of one or more files.  A volume
39    does not contain multiple sections of the same file.
40 file set
41    a collection of one or more related files, recorded consecutively on
42    a volume set.
43 volume set
44    a collection of one or more volumes on which one and only one file
45    set is recorded.
46 
47 
48 Syntax and Attach Description:
49      tape_ansi_ vn1 vn2 ...  vnN {-control_args}