TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual

DISCARD

Gives up the tape copy of specified on-line files.

Format

@DISCARD (TAPE INFORMATION FOR FILES) filespec,...

where:

filespec

is the specification of a file whose tape copy you want to discard.

Characteristics

Action of DISCARD

The DISCARD command causes the tape pointer in the FDB (File Descriptor Block) of the specified file to be deleted. It does not actually destroy the tape copy of the file. The tape copy is destroyed when the tape is recycled by the operator. (See also Hints - Undoing DISCARD, below.)

Withdrawing Archive Status of Files

When you give the DISCARD command for an on-line archived file, you withdraw archive status from the disk copy of the file. That is, the file becomes an ordinary disk file, which you can edit or delete if you wish.

DISCARD for Non-archived Files

You can also use the DISCARD command to give up the tape copy of files that have been migrated to tape (automatically, by the system) and then retrieved using the RETRIEVE command.

Hints

Undoing DISCARD

You receive a mail message from the operator for every file whose tape copy you discard. The message gives the tape number, saveset number, and file number within the saveset of each tape copy. If you have given the DISCARD command for a file and later wish to use the tape copy, you may be able to recover it using this information, as long as the tapes have not yet been recycled.

Related Commands

ARCHIVE	for requesting that a permanent tape copy of specified files be made
DELETE (with CONTENTS-ONLY subcommand)	for deleting only the disk copy of files that also have a tape copy
RETRIEVE	for requesting that an off-line file be restored to disk

Examples

Discard the tape copy of a file.
```
@DISCARD TESTER.EXE
 TESTER.EXE.1 [OK]
```

Attempt to alter an archived file. When you find out it has archive status, discard its tape copy (this revokes its archive status) and perform the alteration. Archive the resulting file and check its status.

@APPEND FOO.LOG DRCHIVE.TXT
  FOO.LOG.1
?File has archive status, modification is prohibited: 
DRCHIVE.TXT.1
@DISCARD DRCHIVE.TXT
  DRCHIVE.TXT.1 [OK]
@APPEND FOO.LOG DRCHIVE.TXT
  FOO.LOG.1 [OK]
@ARCHIVE DRCHIVE.TXT
  DRCHIVE.TXT.1 [Requested]
@INFORMATION ARCHIVE-STATUS DRCHIVE.TXT
  DRCHIVE.TXT.1 Archive requested

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