Guide to OpenVMS File Applications

This document, "Guide to OpenVMS File Applications," is a comprehensive guide for application programmers and designers working with OpenVMS Record Management Services (RMS) files. Published by Compaq in April 2001, it focuses on OpenVMS Alpha and VAX systems (Version 7.3).

The guide covers:

• Fundamental Concepts: File, disk, and magnetic tape concepts, including RMS, File Definition Language (FDL), and resource requirements.
• File Organization: Choosing optimal file organizations and record access modes for applications.
• Performance: Design considerations, tuning techniques, buffering, and file extension strategies.
• File Management: Procedures for creating, populating, protecting, locating, and naming files (including advanced file specifications and rooted directories).
• File Sharing & Record Locking: Mechanisms for concurrent file access, buffering techniques, and handling record locking conflicts.
• Record Processing: Details on primary (Find, Get, Put, Update, Delete) and secondary record services, including synchronous and asynchronous operations.
• Run-Time Options: Specifying options for opening, closing, and performing various file and record operations.
• File Maintenance: Procedures for viewing file characteristics, optimizing, reorganizing, and making archive copies of files, particularly for indexed files.

It also includes an appendix on Edit/FDL utility optimization algorithms.