Specifications

Using Callable System Routines
10.5 OpenVMS Record Management Services
10.5.3 RMS Macros
RMS uses macros provided in the system macro library to perform the following
tasks:
• Initialize control blocks at assembly time (allocates space within the program
image for the control block, defines the symbolic names for a control block,
initializes certain control block fields with internally used values, initializes
specified control block fields with user-specified values, and initializes certain
fields with system-supplied default values).
• Define control block symbolic names at assembly time (does not allocate or
initialize the control block).
• Set specified fields with user-specified values at run time.
• Invoke services at run time.
Table 10–5 lists each control block and its associated macros.
Table 10–5 User Control Blocks
Control
(Block)
Macro
(Name) Function
FAB Describes a file and contains file-related
information.
$FAB Allocates storage for a FAB and initializes certain
FAB fields; also defines symbolic offsets for a FAB.
$FABDEF Defines symbolic offsets for a FAB.
$FAB_STORE Moves specified values into a previously allocated
and initialized FAB.
NAM Contains file specification information beyond that
in the FAB.
$NAM Allocates storage for a NAM and initializes certain
NAM fields; also defines symbolic offsets for a NAM.
$NAMDEF Defines symbolic offsets for a NAM.
$NAM_STORE Moves specified values into a previously specified
and allocated NAM.
RAB Describes a record stream and contains record-
related information.
$RAB Allocates storage for a RAB and initializes certain
RAB fields; also defines symbolic offsets for a RAB.
$RABDEF Defines symbolic offsets for a RAB.
$RAB_STORE Moves specified values into a previously specified
and allocated RAB.
XABxxx
1
Contains file attribute information beyond that
in the FAB. For XABTRM, contains information
beyond that in the RAB.
$XABxxx Allocates and initializes an XAB.
$XABxxxDEF Defines symbolic offsets for an XABxxx.
1
The xxx is a 3-character mnemonic.
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