Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!YALE.ARPA!LEICHTER-JERRY From: LEICHTER-JERRY@YALE.ARPA.UUCP Newsgroups: mod.computers.vax Subject: The RMS DLT bit Message-ID: <8605151128.AA06434@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Thu, 15-May-86 07:28:59 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8605151128.AA06434 Posted: Thu May 15 07:28:59 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 16-May-86 04:25:30 EDT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 17 Approved: info-vax@sri-kl.arpa In a recent message, I suggested that a program could set the DLT bit on file creation, the clear it when it closed the file, and as a result have the file be kept only when the program had "successfully" finished with it - "success" being flagged by clearing the bit. I've since been informed by a friend, who learned in the school of practical experience, that things don't work that way; once the file is created with the DLT bit, clearing it later has no effect. So it appears that the only way to get the effect desired - that files not stick around if the program fails to complete successfully - is to use an exit handler. My apologies to anyone I've sent of on a wild goose chase.... -- Jerry -------