topic Re: INIT disk/DIRECTORIES=n in Operating System - OpenVMS

INIT disk/DIRECTORIES=n

Jack Trachtman — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:44:55 GMT

I'm back to trying to understand this INIT option, which I've never understood.

This is clear: INIT disk/HEADERS=n directly effects the size of the INDEXF.SYS file, which I've just reconfirmed in some quick tests (I understand what HEADERS are so this was just a sanity check).

But, I've never understood what the /DIRECTORIES=n switch does. The HELP text is unclear, I couldn't find more info with a web search, and in some quick testing, using N=16 (the default) or N=16000 (the max allowed) seems to make no difference in the sizes of the files created by the INIT operation.

Would someone explain what this switch does and how I should consider using it? TIA

Re: INIT disk/DIRECTORIES=n

Hoff — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 19:06:27 GMT

Are you conflating the index file INDEXF.SYS and the 000000.DIR Master File Directory (MFD)?

The INITIALIZE /DIRECTORIES qualifier pre-allocates the 000000.DIR master file directory directory file, and is not particularly useful for most cases. Not unless you're going to immediately fill 000000.DIR with a gazillion files.

Re: INIT disk/DIRECTORIES=n

Jack Trachtman — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 19:34:47 GMT

Ah yes, that simple. I was expecting something more complicated. Thank you