No such file

[Sentosa]

Hi,

I found some files with the follow information during issue command "dir *.log/size"

ABC.LOG;764
no such file

Could anyone know why?

Regards,
sentosa

[Hein van den Heuvel]

This is probably a 'dangling' directory entry.

You can clean it up with SET FILE/REMOVE

You may want to do an ANAL/DISK at some point.

Under VMS a file is uniquely described by its FILE-ID (FID), a set 3 binary words.

Directory entries relate a NAME to FIDs
More than 1 entry can point to the same FID

Try $ DIREXXX /FILE x.y
The XXX makes sure you get the 'naked' directory command, no alias.

Try $ HELP SET FILE/ENTER
and $ HELP SET FILE/REMOV


hth,
Hein.

[Sentosa]

Hi Hein.,

Could you please tell me the meaning of 'dangling' directory & 3 binary words?

Thanks,
Sentosa

[Steven Schweda]

It can happen if the file is deleted (by some
other process) between the time when the
DIRECTORY program adds that file to its list
of things to display, and the time when it
actually puts out that line.

For a test, you can use DIRE /PAGE to add
extra delay. Create ZZZZ.TMP in a directory
which already contains many files. Do DIRE
/PAGE /SIZE. When the first page is
displayed, go to some other terminal
(window), and DELETE ZZZZ.TMP;*. Return to
the DIRE /PAGE /SIZE terminal (window), and
"More" or "Scroll" down to the (now deleted)
ZZZZ.TMP entry:

[...]
ZZZZ.TMP;1 no such file
[...]

[Hein van den Heuvel]

>> Could you please tell me the meaning of 'dangling' directory & 3 binary words?

Did you try the DIR/FILE ???
You'll see the numbers that represent the FID

Did you try the HELP?

With dangling I mean there is an entry (NAME) in the directory, with a value for a FID, but the FID itself is not valid (anymore).

Normally, when a file is deleted, its directory entry is removed. But they are seperate entities that can get decoupled. Apparently, in your case, the file (data adn header) is gone, but the directory entry is still there.

Hein

[Sentosa]

Hi Hein,

I have tired the command, the output for the file is (9073,1329,0).

What is the meaning for that digit?

Thanks,
Sentosa

[Barry Alford · Accepted solution]

Imaginge that you wanted to phone a guy called ABC LOG. You get the phone book out, and find the number 9073 1329 0 for that name. Then you phone 9073 1329 0 and get a "no such number" tone.

When the new phone book comes out, it no longer contains the name ABC LOG.

So you need a new phone book - try:
$ ANAL/DISK/REPAIR

..or just remove the name from your current book:
$ SET FILE/REMOVE ABC.LOG

..then you will not try to ring the number again.

[Sentosa]

Thanks