.help bfaloc Sep86 imfort.bfio
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NAME
bfaloc -- create and preallocate storage for a binary file
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SYNOPSIS
.nf
subroutine bfaloc (fname, nchars, status)

character*(*)	fname		#I host name of new file
integer		nchars		#I size of file in "chars"
integer		status		#O status return
.fi
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DESCRIPTION
The \fIbfaloc\fR procedure creates a new file \fIfname\fR and preallocates
space for at least \fInchars\fR SPP char units of storage.  The contents of
the file are unitialized.
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RETURN VALUE
A negative status value indicates either that the file could not be created
(e.g., due to insufficient permission), or that the requested amount of space
could not be allocated.  A positive or zero status indicates that the operation
succeeded.
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NOTES
On some systems, storage may not physically be allocated until the file is
written into.
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SEE ALSO
bfopen
.endhelp