FileAppend
Appends data to a file
Syntax
FileAppend(<cSourceFile>, <cTargetFile>)
--> <nAttachedByte>
Arguments
<cSourceFile> : Designates the file that is appended to <cTargetFile>. <cTargetFile> : Designates the file to which <cSource> is appended. Drive and path designation are permitted for both files, wildcards are not.
Returns
<nAttachedByte> : the number of characters appended on to <cTargetFile>.
Description
FileAppend() takes fragmented files, split them up on different floppies and reassemble them. This sort of fragmented file could be created with the FileCopy(). Only need is explicit information, such as VOLUME labels, to recognize the different disks.
If the target file does not exist, it is created with FileAppend(). If an error occurs while appending to the target file, the file deletes completely to avoid accidental and incorrect results. Never append data to file if there is no backup copy.
Examples
Shown below is a simplified program to reassemble a file that is
divided among several disks by a FileCopy() backup.
A catalog contains a list of the disks used during backup in the
form of volume labels and backup file names.
Structure of the DISKLIST catalog:
DISKLIST File Structure
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Field Name Field Content
--------------------------------------------------------------------
VolLabel Back up disk drive and volume label
BackupName Back up file name, incl. drive and path
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The data in DISKLIST is created by a FileCopy() backup:
USE DISKLIST // Saved volume labels
cTargetFile := "C:\TARGET.TXT"
DO WHILE .NOT. EOF()
IF .NOT. EMPTY( FileSeek(cVolLabel, 8) // Correct disk ?
FileAppend(cBackupName, cTargetFile) // Yes, append data
SKIP
ELSE
? "Please insert the correct disk !"
ENDIF
ENDDO
Seealso
