Randy Kaelber <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > It *is* spealled with an e. Okay, from the UNIX Seventh Edition Manual... } CREAT(2) CREAT(2) } } NAME } creat - create a new file } } SYNOPSIS } creat(name, mode) } char *name; } } DESCRIPTION } Creat creates a new file or prepares to rewrite an exist } ing file called name, given as the address of a null-ter } minated string. If the file did not exist, it is given } mode mode, as modified by the process's mode mask (see } umask(2)). Also see chmod(2) for the construction of the } mode argument. } } If the file did exist, its mode and owner remain unchanged } but it is truncated to 0 length. } } The file is also opened for writing, and its file descrip } tor is returned. } } The mode given is arbitrary; it need not allow writing. } This feature is used by programs which deal with temporary } files of fixed names. The creation is done with a mode } that forbids writing. Then if a second instance of the } program attempts a creat, an error is returned and the } program knows that the name is unusable for the moment. } } SEE ALSO } write(2), close(2), chmod(2), umask (2) } } DIAGNOSTICS } The value -1 is returned if: a needed directory is not } searchable; the file does not exist and the directory in } which it is to be created is not writable; the file does } exist and is unwritable; the file is a directory; there } are already too many files open. } } ASSEMBLER } (creat = 8.) } sys creat; name; mode } (file descriptor in r0) 1