File name format A file name is a unique name for a file. It can identify the device, the directory name, the file name, the file type, and the version number under which the file is stored. OpenVMS uses the following format for a file name: Device:[Directory]Filename.Type;Version For example: USER1:[SMITH]LOGIN.COM;125 The components of the file specification are as follows: Device The name of a disk or tape device on which a file is stored, such as DUA0:, MUA0:, and so on. Physical disk or tape devices often have logical names associated with them, such as USER$DISK. See also "Physical and logical device names" in the "Concepts ..." help topic. Directory The directory in which a file is listed. The directory name can include subdirectories, begins with a left square bracket ([) or a left angle bracket (<), and ends with a corresponding right square bracket (]) or right angle bracket (>). File name A name for a file. The file name can have up to 39 characters. File type A name for a type of file. The file type follows a period delimiter and can have up to 39 characters. By convention, the file type identifies a generic class of file, such as .TXT for a text file. Version The version number of a file is preceded by a semicolon, for example, ;22. For more information about specifying files, see the following topics: "Using wildcards for specifying files" in the "Tasks ..." help topic. "File name wildcards" in the "Concepts ..." help topic.