An element is the basic structural unit in a library. An
  element consists of a file and all its versions
  (generations).  When you create an element and place it
  in a CMS library for the first time, CMS creates
  generation 1 of that element.   Each time you replace an
  element in the library, CMS creates a new generation of
  that file.  Thus, a generation represents a specific
  version of an element.

  CMS can store any type of OpenVMS file except a directory
  file.

  You can perform the following functions on elements:

  o  Create and delete elements
  o  Reserve elements
  o  Fetch a readonly copy of an element
  o  Insert elements into and remove elements from
     groups
  o  Set or change the attributes of an element
  o  View elements, their generations, and their
     attributes