Requests that the output file be stored in contiguous disk blocks, thereby decreasing access time. Note that you must also specify the /ALLOCATION qualifier because if the preallocated space is too small, OpenVMS RMS may be unable to extend the file contiguously. Format output-file-spec/CONTIGUOUS
1 – Full Description
By default, Sort/Merge does not allocate contiguous disk blocks for the output file. You can request, however, that the output file be stored in contiguous disk blocks by specifying the /CONTIGUOUS qualifier, thereby decreasing access time. If you use the /CONTIGUOUS qualifier, you must also specify the /ALLOCATION qualifier because if the preallocated space is too small, OpenVMS RMS may be unable to extend the file contiguously.
2 – Example
$ SORT/KEY=(POS:1,SIZ:80) STATS.DAT - _$ SUMMARY.LIS/ALLOCATION=1000/CONTIGUOUS This SORT command allocates 1,000 contiguous blocks for the output file SUMMARY.LIS.