VDS_GET_SN_RANGE(3)

NAME

     vds_get_sn_range

     parse serial number range from a VDS name specification

SYNOPSIS

     #include <soi_vds.h>

     VDS *vds_get_sn_range (KEY *params, char *name, int ds,
         int *fsn, int *lsn, int *dsn, int flag)

DESCRIPTION

     For a  dataset  name  associated  with  the  argument  name,
     dataset  number ds, and selectors in a params keylist, opens
     and returns a VDS, and returns as arguments  the  first  and
     last sn's for the dataset, either assuming continuity or not
     depending on the flag value.

     This function is motivated by  a  useful  ambiguity  in  the
     dataset  naming  scheme:  it  is not stated whether the data
     selector (record range within a  dataset)  applies  indepen-
     dently  to each dataset or collectively to the whole series.
     Thus the dataset name

     prog:a,series:b[5-9],sel:[32-48,2]

     can be interpreted to mean every other record starting  with
     32  and  ending  with  48  in each dataset, or to mean every
     other record in  the  entire  series  starting  with  32  in
     dataset  #5  and ending with 48 in dataset #9.  Depending on
     the setting of the "discontinuous" flag value, this function
     will return the appropriate record range for a given dataset
     number.  A flag value of  true  means  that  the  series  is
     discontinuous,  the  starting  and  ending  values  applying
     separately to each set in the series.

DIAGNOSTICS

     If the requested  data  set  cannot  be  opened  a  NULL  is
     returned;  if  the  record  selection  is continuous and the
     dataset is neither the first nor the last in the range,  the
     value returned for lsn is -1.

FILES

     ~CM/src/libvds.d/vds_util.c

SEE ALSO

     vds_record_count(3), track_region(1)

BUGS

     May fail for data set numbers  (ds)  outside  range  [-9999,
     99999].

     If the increment is not 1 and the selector  is  "continuous"
     the results may be unexpected; no information about phase is
     retained.

HISTORY

     1999-12-17     SOI  V  4.5 Rick  Bogart  -  changed  calling
     sequence