man(1) Manual page archive

sys-seek(2) - Unix First Edition Manual Page
11/3/71SYS_SEEK (II)

NAME seek -- move read/write pointer
SYNOPSIS (file descriptor in r0)sys seek; offset; ptrname / seek = 19.


DESCRIPTION The file descriptor refers to a file open for reading or writing. Theread (or write) pointer for the file is set as follows:


if ptrname is 0, the pointer is set to offset. if ptrname is 1, the pointer is set to its current location plusoffset.


if ptrname is 2, the pointer is set to the size of the file plusoffset.
FILES
SEE_ALSO tell
DIAGNOSTICS The error bit (c--bit) is set for an undefined file descriptor.
BUGS A file can conceptually be as large as 2**20 bytes. Clearly only2**16 bytes can be addressed by seek. The problem is most acute on


the tape files and RK and RF. Something is going to be done aboutthis.


OWNER ken, dmr