AIPS HELP file for QCREATE in 31DEC24

As of Thu Apr 18 6:57:02 2024

HELP SECTION

QCREATE
Type: Adverb  (Real)
Use:  Controls how files > 1 Mbyte are created.

      If < 0, the files are created on disk by filling the entire
      requested space with zeros.  This guarantees that the disk space
      is reserved and initialized but can take a long time for files
      of many Gbytes.

      If >= 0, files are created by writing a buffer or 2 of zeros at
      the requested end of file so that the file will appear to be as
      big as desired.  However, the parts not filled with zeros are
      not reserved and might not be available when the task gets
      around to writing them.  It also trusts all AIPS programs to
      not assume that the disk is zero to begin with.  The up side of
      this method is that it is very fast and, if you have lots of
      disk space, the danger of running out is minimal.

      This parameter is used on all file creations - effectively it is
      an adverb to the pseudo-verb GO.

EXPLAIN SECTION