/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb EXCHANGE, COPY, Description  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    COPY transfers a file or files from an input volume to an output
    volume.

    You can create multiple output files by specifying multiple input
    files. When multiple output files are created, the corresponding
    field from each input file is used in the output file name.

    If you do not specify a version number for Files-11 output, COPY
    applies a version number as follows:

    o  The same version number as that of the input file, if the
       input volume structure supports version numbers and no file
       exists with the same name and type

    o  A version number that is one greater than the highest version
       number of an existing file with the same file name and file
       type

    o  Version 1, if neither of the above applies

    If you use an asterisk (*)  wildcard character to specify the
    output file version number, COPY uses the version numbers of the
    associated input files (if any) as the version numbers of the
    output files.

    Note that ANSI-formatted magnetic tapes do not handle version
    numbers in the same manner as disks.

    EXCHANGE might reformat files during the copy operation. The
    defaults for reformatting are dependent on the record and volume
    format qualifiers that are attached to both the input and output
    file specifications, as well as the type fields of the file
    specifications.

    The COPY command does not copy a file with the SYS type unless
    you specify the /SYSTEM qualifier. EXCHANGE displays a message if
    it passes over one or more SYS files during a copy operation.

    EXCHANGE does not copy files with the type BAD if the file
    specification contains wildcards. EXCHANGE does not display a
    message when it passes over one or more BAD files during a copy
    operation. Therefore, to copy a file with the type BAD, specify
    the file name explicitly instead of using wildcards.