/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb SET, MAGTAPE, Qualifiers, /SKIP  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

       /SKIP=option

    Requests that the magnetic tape volume be positioned according to
    any of the following options:

    BLOCK:n         Skips the specified number of blocks.

    END_OF_TAPE     Positions the volume at the end-of-tape (EOT)
                    mark.

    FILES:n         Skips the specified number of tape marks (not
                    files).

                    The tape is positioned just past the nth tape
                    mark. If n is negative, the tape is still
                    positioned after the nth tape mark, not before
                    it. If the tape is already positioned immediately
                    after a tape mark, a skip of -1 results in no
                    net movement. (The tape moves to the preceding
                    mark, but is then repositioned to the end of the
                    mark, where it began.) For more information on
                    tape marks and files, refer to the OpenVMS System
                    Manager's Manual.

    RECORD:n        Skips the specified number of records up to
                    32767.