9.4. Main memory

The assign(1) command provides an option to declare certain files to be memory resident. This option causes these files to reside within the field length of the user's process; its use can result in very fast access times.

To be most effective, this option should be used only with files that will fit within the user's field length limit. A program with a fixed-length heap and memory resident files may deplete memory during execution. Sufficient space for memory resident files may exist but may not exist for other run-time library allocations.

See Chapter 6, for details about using the assign command.