g.tempfile(1)	       Grass User's Manual	    g.tempfile(1)



NNAAMMEE
       gg..tteemmppffiillee  - Creates a temporary file and prints the file
       name
       _(_G_R_A_S_S _F_i_l_e _M_a_n_a_g_e_m_e_n_t _P_r_o_g_r_a_m_)

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       gg..tteemmppffiillee help
       gg..tteemmppffiillee ppiidd==_v_a_l_u_e

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       _g_._t_e_m_p_f_i_l_e is designed for shell scripts that need to  use
       large  temporary  files.   GRASS  provides a mechanism for
       temporary files that does not depend on /tmp. GRASS tempo-
       rary  files  are created in the data base with the assump-
       tion that there will be enough space under the  data  base
       for  large  files.   GRASS  periodically removes temporary
       files that have been left behind by programs  that  failed
       to remove them before terminating.


       _g_._t_e_m_p_f_i_l_e creates an unique file and prints the name. The
       user is required to provide a  process-id  which  will  be
       used  as  part  of the name of the file.  Most Unix shells
       provide a way to get the process id of the current  shell.
       For  /bin/sh  and  /bin/csh this is $$.	It is recommended
       that $$ be specified as the process-id for _g_._t_e_m_p_f_i_l_e.

EEXXAAMMPPLLEE
       For /bin/sh scripts the following syntax should be used:

		 temp1=`g.tempfile pid=$$`
		 temp2=`g.tempfile pid=$$`

       For /bin/csh scripts, the following can be used:

		 set temp1=`g.tempfile pid=$$`
		 set temp2=`g.tempfile pid=$$`


NNOOTTEESS
       Each call to _g_._t_e_m_p_f_i_l_e creates a different (i.e.  unique)
       name.  Although GRASS does eventually get around to remov-
       ing tempfiles that have been left behind,  the  programmer
       should make every effort to remove these files. They often
       get large and take up disk space.  If  you  write  /bin/sh
       scripts,  learn	to  use  the /bin/sh _t_r_a_p command. If you
       write /bin/csh scripts, learn to use the  /bin/csh  _o_n_i_n_t_r
       command.

AAUUTTHHOORR
       Michael	 Shapiro,   U.S.  Army	Construction  Engineering
       Research Laboratory

       _L_a_s_t _c_h_a_n_g_e_d_: _$_D_a_t_e_: _2_0_0_2_/_0_1_/_2_5 _0_5_:_4_5_:_3_3 _$



GRASS 5.0					    g.tempfile(1)
