does not have the file opened. Each time the file is opened, a program should examine the header, and
determine (among other things) the offset of the beginning of the file contents proper. All i/o access
must be offset by a variable amount, depending on the current length of the identification header. This
assumption of mutability permits utilities to modify files with limited knowledge of their contents. For
instance,
format of the data itself, and without concern for the application or organization
information
the content and size of the header organization information
database routine, and some applications which manage their own file structures), the file contents
beyond the header should remain unchanged. If the header is expanded, however, the contents may be
moved away from the beginning to accomodate the expansion. Similarly, when a header shrinks, the
contents must be moved toward the beginning to take up the gap. Movement of the contents after the
header should account for the alignment requirements specified in the fixed portion of the
identification header.
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