2.11BSD#431 - /usr/man/cat3/mktemp.0

MKTEMP(3)	    UNIX Programmer's Manual		MKTEMP(3)


NAME
     mktemp - make a unique file name

SYNOPSIS
     char *mktemp(template)
     char *template;

     mkstemp(template)
     char *template;

DESCRIPTION
     Mktemp creates a unique file name and returns the address of
     the template.  The template should contain a file name with
     trailing X's, normally something like /tmp/tempXXXXXX.  The
     X's are replaced by the current process number and/or a
     unique letter combination.  Mkstemp makes the same replace-
     ment to the template but opens the template file and returns
     a file descriptor open for reading and writing.  Mkstemp
     avoids the race between testing whether the file exists and
     opening it for use.  The number of file name combinations
     mktemp and mkstemp will try depends on the number of X's
     placed on the end of the template; six X's will result in
     them trying roughly 26 ** 6 combinations.

SEE ALSO
     access(2), getpid(2), open(2)

DIAGNOSTICS
     Mktemp returns NULL on failure, mkstemp returns -1 if no
     suitable file could be created.


Printed 11/26/99	 April 10, 1987                         1