# BRKALC

> [HTML Version](brkalcopt.htm)

This option causes A-Shell to pre-fill random files with a repeating pattern of close square brackets "\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]..." when they are allocated. 

**History**

2009 October, A-Shell 5.1.1163:  BRKALC outputs **all and only** brackets to the file. Previously, it output "MIAME" after every 27 brackets. This was useful in some cases for visually confirming that the file was allocated by A-Shell, but undermined one of the purposes of filling a new file with brackets (to make unwritten records sort to the end).

The old documentation said: "This option causes A-Shell to pre-fill random files with a repeating pattern of close square brackets "\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]\]MIAME" when then are allocated. In the early days of A-Shell this was the default, but it is not necessary for AMOS compatibility and slows down (slightly) the process of allocating a new file, so it is now available only by setting this option."