# Opening Native Files

> [HTML Version](openingnativefiles.htm)

In most cases, wherever you could use a DevPPN filespec in ASB, you can also use native operating system file specifications, including long filenames (even those containing spaces) and UNC names (or Windows sharenames.) If the filespec contains a forward slash or backslash, A-Shell assumes that it is a native filespec and does not try to translate it. Examples:

open #1, "c:\\Program Files\\WIERD.STUFF\\myfile.xyz", input

open #2, "\\\\SERVER01\\VM\$\\abcde\\wxyz.dat", output

open #3, "/tmp/this is a strange filename.x\_y.z", input

You can also embed [Environment Variables](environmentvariablesindev.htm.md) in filespecs, using the syntax %VARNAME% (where VARNAME is the environment variable name). For example:

Lookup "%TEMP%\\junk.dat",X

Lookup "%HOME%/.profile",X

Most of the A-Shell LIT commands, and in particular those that support wildcards, can also use native filespecs, but there you must enclose them in quotes. For example:

.copy hosts.txt="/etc/hosts"

or:

xcall ASHELL,"dir hash.lst=""/vm/miame/miame.ini""/h/k"

Note that environment variables are only translated in file specifications when the file is accessed. So it doesn't work in a PRINT statement, but would in an OPEN or ALLOCATE or KILL statement.