When you first start Ferret, it accepts input from STDIN, the console input file, and directs output to STDOUT, the console output file.
By using the Ferret INPUT and OUTPUT commands, you can redirect the Ferret input and output data to files that you specify. Also, you can do the following:
- Append Ferret data output to an existing output file
- Overwrite an existing output file
- Write only to a new file
- Display the current output file
When you direct output to a file with the OUTPUT command, Ferret echoes all input and diagnostic messages to that file. For more information, see INPUT and OUTPUT.