---
name: "strtape"
section: "3"
platform: "macos"
package: "ksh"
version: "42"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/strtape"
---

# strtape(3)

convert string to tape device pathname

## NAME

strtape - convert string to tape device pathname

## SYNOPSIS

$1$2char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)char\* strtape(char\* s, char\*\* e)

## DESCRIPTION

*strtape* converts the generic tape device specification in the nul-terminated string *s* to a local tape device pathname. A pointer to the device pathname is returned. If  *e* not 0 then *\*e* is set to point to the first unrecognized character in *s*.

A tape device specification is composed of *unit-density-rewind*. All are optional. *unit* is a unit number in the range **\[0-7\]**. The default unit is **1**. Density may be one of:

- **l**

  for low;

- **m**

  for medium, and

- **h**

  for high.

The default is **m**. *rewind* is **n** for no-rewind on device close. The default is to rewind on device close.

## SEE ALSO

[pax(1)](/pax/1.md), [tar(1)](/tar/1.md)

## CAVEATS

The return value points to a static area that is overwritten on each call.