(Type:value, Default: FALSE)

<$.COUNT option>

── $.COUNT ─┬───────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
            └─<integer>─┘

If this option is SET or no value is specified, the $.COUNT option must be followed by an unsigned integer number. If this option is RESET or POP, the $.COUNT option must not be followed by a number. The number following the $.COUNT option indicates a column on the $# record and the number in that column indicates the number of records in the patch. The PATCH utility checks the number of records actually found against the number specified by the $# record and issues an error if the numbers differ.

This option permits flexibility because different areas on the $# record can be used to specify the record count for different patches. The $ records are counted, the non $ records are counted, and the $. records with $.MOVE or $.INSERT options are counted.