Open a new E-kernel file and prepare the file for writing. 

   EK 
   NAIF_IDS 
   TIME 

   Variable  I/O  Description 
   --------  ---  -------------------------------------------------- 
   fname      I   Name of EK file. 
   ifname     I   Internal file name. 
   ncomch     I   The number of characters to reserve for comments. 
   handle     O   Handle attached to new EK file. 

   fname          is the name of a new E-kernel file to be created. 

   ifname         is the internal file name of a new E-kernel.  The 
                  internal file name may be up to 60 characters in 
                  length, not including the null terminator.

   ncomch         is the amount of space, measured in characters, to 
                  be allocated in the comment area when the new EK 
                  file is created.  It is not necessary to allocate 
                  space in advance in order to add comments, but 
                  doing so may greatly increase the efficiency with 
                  which comments may be added.  Making room for 
                  comments after data has already been added to the 
                  file involves moving the data, and thus is slower. 

                  ncomch must be greater than or equal to zero. 

   handle         is the EK handle of the file designated by fname. 
                  This handle is used to identify the file to other 
                  EK routines. 

   None. 

   This routine operates by side effects:  it opens and prepares 
   an EK for addition of data. 

   1)  Open a new EK file with name "my.ek" and internal file 
       name "test ek/1995-JUL-17": 

       ekopn_c ( "my.ek",  "test ek/1995-JUL-17",  &handle  );

   None. 

   1)  If NCOMCH is less than zero, the error SPICE(INVALIDCOUNT) 
       will be signalled.  No file will be created. 

   2)  If IFNAME is invalid, the error will be diagnosed by routines 
       called by this routine. 

   3)  If the indicated file cannot be opened, the error will be 
       diagnosed by routines called by this routine.  The new file 
       will be deleted. 

   4)  If an I/O error occurs while reading or writing the indicated 
       file, the error will be diagnosed by routines called by this 
       routine. 

   See the EK Required Reading for a discussion of the EK file 
   format. 

   N.J. Bachman   (JPL) 

   None. 

   -CSPICE Version 1.0.0, 31-MAR-1998 (NJB)

      Based on SPICELIB Version 1.0.0, 26-SEP-1995 (NJB)

   open new E-kernel 
   open new EK