Appendices. DORIC 9.65, INFO-Text software

Appendices

Appendices

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Appendix F

Appendix G

Appendix H

Appendix I

Appendix J

Appendix K

Appendix L

Appendix M

Appendix N

Appendix O

Appendix P

Appendix Q

Appendix R

Appendix S

Appendix T

Appendix U

Appendix V

INFO Item Types

Command execution modes for INFO

System Variables

System Items

Screen Attribute Settings

INFO Internal Files

Controlling Default Assignments

INFO Commands By Function

INFO Reserved Words

ISAM Considerations

Record Matching

Functions

Using The Help Facility

Application Mode

External Variables

IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats

Configuration Files

Dossier Utility

Data Entry

Dates

Printing

Terminal Drivers

Page

A-73

A-75

A-79

A-81

A-91

A-97

A-109

A-113

A-3

A-5

A-11

A-15

A-49

A-67

A-121

A-125

A-135

A-137

A-157

A-165

A-167

A-169

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-1

Appendix A

Item type

A

B

(Binary)

C

(Character)

D

(Date)

INFO Item Types

INFO item types

Internal width Description

9-32 bytes

(ASCII)

Contains the name of a file which holds free-text in ASCII format.

1-4 bytes Number stored as binary integer.

No decimal positions allowed.

1-8 bytes (VMS only) Number stored as binary integer.

Can have implied decimal point.

1-4096 bytes Character field.

F

(Floating)

I*

(Integer)

L*

(Lead-fill

Number)

N*

(Number)

O*

(Overpunch on Output)

8 bytes

4-8 bytes

Date field, stored internally as

YYYYMMDD See the DFMT command discussion for information about date formats.

Number stored in floating-point format.

1-16 bytes

(digits)

1-16 bytes

(digits plus decimal point)

Integer item. No decimal positions are allowed.

Number that will be left-padded on output with the current LCHAR.

Can have up to 16 characters, including the decimal point.

1-16 bytes

(digits plus

Number with decimal places. Can have up to 16 characters, including decimal point) the decimal point.

1-16 bytes

(digits)

Number stored with the last digit overpunched and with an implied decimal. Can have up to 16 decimal positions.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-3

INFO item types

Item type

P*

(Packed)

T*

(Trailing Sign,

Zero Fill)

V*

(Zero Fill)

Appendix A

INFO item types (cont’d)

Internal width

1-8 bytes

(packed digits)

1-16 bytes

(digits plus sign)

1-16 bytes

(digits)

Description

Number stored in packed decimal format with trailing sign. Byte 1 holds one digit. Each subsequent byte holds up to 2 additional digits.

Can have up to 15 decimal positions with the decimal point implied.

Number with decimal places and a trailing sign. Zero-filled on output

Can have up to 14 decimal positions with the decimal point implied.

Number with an implied decimal.

Zero - filled to the left. Can have up to 14 decimal positions.

*INFO maintains precision to 12 significant positions.

A-4 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix B

Command execution modes

The following list includes all INFO commands and indicates whether each is valid in an interactive session, odd-numbered program section and even-numbered program section.

Odd-numbered Even-numbered Command

•

ACC EPT

ADD

ADDR ECS

ADIR

ALT ER

ARE T

AS ELECT

ATOE

BOTM

BOX

BROFF

BRON

CA LCULATE

CAT ALOG

CCAS E

CCCT

CCHR

CH ANGE

CHEC K

CLAC

CLEA R

CNAM E

CO MINPUT

COMO UTPUT

COMP ILE

CON CATENATE

CONCORD

CONT EXT

COPY

CPL

CREA TE

CUR SOR

CWID

Interactive

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-5

Command execution modes

Appendix B

Interactive

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

(cont’d)

Command

DAY

DEC ODE

DEF INE

DELE TE

DELI MITER

DEXT

DFMT

DICE

DIC TIONARY

DIF

DINT

DIR ECTORY

DIS PLAY

DO ...

DOEN D

DOCD F

DOCI F

DOCR P

DOCS F

DONE

DPG

DRP

DRP

DSE L

DSF

EDIT

ELAP SED

ENCO DE

END

ERA SE

EX ECUTE

EXP AND

EXPO RT

EXST

EXT ERNAL

FC

FILE S

Odd-numbered

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Even-numbered

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

A-6 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix B

Command execution modes

(cont’d)

Command Interactive

FILL

FI RST

FO RMAT

FULL

GET

GETL OG

GNAM E

GO TO

GTIM

GVG ET

GVS ET

HALF

HELP

IF ...

ELSE ...

ENDI F No

IMPO RT Yes

INK EY Yes

INP UT FORM ( IPF ) Yes

INTE RNAL

IPF

IT EM

Yes

Yes

Yes

JUST IFY

LAB EL

LCHA R

LIM IT

LI ST

LOG

MERG E

MIDA S

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

MODE

MOD IFY

MOV E

MRED

NAME

NEWM AP

NEXT

NMVE

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Odd-numbered

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Even-numbered

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-7

Command execution modes

Appendix B

Interactive

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

(cont’d)

Command

NSE LECT

OPCL OSE

OUTP UT

PASS WORD

PHAN TOM

POS

POST INGS

PREV IOUS

PRIF

PRI M

PRI NT

PROG RAM

PROT ECT

PURG E

Q UIT

RECA SE

RED EFINE

REFO RMAT

REL ATE

REM ARK

REN AME

REP ORT

RES ELECT

RGET

RUN

RWLK

SAVE

SCI

SCPY

SEL ECT

SET

SETU P

SF

SHIF T

SKIP

SLEE P

SO RT

SOUN DEX

Odd-numbered

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Even-numbered

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

A-8 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix B

Command execution modes

(cont’d)

Command Interactive

SPAW N Yes

SPEC IAL FORM ( SF ) Yes

SPOO L Yes

SRCH

STAM P

STAT

Yes

Yes

Yes

STOP

STOPW ORD

STRI P

SUFF IX

SYNF ILE

SYNO NYM

SYS TEM

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

TAK E

TERM INAL

TIM E

TOP

TXCL OSE

TXGE T

TXLI NES

TY PE

UBOX

UPD ATE

UPF

USER

WHO

XDIC

XGET

XREL ATE

XRES

XSEL ECT

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Odd-numbered

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Even-numbered

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-9

Appendix C

$CHR1 through

$CHR40

$DAT1 through

$DAT40

$NUM1 through

$NUM40

System

Variables

System Variables

INFO provides you with a 320-byte system variable buffer, which is formatted by default as 40 8-byte fields. The forty fields in this buffer, each called a system variable, can be considered character fields (referenced as $CHR1–

$CHR40), date fields (referenced as $DAT1–$DAT40), numeric fields (referenced as $NUM1–$NUM40), or any combination of the three. The system variable $CHR1 occupies the same storage location as the $NUM1 and

$DAT1 system variables. You can use a given location n in the system variable buffer as a $CHR# value for part of an INFO session and use the same field as a $NUM# value later in the same session.

You can change the default storage and display characteristics of each field in the system variable buffer to meet specific processing needs. You use the FORMAT command to change the characteristics of system variables; see the FORMAT command for the details of formatting system variables.

The 40 system variables, $CHR1 through $CHR40 store character data. Each $CHR# variable is formatted, by default, with an input width of 8, an output width of 16 and an item type of C.

The 40 system variables $DAT1 through $DAT40 store date values in the format yyyymmdd and display according to the setting of DFMT. Each $DAT# system variable is formatted, by default, with an input width of 8, an output width of 11 and an item type of D.

The 40 system variables $NUM1 through $NUM40 store numeric data. Each $NUM# variable is formatted, by default, with an input width of 8, an output width of 16 and an item type of F. You can change the type characteristic of a $NUM# system variable to that of any of INFO's numeric item types.

INFO provides system variables for holding anything that cannot be stored as an item. A system variable holds a numeric, character, or date value.

System variables can be used just like items: they can be displayed, printed, calculated, or moved. You can use

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-11

System Variables

Appendix C

them in logical expressions, and compare them either to constant values like letters and numbers, or to items or other variables. You can also use them during interactive sessions or in reports.

You can use up to 40 system variables at once, either 40 of one type, or any mixture of numeric, character, or date variables totaling up to 40. The diagram below shows how these 40 variables look to INFO; the xxx entry indicates where you enter the type for the variable. The three types are NUM, CHR, and DAT. The diagram shows the default characteristics for each of these types.

| $xxx1 | $xxx2 | $xxx3 | $xxx4 | $xxx5 | . . . | $xxx40 |

With any system variable, # is the number from 1 to 40 that you assign the variable. For instance, you might have

$NUM1, $NUM2, $CHR3, $DAT4, and $NUM5 in the same program. You can’t use both $NUM1 and $CHR1 in the same program because INFO stores only one space for the $xxx1 variable. The order in which you use system variables is not important, but keep track of which variables you do use so that numbers are not repeated.

System Variable Default Characteristics

Variable Internal Output

Format Width Width Type Description

$CHR#

$NUM#

$DAT#

8

8

8

16

16

10

C

F,2

D

Can hold character strings.

Can hold any numeric value.

Can hold any date value.

Default input format is

MM/DD/YY.

A-12 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix C

FORMAT see also

System Variables

You can change the characteristics of system variables by using the FORMAT command. If you want a different width, an integer, or a specific number of decimal places, you can adjust the existing variables with the FORMAT command.

The order of characteristics used with the FORMAT command is similar to that used when defining datafile items. You include the name of the variable, its internal width, its output width, its item type, and its decimal places, if applicable.

e.g.

FORMAT $CHR1,7,C

If you format a variable to be larger than 8 spaces wide, you use up part of the next system variable. For instance, if you format $CHR1 to be 17 spaces wide, the next variable you use must be $xxx4 or more. By expanding

$CHR1, you used up the space INFO reserves for system variables $xxx2 and $xxx3.

FORMAT $CHR1,17,C

|= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =|

| $xxx1 | $xxx2 | $xxx3 | $xxx4 | $xxx5

↑

Next available system variable is $xxx4.

The effects of a FORMAT command and the contents of a system variable continue after the termination of a program. To ensure that your variables are what you expect them to be, it is recommended that you format and initialize any system variable you use in a program.

CLEAR

INTERNAL

REFORMAT

DINT

FORMAT

$WORK-BUFFER

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-13

Appendix D

$ABBREV

(VMS only)

System Items

System items are used by INFO to control a variety of operating options and to store the results of certain INFO's internal operations (such as the number of currently selected records). Each system item is listed below with a description of its function and allowable values.

You can display the value of any system item by using the

DISPLAY command. (See the DISPLAY command discussion for information about displaying a system item.)

You can change the value of certain system items, as indicated below.

To display a list of all INFO's system items, enter:

ENTER COMMAND >ITEMS -1

Note: Some System Items which are specific to screen display are detailed in appendix E, ‘Screen Attribute

Settings’

Default = 0

Set = 1

When the system item $ABBREV = 1, INFO will scan for

VMS symbols, the contents of which it will try and invoke as a valid INFO command, eg.

At VMS:

SC:==SEL CONTROL

In INFO:

ENTER COMMAND >CALC $ABBREV = 1

ENTER COMMAND >SC

22 record(s) selected.

Be careful that abbreviations do not conflict with live INFO commands.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-15

System Items

Appendix D

$APPLICATION-MODE

Read only

Default = 0

Set = 1

When set, indicates that the user entered INFO using an environment variable as a USERNAME.

example

Unix: _tes /unix_source/tesdr9 ; export _tes

(bourne or korn shell)

or

setenv _tes /unix_source/tesdr9

or

( c-shell )

GVSET '_tes' '/unix_source/tesdr9’ ( within INFO )

VMS:

Primos:

$AR

$ARITH-

QUESTION

DEFINE .TES DUB5:[VAX_SOURCE]TES.DR9

SET_VAR .TES PRIME_SOURCE>TESDR9

Default = 0

Set = 1

$AR indicates the type of access you have to the most recently selected or related data file. You cannot change the value of this system item. INFO sets the value of

$AR, as follows: n

1 to indicate you have READ/WRITE access to the data file n

7 to indicate you have READ-ONLY access to the data file

$ARITH-QUESTION determines whether to issue a warning prompt when calculating values into a datafile_item interactively or in an odd program section causes a numeric overflow.

Use the CALCULATE command to set this item to one of these values: n

0 tells INFO to issue to prompt DO YOU WANT TO TRY

AGAIN?> when a numeric overflow occurs. Responses to this are:

A-16 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$AS

$BUCKSZ

(VMS only)

Y repeat the calculation

N do not repeat the calculation n

Any numeric value other than 0 tells INFO not to issue the

DO YOU WANT TO TRY AGAIN?>

prompt.

Default = 1

Set = 7

INFO uses the value of $AS to determine the type of access you want granted for the next selected and related data files processed. Use the CALCULATE command to set this system item to one of the following values: n

1 to indicate you want READ/WRITE access to the data files n

7 to indicate you want READ-ONLY access to the data files

Note that you can use the RO (read-only) option on a

SELECT or RELATE command to override a $AS setting of 1. If you include the RO option on a SELECT or

RELATE command, you can only read from the data file, regardless of the current $AS setting. If you do not include the RO option on a SELECT or RELATE command, INFO gives you the access indicated by the current $AS setting.

ISAM files only

Default = 0

Set = (configurable)

It is possible to set the bucket size for RMS ISAM file creation. The default value is 0, which takes the operating system default. If you perform an operation which creates a new ISAM file (e.g. PURGE), and you set $BUCKSZ > 0, the new file is created with the specified bucket size. Note that no check is made to ensure that the bucket size you specify is large enough to accommodate the logical record length of the file. It is recommended that $BUCKSZ be used carefully and reset to 0 after the file creation command (e.g. SELECT after an EXTERNAL which specifies a new file name for an ISAM file creates a new file, you should CALC $BUCKSZ = 0 after the SELECT if you had set it to a value greater than zero before the

SELECT).

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-17

System Items

Appendix D

WARNING:

See the VMS Record Management Services manual for more information.

These settings remain during your current INFO session so subsequent operations will inherit these settings unless you explicitly set the value back to the default.

$BLANK-FIELD

$CASE-FLAG

Default = 0

Set = 1

Set = 2

Set = 3

N, I, L, V, O and T type fields containing blank or zero display as zero.

N, I, L, V, O and T type fields which contain blank or zero display as blank.

N, I, L, V, O and T type fields which contain blank, zero or negative values display as blank.

N, I and L type fields which contain blank or negative values display as blank.

Default = 0

Set = 1, 2

$CASE-FLAG determines whether INFO is sensitive to the case (uppercase or lowercase) of item names, directory entries, and commands. Use the CALCULATE command to set $CASE-FLAG to one of the following values: n

0 tells INFO to accept all command input as entered and to be case-sensitive to item names and directory entries.

For example, if you enter ALTER last-name and the item you want to change is named LAST-NAME, INFO does not match the item name, and issues an error message that the item you requested does not exist.

n

1 directs INFO to convert all command input to uppercase automatically before processing the command request.

n

2 directs INFO to accept all command input as entered and to ignore case when searching for item names and directory entries during command processing. For example, if you enter the command ALTER last-name,

INFO considers 'last-name' to be equivalent to 'LAST-

NAME'.

A-18 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$CHECK-NOMATCH

Default = 0 Comparisons for numerics and characters fail on no match.

Set = 0, 1, 2, 3 (See Appendix K “Record Matching” for details on each individual setting)

This variable allows users to change default processing with regard to tests on related file item values of blank for characters and zero for numerics.

$COMMA-SWITCH Default = 0

Set = -1,1

$COMMA-SWITCH determines whether INFO puts commas in a displayed numeric field (that is, item types B,

F, I, N, O, P, T and V). You can use the CALCULATE command to set this system item to one of the following values: n

0 : commas will be displayed only if the output width of the item or variable is large enough to accommodate the highest possible value in that item or variable plus the commas.

n

-1 : commas will not be displayed in numeric fields.

n commas will be displayed only if the output width of the numeric field is large enough to take the greatest possible numeric value plus the decimal point (if any) and commas.

e.g. if a numeric field is formatted as 8, I then its output width would need to be 10 or more to allow for 8 digits and 2 commas, whatever the actual value of the numeric field.

n

1 : commas will be displayed if the output width of the numeric field is large enough to take the actual numeric value plus the decimal point (if any) and commas.

e.g. if a numeric field is formatted as 8, 8, I (i.e. output width of

8) and its value was 123456 then it would be displayed as

123,456 : if its value was 1234567 then no comma would be displayed.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-19

System Items

Appendix D

$COMP-LINK-ONCE

Default = 0

Set = 1

When set to 0 and used with the SINGLE option,

COMPILE will compile only linked programs, each time they are encountered.

When set to 1 and used with the SINGLE option,

COMPILE will compile only linked programs, and only the first time they are encountered.

When set to 0 and used with the LOCAL option, COMPILE will compile every form, report and linked program each time they are encountered.

When set to 1 and used with the LOCAL option, COMPILE will compile every form, report and linked program the first time they are encountered only.

When set to 0 and used without any options, COMPILE will compile every form, report and linked program each time they are encountered, and non-linked programs once only.

When set to 1 and used without any options, COMPILE will compile every form, report, linked and non-linked program the first time they are encountered only.

$COMPRESS-REC-ATT

(VMS only)

Default = 0

Set = 1

The system item $COMPRESS-REC-ATT (alternate name

$RAT), when set to 1, saves with standard carriage controls rather than Fortran carriage controls (default) for the following commands:

SAVE COMP INIT

OUTPUT

EXPORT

ALL DOC commands, i.e. DOCDF

ALL DUMP commands, i.e. DPG

WARNING: These settings remain during your current INFO session so subsequent operations will inherit these settings unless you explicitly set the value back to the default.

A-20 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$CONDITION-NAME

Read only

Contains the name of the INTERRUPT condition, specified using the MODE SET COND command, last raised.

$DAY

Read only

$DAY contains a value from 1 to 31 that indicates the current day of the month. This is the same value as that contained in the field for the day of the month in the system item $TODAY, described below. You cannot change the value of $DAY.

$DECODE-EXT-PG Default = 0

Set = 1

If set to 1, a DECODE * command will not decode any external programs, forms and reports.

$DISPLAY-MODE

Default = 0

Set = 1

Controls display of screen attributes. See Appendix E

“Screen Attribute Settings”.

$DOPS2

Default = 0 do even program section

Set = 1 don't do even program section

'Do-Program-Section-2'

ISAM files only

SELECT <filename> DYNAMIC clears down the default set bitmap (NDX) file, and returns the number of records selected as zero. The bitmap is only built when the file is processed.

$DOPS2 controls whether records are automatically read, and processed by any following even program statement when $NOSEL = 0, and SELECT <file> DYNAMIC is in force. See the table below.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-21

System Items

Appendix D

$DOPS2

0

1

0

1

SEL DYN

Records in file ?

yes yes no no

Will even section be executed ?

yes (default) no no no

$DUPLEX

Note: To take effect, $DOPS2 must be set BEFORE the

ISAM file is SELECTED DYNAMIC

Default = 0

Set = 1 , 2

Sets command input to half duplex, with INFO echoing characters received if set to 1. To be used with ANSI terminals only.

When $DUPLEX = 1, the following apply: n

If $CASE-FLAG = 1, lower-case input will be up-cased before being reflected n

<Tab>, <Backtab>, <Keep> and <Clear> characters are not reflected.

n

$ERROR-POSITON - on line 24 - where user response is required (e.g. ERROR COUNT EXCEEDED, RECORD

LOCKED, IS THIS RECORD ACCEPTABLE), the user’s response will NOT scroll the screen up one line.

n

Single terminal character capture to COMO files.

n

Can be set OFF or ON in a form, program or interactively, on a field by field basis. i.e. CALC $DUPLEX = 1 (ON),

CALC $DUPLEX = 0 (OFF) n

Backspace - to the left of the first character in a field not reflected (i.e. does not destroy screen layout)

A-22 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

n

Backspace visually removes the character n

Exceeding field width - the first character typed beyond the width of the item accepted is not reflected, so does not overwrite any field displayed in the follow-on position.

n

Kill visually removes the whole field

If the previous input exceeded the item width, n

Kill will visually remove all the display (for that item), to the left and right of the cursor n

Backspace will visually remove the display (for that item), to the right and including the previous cursor position, unless the cursor is in the first character position of the field. (to do this, use Kill).

INFO commands FULL and HALF

When used in conjunction with commands FULL and

HALF: n

HALF with or without $DUPLEX = 1, i.e. NOECHO - has been modified to output one space for every non control key depression. Backspace and kill operate as in

$DUPLEX = 1 WITH ECHO.

n

FULL and $DUPLEX = 0 as standard INFO full duplex operation.

n

FULL and $DUPLEX = 1 half duplex operation with ECHO.

n

When $DUPLEX = 2 nothing is echoed to the screen except when passwords are being entered, when spaces are reflected.

$ERROR-POSITION

Default = 1

Set = (configurable)

$ERROR-POSITION determines whether INFO displays error messages while executing input forms, and if so, on which line on the terminal screen to display the messages.

You can assign one of the following values to this system item by using the CALCULATE command or by specifying the $ERROR-POSITION item as an input form item with an S (Store) option:

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-23

System Items

Appendix D

$EXACT

$ECL

(Prime only) n

0 directs INFO to suppress error messages during INPUT

FORM processing n

Any value from 1 to 24 directs INFO to display error messages during input form processing, at the row on the terminal screen specified by the value

Read only

Occurs 10 indexed by $IDX2

Default = 0

Set = 1

When the command MODE SET EXACT relno ON is issued, $EXACT will file the value of 1 in each array element corresponding to the relate numbers.

Default = 0

Set = 1

When set, uses Prime’s Edit Command Line ‘ECL’ feature

- available at PRIMOS Revisions 21.xx and upwards.

ECL is only available at ENTER COMMAND > level.

When $ECL is set, the command line prompt is:

(ECL) ENTER COMMAND >

$FAST-DELETE

ISAM files only

(VMS only)

Default = 0

Set = 1

INFO supports the ROP=FDL option in the RAB on open for rapid purging of ISAM records. IF $FAST-DELETE is set to 1, this option will be turned on. Note that if this option is used, processing after purging will be noticably slower until a CONVERT/RECLAIM is run on the ISAM file and it is re-opened under INFO. Also, with this method of purging, purged records can still be accessed through a secondary index.

A-24 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$FIELD-EDIT

(VMS only)

See the VAX/VMS Record Management Services manual for more information.

Default = 0

Set = 1

If set to 1, INPUT FORM will call SMG to update fields in

INPUT FORMS with full VMS line editing. The CCHR settings are preserved and used as field terminators so they may be passed back from the read routine as single characters. There is a first time switch in the field editing routine so that the SMG initialisation gets done only if field editing is being used. This avoids undesirable switching to graphics mode when certain non-printable sequences are displayed through an activity like typing a PROGRAM that contains such strings.

$FORCE-WRITE

ISAM files only

Default = 0

Set = 1

When set to default, INFO generates an ISAM record at the end of an IPF or even program section.

When set to 1 INFO generates a new ISAM record immediately on detecting that the key does not already exist with the following operations :

ADD and IPF interactively and in odd program sections, even program sections when RELATE Isam-file FILL is in force.

When used in conjunction with $LOCK-MODE = 1 or 2, a generated record will be locked immediately after its insertion into the file. See the table ISAM Control Items below.

$GBUFRS

(VMS only)

ISAM files only

Default = 4

Set = (configurable)

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-25

System Items

Appendix D

This allows the user to set the number of global buffers for

RMS ISAM indices. By default, $GBUFRS is set to 4. In

INFO revision 9.23, the number of global buffers was set to 0, which let RMS determine whether to allocate 1 buffer or no buffers depending upon the characteristics of the file.

See the VAX/VMS Record Management Services manual for more information.

$HOURS

$IDX1 through

$IDX9

Read only

Displays the hours element of $TIME

The nine system items $IDX1 through $IDX9 are used by

INFO for subscript values when processing arrayed data file items. You must reference a $IDX# system item as the index when you define an arrayed data file item.

(See the DEFINE and ALTER command discussions for information about defining arrayed items.) Use the

CALCULATE command, or the S (Store) option in an input form, to assign an appropriate value to the defined $IDX# item when you want to access an element in an arrayed data file item.

$IGNORE-OWNER ISAM files only

(VMS only)

Default = 0

Set = 1

When $IGNORE-OWNER is set to 1, if a PURGE is issued on an entire ISAM file and the creation of the mirror image of the file fails because the user is not the owner of the file, but the file protection of the ISAM file has allowed write access, a new file is created with the default owner and all other attributes the same as the original ISAM file.

This allows the original file to be deleted (instead of having each record purged, record by record). HOWEVER, the replacement file will have a different owner UIC which may raise security issues. $IGNORE-OWNER is set to 0 by default. USE WITH CAUTIONI

$IPF-DISPLAY

Default = 0

Set = 1

A-26 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$IPF-F-V-EXIT

In an interactive or odd section IPF, when set, $IPF-

DISPLAY causes INFO to display the contents of the buffers (similar to UPDATE .. WITH IPF) for the second and subsequent records added (based on the first or preceding record).

In an even section UPF it displays the current buffer contents (as in UPDATE .. WITH IPF) for the current record on accept fields.

Default = 0

Set = 1

If set to 0, <RETURN> on the first logical field of an input form will always quit the form. If set to 1 and if the first logical field of an input form has the V or F option,

<RETURN> will set the default value or prompt for input accordingly.

$ISAM-AS-DAM

Default = 0

Set = 1

By default, statements such as CALC $NUM1 = $NUM1+

1 do not generate records in ISAM files with the REL ..

FILL option, but they do in non-ISAM files.

When $ISAM-AS-DAM is set it forces INFO to generate

ISAM records on REL <filename> <item> FILL in interactive mode and odd program sections, as for non-

ISAM files.

See the table ISAM Control Items below.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-27

System Items

Appendix D

ISAM Control Items Table

Std= Standard Error

Exception Handling

Own= Own or Custom Error

Exception Handling

Read record without lock

Concurrency Control

$LOCK-MSG

0-80 characters of user-defined lock message. Initially blank

Std . Own n/a yes

Forced write on unmatched keys without lock

Forced write on unmatched keys with lock

Std . Own n/a yes

Std . Own n/a yes

Read record with lock

Std . Own n/a yes

$LOCK-MSG-LEN

Length of $LOCK-MSG to be used.

Initial value 80.

n/a yes n/a yes n/a yes n/a yes

$LOCK-MODE

To control read no lock or read with lock options.

Initial value 0.

ISAM Compatibility

0 -1

Std . Own n/a n/a

$ISAM-AS-DAM

On Rel..Fill, ISAM to act as Fixed

Length Records. Default 0

$FORCE-WRITE

On ISAM Rel..Fill, no match.

To control where record is written.

Applies to Update, IPF and Even sections only. Initial value 0.

n/a . n/a

0 -1

Std . Own

1 1

Std . Own

1 1

Std . Own n/a n/a

1 1

1 2

1 1

1 2 n/a n/a

A-28 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$ISAM-ERROR-MODE

Default = 0

Set = 1

When set, $ISAM-ERROR-MODE overrides the default display of irrecoverable error messages.

$ISAM-ERROR0..9 Read only

ISAM return codes. These codes may also be referred to by the array item $ISAM-ERROR (occurs 10, indexed by

$IDX2)

$KIDSP

Default = 0

Set = 1

When set, displays from INPUT FORMS are suppressed.

Default displays IPF terminal output.

The designated use for this item is for COMI replay of a

LOG file recovery, suppressing the terminal output to speed up execution time.

$LASTCHAR

This read-only variable stores the last character keyed in.

$LISTON Default = 0 list off

Set = -1 list executing program or input form statements to print file

Set = 1 list executing program or input form statements to terminal

This variable for RUN LIST/PRINT can be set anywhere and is applicable to both programs and input forms.

It is set by the existing RUN <program> LIST to 1 and

RUN <program> PRINT to -1.

When used in conjunction with IPFs with the value 1 (list to the terminal), IPF statements will be displayed to the

$ERROR-POSITION line or row.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-29

System Items

Appendix D

$LOCK-MODE

$LOCK-MSG

Default = 0

Set = -1, 1, 2

This item along with the following two system items is to be used in conjunction with the existing system items

$LOCK0...9, $LOCK-QUESTION. The value of $LOCK-

MODE determines how ISAM records are processed with the read with lock options. $LOCK-MSG can contain a user defined message for default lock processing.

When set allows control of read with lock and user defined lock message processing.

Set = -1 Read record without lock: use user-defined lock message in $LOCK-MSG if locked record is encountered.

Set = 0 Read record without lock: use system lock message if locked record is encountered.

Set = 1 Read record with lock: use system lock message if unable to lock record.

Set = 2 Read record with lock: user-defined message in $LOCK-MSG if unable to lock record.

See the ISAM Control Items Table above.

Default = <blank>

Set = any user defined string up to 80 characters in width.

Used in conjunction with $LOCK-MODE values -1 and 2 to override the default lock message.

$LOCK-MSG-LEN Default = 80

Set = set to WD $LOCK-MSG or less if desired

$LOCK-QUESTION

Default = 0

INFO uses the value of $LOCK-QUESTION to determine what action to take when an attempt to lock an ISAM file record is unsuccessful (i.e., the $LOCK# item that corresponds to the file is set to 1 following the lock

A-30 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$LOCK-QUESTION (cont’d) attempt). Use the CALCULATE command to set this system item to one of the following values:

0 - directs INFO to prompt UNABLE TO LOCK RECORD

IN FILE n WITH KEY ... DO YOU WANT TO TRY

AGAIN?> when a record lock attempt is unsuccessful.

Respond to this prompt as follows:

Y (Yes) or <RETURN>

Instructs INFO to attempt to lock the record again.

N (No) Instructs INFO not to attempt to lock the record again.

Any value other than 0 directs INFO to suppress the above prompt when an attempt to lock an ISAM file record is unsuccessful. INFO continues as though it issued the prompt and received a response of N (that is, INFO does not attempt to lock the record again.)

$LOCK0 through $LOCK9

Read only

The ten system items $LOCK0 through $LOCK9 indicate the result of an attempt to lock an ISAM file record.

($LOCK0 indicates the results of a record lock attempt for the selected file, $LOCK1 for the first related file, $LOCK2 for the second related file, and so on.) Following an attempt to lock a record in an ISAM file, INFO sets the value of the $LOCK# item that corresponds to that file to one of the following values:

0 indicates that the record lock attempt was successful.

1 indicates that the record lock attempt was unsuccessful.

$LOCK0 - $LOCK9 are set by INFO and cannot be changed by the user. These items may also be referenced by the array item $LOCK (occurs 10, indexed by $IDX2).

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-31

System Items

$MAXREC

$MINS

$MONTH

$MOVFLG

$NM

Appendix D

Read only default = 4096

$MAXREC displays the length in bytes of the portion of

INFO's memory that holds records from the selected and related files.

Read only

Displays the minutes element of $TIME

Read only

$MONTH contains a value from 1 to 12 that indicates the current month of the year. This is the same value as that contained in the month in the system item $TODAY, described below default = 0 set = 1

When a MOVE, CALC or CONCATENATE is performed from an item on a related file where there is a no-match,

$NPVFLG controls whether the target field is left intact or is blank-filled.

Default = 0

MOVE - blank filled the <target> will be :

CALC - zero filled

CONC - the no-matched source fields will be blank filled and concatenated

Set = 1 the <target> will be left intact in all cases if

<source> no-match. Note that with CONC, any no-match condition will suffice.

default = 0 set = 1, 2

$NM determines what, if any, messages INFO displays during related data file processing when a no-match situation occurs (that is, when no related file record exists that matches the value of the relate key item in the

A-32 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$NM (cont’d) selected or other related record). Use the CALCULATE command to assign one of the following values to $NM: n

0 (the default) directs INFO to display the following message whenever a no-match condition is detected:

NO MATCH IN RELATED DATAFILE relate_# FOR RECORD rec_# where relate_# identifies the related data file and rec_# is the number of the selected record just processed (except if the related file is an ISAM file).

n

1 directs INFO to suppress the display of any message when there is a no-match situation.

n

2 directs INFO to display the following message in addition to the NO MATCH IN RELATED DATAFILE message

(described above) for a no-match condition:

NO MATCH IN related_file_spec FOR relate_key_item=item_value where related_file_spec is the name of the related file when the no-match condition was detected, relate_key_item identifies the common item name by which the file is related to a previous file, and item_value is the value of the relate key item for which no match was found.

$NODEL-NO-REOPEN

(VMS only) Default = 0

Set = 1

When $NODEL-NO-REOPEN is set to 0 (the default),

SPOOL /NODELETE will re-open the spool file after the

PRINT command has been issued for appending additional information to that spool file. If $NODEL-NO-

REOPEN is set to 1, the spool file will not be re-opened when SPOOL / NODELETE is issued.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-33

System Items

Appendix D

$NODEL-NO-REOPEN(cont’d)

(VMS only)

Note: Setting $NODEL-NO-REOPEN = 1 avoids the occasional problem on busy systems of PRINT not being able to open the spool file when the printer becomes free.

$NOREC

Read only

$NOREC contains the total number of records in the selected data file. Note that this is not the same as the number of currently selected records (see $NOSEL below). You cannot change the value of $NOREC.

$NOSEL

Read only

$NOSEL contains the total number of records in the working set currently selected unless the selected file is

ISAM and was selected with the DYNAMIC option or had a

LIMIT command issued. With DYNAMIC, $NOSEL is initially 0 and is incremented as records are read, whereas with LIMIT, $NOSEL is 0 if no records meet the specified condition, or 1 if at least 1 record does. $NOSEL is then incremented as records are read if any others meet the condition. Note that this is not the same as the number of records in the currently selected data file (see $NOREC above).

$PAGENO

$PAGEST

Read only

$PAGENO contains the number of the last page printed for a report. $PAGENO initializes to 0 before the report is printed.

$PAGEST determines the starting page number during

REPORT command processing. INFO resets $PAGEST to 0 after a report is finished. By default, each report begins with page number 1, that is, 0 + 1.

Before you enter a REPORT command, you can alter the value of this system item with the CALCULATE command.

Set $PAGEST to the page number for the first page of the report minus 1. (INFO determines the number for each page by adding 1 to the value of $PAGEST) If you want the report to begin with the page number following the last

A-34 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$PAGEST(cont’d) page of the previous report, set $PAGEST to the value of

$PAGENO (enter CALCULATE $PAGEST = $PAGENO).

$PARAMETERS

To be used in conjunction with the QUIT <USERNAME> command, $USER-BUFF and APPLICATION mode, to allow parameter passing from one INFO user name (or directory) to another. The contents of $PARAMETERS are only initialized at INFO invocation and are retained between INFO user names when used as described. See

Appendix N ‘Application Mode’

$PI

Contains the value of PI accurate to 12 decimal places:

3.141592653590

$PRINTER-NAME

Read only

$PRINTER-NAME is 32 characters long and contains the name of the currently open print file.

$PRINTER-SIZE

default = 132

$PSPRO

(VMS only) set = (configurable)

You can set the value of $PRINTER-SIZE to specify the column width of your system printer between 0 and 200.

You can set this system item with the CALCULATE command.

Default = 1

Set = 0

When $PSPRO is set to 1 (the default), INFO will attempt to preserve the protection on the SELECTed file when it creates the resultant file for PURGE and SORT. If the user does not have sufficient privilege to create a file with the same privilege as the SELECTed file, INFO will create the new file with default protection. If $PSPRO is set to 0,

INFO will simply create the new file with default protection.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-35

System Items

Appendix D

$PURGE-LOCAL

Default = 0

Set = 1

If set to 1 and you are in ADIR mode, purging a nonexternal datafile will create the new DAT locally.

$RECNO

Read only

$RECNO contains the number of the last record read from the selected file. You cannot change the value of this system item.

$RELREC1 through

$RELREC9

Read only

The nine system items $RELREC1 through $RELREC9 contain the number of the record that INFO is processing currently in each of the corresponding related files.

$RELREC1 holds the number of the record in the first related file, $RELREC2 in the second, and so on. INFO uses these system items only when processing even-numbered program sections.

$REPCOL1 through

$REPCOL20

$REPDAT

The twenty system items $REPCOL1 through

$REPCOL20 contain the last value printed in an INFO report in that report's columns 1 through 20, respectively.

Each $REPCOL item is set to 0 before the report is printed.

You can change the values of these system items, but be aware that INFO assigns values to these items

(overwriting any values that you have assigned) when you execute a report, as discussed above.

These items may also be referenced by the array item

$REPCOL (occurs 20, indexed by $IDX2)

$REPDAT contains the date used when executing a report. $REPDAT is initialized to $TODAY when you start your INFO session. You can use the CALCULATE command to assign $REPDAT to another date in the format mm/dd/yy, where mm is the number of the month, dd is the number of the day, and yy is the last two digits of the year (for instance, enter CALCULATE $REPDAT =

09/22/96).

A-36 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$REPTOT1 through

$REPTOT64

$RETRY

$REPEAT will not be replaced throughout an INFO session as $TODAY is.

INFO uses the 64 system items $REPTOT1 through

$REPTOT64 to contain the values, subtotals and grand totals generated during execution of an INFO report. You can display any of these 64 system items by referencing each item either as an element of the arrayed system item named $REPTOT, indexed by the value of $IDX2, or as individual system items named $REPTOT1, $REPTOT2, and so on.

For instance, DISPLAY $REPTOT11 gives the same results as the command CALCULATE $IDX2 = 11 followed by DISPLAY $REPTOT.

You can change the values of these system items, but be aware that INFO assigns values to these items, overwriting any values that you have assigned, when you execute a report as discussed above.

Default = 6

Set = (configurable)

Used only with the INPUT FORM command, $RETRY enables you to change the maximum error count that

INFO will allow before asking

DO YOU WANT TO TRY AGAIN?.

Do not set $RETRY = 0, as you will be prompted for the error prompt before data entry to each field.

$SCIENTIFIC-DISP Default = 0

note

Set = 1

Set = 2

Display F-type numbers as decimals.

Display very small F-type numbers as exponentials.

Display all F-type numbers as exponentials.

Small F-type numbers for setting 1 apply to numbers less than 0.0004 or greater than -0.0004.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-37

System Items

Appendix D

$SCREEN WIDTH Default = 80

To list/display the items of a record on 1 line (with wraparound), $SCREEN-WIDTH must be set to a value equal to or greater than (maximum 4096) the following: x + y + 9 where x = the sum of the output width of each item or the length of its item name, whichever is the greater.

where y = the number of items being displayed (to allow for 1 space between each item + 1 space for column 1 of the screen) where 9 = characters required for $RECNO to be displayed.

example:

Datafile

ITEM1

ITEM2

ITEM3

ITEM4

4,4,C

8,9,N,2

1,1,C

50,50,C x = 5 + 9 + 5 + 50 = 69 y = 4

Therefore $SCREEN-WIDTH needs to be set to

69 + 4 + 9 = 82 or greater to list/display all the items on one line.

$SECTION

Read only

The $SECTION system item indicates the current mode of

INFO processing. $SECTION contains one of the following values: n

0 indicates INFO is processing an interactive session n

1 indicates INFO is processing an odd-numbered section n

2 indicates INFO is processing an even-numbered section

$SECS

Read-only item

Displays the seconds element of $TIME

A-38 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$SEQ-REC-FORMAT (alternate name $RFM)

(VMS only) Default = 0

Set = 1, 2, 3

This variable specifies the format of sequential files created by SAVE COMPRESS INIT and OUTPUT INIT and corresponds to the FDL attribute RECORD FORMAT.

$RFM has four values, the default being 0, and each value will set the record format of the new file as follows:

0 Variable length, maximum 1000 bytes (SAVE) or 200 bytes (OUTPUT)

1 Stream, maximum 4096 bytes (SAVE) or 200 bytes

(OUTPUT)

2 Stream_CR, maximum 4096 bytes (SAVE) or 200 bytes

(OUTPUT)

Warning

3 Stream_LF, maximum 4096 bytes (SAVE) or 200 bytes

(OUTPUT)

See the VAX/VMS Record Management Services manual for more information

These settings remain during your current INFO session so subsequent operations will inherit these settings unless you explicitly set the value back to default

$SET1NOSEL

(Unix and VMS)

Default = 0

Set = 1

Pre-revision 9.64 of INFO, if the following commands were issued :

SEL

Isam-file DYNAMIC

SET 1

$NOSEL was returned with the value of 1 if there were any records in the file.

From revision 9.64, this changed so that $NOSEL = 0.

However, to emulate previous versions of INFO,

$SET1NOSEL should be set to 1.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-39

System Items

$SETMAX

Appendix D

Read only

Contains the number of the highest record in the currently selected set. To use this system item, first use the

CALCULATE command to set the value of $IDX2 to 1 if the selected file is non-ISAM or to the ISAM set whose highest record number you want to find: 1 for ISAM set 1,

2 for ISAM set 2,... etc The following program fragment displays the highest record number in ISAM set 2:

.

.

20004 CALCULATE $IDX2 = 2

20005 DISPLAY $SETMAX

.

If you use the SELECT command with the DYNAMIC option, the value of $SETMAX for ISAM set 1 (the full selected set) is zero until you have executed a command that starts reading the records in the set (an ‘active command’).

If you have used the LIMIT command to establish a global search criterion for the selected ISAM file, the initial value of $SETMAX will be zero if no records in the file meet the specified condition, or 1 if at least one record does. If more than one record meets the condition, $SETMAX will be incremented as the records are read.

A-40 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$SETMIN

Read only

Contains the number of the lowest record in the currently selected set. To use this system item, first use the

CALCULATE command to set the value of $IDX2 to 1 if the selected file is non-ISAM or to the ISAM set whose highest record number you want to find: 1 for ISAM set 1,

2 for ISAM set 2 etc. The following program fragment displays the highest record number in ISAM set 3:

.

.

20004 CALCULATE $IDX2 = 3

20005 DISPLAY $SETMIN

.

$SHORT-NAME

INFO constructs the 3-character contents of $SHORT-

NAME from the first, second and fourth characters in

$USER-NAME when your INFO session begins. ($USER-

NAME is described below.) If $USER-NAME contains three characters only, $SHORT-NAME contains only those three characters.

$SINGLE-DETAIL Default = 0 REPORT will create a summary/sub-total line for a single detail.

$SNREC

Set = 1 REPORT will not generate a sub-total for a single detail.

Read only

$SNREC contains the number of the record being processed currently in the selected, or any related, data file. To use this system item, first use the CALCULATE command to set the value of $IDX2 to an appropriate value (from 1 to 10) for the data file you want to reference:

1 for the selected data file, 2 for the first related data file, 3 for the second related data file, and so on. The following program fragment displays the number of the record currently being processed in the selected data file.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-41

System Items

Appendix D

.

.

.

20004 CALCULATE $IDX2 = 1

20005 DISPLAY $SNREC

.

See the discussion of $RELREC1 through $RELREC9 for information about an alternate method you can use to determine the number of the current record being processed in a related data file.

$SUSPEND-SECKEYS

(Prime only) Default = 0

Set = 1

The default value is 0 and treats secondary keys of Midas files as per Rev. 9.6 specification: n

If you alter a primary key, that primary key and any secondaries will be deleted and re-inserted, unlike 9.42

which deleted and re-inserted the primary key, but only reinserted the secondaries, leaving the old ones suspended and leaving them there until an MPACK was performed.

n

If you alter a secondary key, that secondary key is deleted and re-inserted, leaving all other keys untouched, unlike

9.42 which deleted and re-inserted the primary key and reinserted the secondary keys, leaving the old ones suspended and waiting for an MPACK to delete them.

n

If you PURGE any records, ALL keys are deleted, whereas under 9.42 only the primary key is deleted , leaving all the secondaries suspended until an MPACK deletes them.

If you set $SUSPEND-SECKEYS = 1, the following differences will be observed: n delete primary key: the primary key is deleted and reinserted, the secondaries are re-inserted, leaving the old ones suspended and needing an MPACK to delete them, as in 9.42.

A-42 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

n delete secondary key: the secondary in question is deleted and re-inserted, the same as with the variable set to 0.

$SVIDEL

(VMS only)

Default = 1

Set = 0

If set to 1, SAVE INIT and OUTPUT INIT will delete all existing versions of the named file and create version 1.

If set to 0, SAVE INIT and OUTPUT INIT will create a new version of the named file.

$SWITCH-DEFAULT

(Unix and VMS) Default = 0

Set = 1

The default settings of $DOPS2 and $SINGLE-DETAIL changed in revision 9.6 : to emulate pre-9.6 processing with regard to these two variables, $SWITCH-DEFAULT should be set to 1.

$SYS-RETURN-CODE Read only

Returns error code from SORT/MERGE

$TIME

Read only

$TIME contains the current time, in the format: hh:mm:ss, where hh is the hour, mm the minutes and ss the seconds.

The value of $TIME is updated each time an interactive command is processed and each time a command is executed in a program.

$TIME-FLAG

$TIME-FLAG specifies whether or not INFO displays the current time with each ENTER COMMAND > prompt.

(See the TIME command for an alternate method of controlling the time display.) You can use the

CALCULATE command to give $TIME-FLAG one of the following values: n

0 (the default) directs INFO not to display the time with each ENTER COMMAND > prompt.

n

1 directs INFO to display the time with each ENTER

COMMAND > prompt, in the following format:

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-43

System Items

Appendix D

$TODAY

$TTYOFF

(VMS only) hh:mm:ss ENTER COMMAND > where hh is the hours, mm the minutes and ss the seconds.

Read only

$TODAY contains today's date. The date is displayed in the format specified by the DFMT command. (See the

DFMT command for information about formatting dates.)

Default = 0

Set= 1

If set to 0, the default, output is directed to the screen. If set to 1, output to the screen is turned off. This variable runs in parallel with the INFO commands COMO -TTY, which sets $TTYOFF = 0, and COMO -NTTY, which sets

$TTYOFF = 1.

$UPF-NC

Default = 0

Set = 1

If set to 0, UPF (IPF in even program sections) will automatically clear the screen unless the NC option is specified; this makes it consistent with the way IPF behaves. If set to 1, INFO will emulate pre-9.6 versions of

INFO in that UPF will not clear the screen unless either it contains a 0,0 co-ordinate as the first entry or it is preceded by a DISP= statement.

$UPDCOL, $UPDROW Default values 1,1

set = (configurable)

For use with UPDATE by <field> WITH IPF; user settable variables for the column and row for the <field> prompt.

$USER-BUFF

A 320 character redefinition over the $CHR1...40 variable work space. (Note that it also includes $NUM1...40 and

$DAT1...40 as they share the same space).

It allows the initialization of the complete buffer or, when used with the $PARAMETERS and QUIT <USERNAME> facility, will allow the complete default variable space to be

A-44 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$USER-BUFF (cont’d) saved off, passed through to a different INFO username and re-instated.

$USER-PATH

$USER-NAME

Please note that the FORMATs of the variables will be reinitialized to the default in this instance, so custom formats will have to be re-established, unless used in conjunction with MODE SET FORMAT to save and reset the internal variable format settings.

Contains the pathname of the DR9 but excluding the DR9 file name (particular use with Application mode).

$USER-NAME contains the name of the current user, obtained from the response to the last ENTER USER

NAME>

prompt.

$USERNAME

$USERNUM

Holds login name.

Holds current Process Identification Number

$UTCMSG

(VMS only)

Default = 0

Set = 1

An error message, 'UNABLE TO CREATE NEW FILE' informs users of the potential failure of certain functions which create new files (e.g. the PURGE of an entire ISAM when they do not have write access to the directory in which they are working although they have write access to the file they are working on). Note that this message would also appear if the new file could not be created because of a disk full condition or any other RMS error which caused the failure. To get this message, the user must CALC $UTCMSG = 1 ($UTCMSG is 0 by default).

$WORK-BUFFER (alternate name $GGR-BUFFER)

2048 bytes of extra storage for user's use, redefined on differing offsets for each category, and all indexed by

$IDX2:

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-45

System Items

Appendix D

$WORK-BUFF

$WORK-CHR

$WORK-NUM

$WORK-INT

128,C

8,C

8,N,2

8,I occurs 16 indexed by $IDX2 occurs 64 indexed by $IDX2 occurs 64 indexed by $IDX2 occurs 64 indexed by $IDX2

$WORK-BIN

2,5,B occurs 64 indexed by $IDX2.

$WORK-FLOAT

8,15,F occurs 48 indexed by $IDX2

The total work space is initialized to <blanks> or spaces on entry to INFO. The individual numeric types have to be initialized before use. See end of Appendix D for more information

$WRITE-LOCK

(Prime only) default = -1 set = 0, 1, 2, 3

$WRITE-LOCK determines the read-write access level for data files. You can assign values to $WRITE-LOCK with the CALCULATE command. To associate a new value for

$WRITE-LOCK with a data file, reselect the selected set of records to 0 and then issue a PURGE command. Valid values are: n

-1 (the default value) directs INFO to use the existing file’s read-write protections.

n

0 directs INFO to accept the system READ-WRITE access level setting n

1 allows multiple users to have read-only access or one user to write to the selected data file, but not both n

2 allows multiple users to have read-only access and one user to write to the selected data file n

3 allows multiple users to have read/write access to the selected data file

A-46 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix D

System Items

$YEAR

Read Only

$YEAR contains the value of the current year. This is the same value contained in the year field in the system item

$TODAY.

$ZDATE

Default = 0

Set = 1

If set to 1 date fields are displayed and printed with leading zeroes instead of spaces for day and month values less than 10. Also, when date items are EXPORTed, any days with a value of less than 10 will have a leading zero instead of a space. (EXPORT outputs dates in military format excepting the CSV format).

$WORK-BUFFER

$WORK-BUFFER provides an additional workspace of

2048 characters for the user. They have been preset to give the best overall advantage of speed, ease of use and of space. They can be used as supplied or they may be amended by the customer’s own System Administrator for their own specific requirements.

How the BUFFER is set up

$WORK-BUFFER 2048,C

This is divided into 16 variables, each of 128 bytes :

$WORK-BUFF(1 - 16) 128,C 2048 chars in total

These variables are further divided into the following :

Variable size occurs relative position

$WORK-CHR

$WORK-NUM

$WORK-INT

$WORK-BIN

$WORK-FLOAT

note

8,C

8,N,2

8,I

2,5,B

8,15,F

64

64

64

64

48

$WORK-BUFF(1 - 4)

$WORK-BUFF(5 - 8)

$WORK-BUFF(9 - 12)

$WORK-BUFF(13)

$WORK-BUFF(14 - 16) n

When using these variables, remember that some of them occupy the same part of the buffer :

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-47

System Items

Appendix D

e.g.

$WORK-BUFF(1) occupies the same space as

$WORK-CHR(1 - 16) e.g.

$WORK-BUFF(16) occupied the same space as

$WORK-FLOAT(33 - 48)

ACTIVE / NON-ACTIVE

The system_items $WORK-CHR, $WORK-NUM, etc. do not work in the same way as the system_variables $CHR and $NUM. These items are not active variables : i.e.

CA $WORK-NUM1 = $WORK-NUM1 + 1 interactively or in an odd program section the command will be executed only once, no matter how many records are selected, unlike $NUM, which would be executed once for each record in the working set.

REFORMATTING

These working variables, $WORK-BUFF etc, cannot be formatted via the FORMAT command. It is possible to redefine them by adding entries to the info9nit file - these will become “world wide” unless local info9nit files are used. You must be careful about offsets, types, etc., and be aware how the 2048 byte space is allocated to avoid the problems of overlapping.

A-48 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Accept, Display and Error Message Attribute Settings

It is possible to set up field attributes for cursor-addressed

ACCEPT and DISPLAY commands, IPF-style accept and display commands, and default or IPF user-supplied error messages.

This is achieved by enabling some control variables and by initialising display variables to attribute settings. See the table Accept and Display Attribute Settings on the following page.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-49

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

Accept and Display Attribute Settings Table

$DISPLAY-MODE

0

ACCEPT AT

1

Using the attribute preference settings, fields can comprise the following components

Display

$ACC-ATTRIBUTE

$ACCEPT-FILL=0

$ACCEPT-FILL=1

Left delimiter

+attribute

Data or fill-char

+attribute

Right delimiter

+attribute

Accept

Data

+attribute n/a

Any string used to set attributes on ACCEPT n/a

Display field contents at row, col before ACCEPT n/a

Display $ACCEPT-FILL-CHAR at row,col before

ACCEPT

Input Forms will:

New Record Display fill character on fields not yet entered

Old Record (i.e. update) Display data field

$ACCEPT-FILL-CHAR n/a Any character to be displayed across the field width on an ACCEPT

$LEFT-DELIMITER n/a

Any character used as a left delimiter for an accept field. Displayed at row,col - 1.

$RIGHT-DELIMITER

$DELIM-ATTRIBUTE n/a Any character used as a left delimiter for an accept field. Displayed at row,col + width of item + 1.

n/a

Any attributes associated with the delimiters

.

A-50 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Accept and Display Attribute Settings Table (continued)

$DISPLAY-MODE

0 1

DISPLAY AT

$DISP-ATTRIBUTE n/a Field is displayed with this user specified attribute

ERROR-MESSAGES

$MESS-ATTRIBUTE n/a

Default and user-defined error messages (Input Form format only), will be displayed with this attribute.

ALL MESSAGES

$RESET-ATTRIBUTE n/a If any of the above attributes are set this field must be set to return the screen to its normal mode.

It is assumed that any attribute settings will not occupy screen positions and therefore changes to the bulk of existing applications will not be necessary in order to enable these facilities.

There is no change in the INFO command syntax and so these attribute preferences can be used on existing systems by setting them up in the info.cfg configuration file. (See Appendix Q ‘Configuration files’) They apply to the program commands ACCEPT AT, DISPLAY AT, and the Input Form equivalents, i.e. row,col,item and row,col,item,D.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-51

Screen Attribute Settings examples

Appendix E

FORMAT $NUM1,6,I

$DISPLAY-MODE = 1

$DISP-ATTRIBUTE = $UNDERLINE

$ACC-ATTRIBUTE = $REVERSE

$RESET-ATTRIBUTE = $NORMAL

$NUM1 = 100

DISPLAY AT 10,10 'Enter Value:'

ACCEPT AT 10,24 $NUM1 will produce

Enter Value: 100

where the field content will be displayed with the display attribute prior to the accept

Alternatively

FORMAT $NUM1,6,I

$ACCEPT-FILL = 1

$ACCEPT-FILL-CHAR = '.'

DISPLAY AT 10,10 'Enter Value:'

ACCEPT AT 10,24 $NUM1 produces

Enter value: ......

where the fill character (default blank) will be displayed prior to the accept

or

FORMAT $NUM1,6,I

$LEFT-DELIMITER = '['

$RIGHT-DELIMITER = ']'

DISPLAY AT 10,10 'Enter Value:'

ACCEPT AT 10,24 $NUM1 produces

Enter value: [ ]

A-52 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Input Form Preference Settings

It is possible to modify the default Input Form prompts and responses via the control variables outlined in the following table. In addition INFO programmers may ascertain which command was used to invoke the Input

Form with which options and which 'end-of-form' response was entered.

It is also possible to automatically Quit an Input Form on detection of a locked Isam record and to display a userdefined message.

$IPF-COMMAND

$IPF-PROMPT

$IPF-YES

$IPF-NO

$IPF-QUIT

$IPF-LEAVE

$IPF-EXIT

$IPF-ANSWER

$IPF-NC

$IPF-LN

$IPF-AY-AL

4 character item set during the execution of the Input

Form to the command that was used to invoke the form:

‘INPU’ = Input Form,

‘UPDA’=Update... with Input Form,

‘UPFO’=UPF, ie Even Program Section Command.

End of Input Form prompt (up to 78 characters) to replace

IS THIS RECORD ACCEPTABLE (Y,N,Q,L, or E)>.

Single character alternative to the ‘Y’ response.

Single character alternative to the ‘N’ response.

Single character alternative to the ‘Q’ response.

Single character alternative to the ‘L’ response.

Single character alternative to the ‘E’ response.

Numbers between 1 - 5 corresponding to the Input Form answer where 1 = ‘Y’, 2 = ‘N’, 3 = ‘Q’, 4 = ‘L’, 5 = ‘E’

Read only item. Set to 1 means the NC option was used.

Read only item. Set to 1 means the LN option was used

Read only item. Set to 1 means the AY or AL options were used

CONCURRENCY

$IPF-QUIT-ON-LOCK

$IPF-QUIT-MESSAGE

If set to 1, on detection of a Lock, will ‘Q’ the Input Form.

If set, will be displayed on QUIT-ON-LOCK condition (up to 80 characters)

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-53

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

ANSI Variables

Slave Printing

$PRT.ON.SCRN.OFF Printer on, screen off, - Enable buffered transparent print

$PRT.OFF.SC.BK.ON Printer off, screen back on, - Disable buffered transparent print

$PRT.ON.SCRN.ON

Printer on, screen on, - Enable auto line print mode.

$PRT.OFF.SC.LF.ON Printer off, screen left on, - Disable auto

$PRT.PAGE

Page print - screen dump current screen display to printer

Control Codes

$NULL

$SOH

$STX

$ETX

$EOT

$ENQ

$ACK

ASCII hex(00), <Ctrl><@>, Null character

ASCII hex(01), <Ctrl><A>, Start of header

ASCII hex(02), <Ctrl><B>, Start of text

ASCII hex(03), <Ctrl><C>, End of text

ASCII hex(04), <Ctrl><D>,

ASCII hex(05), <Ctrl><E>,

$BEL

$BS

$HT

$LF

$VT

$FF

$CR

$SO

ASCII hex(06), <Ctrl><F>, acknowledgement. Usually sent by the terminal to the computer to indicate page print or some local functions finished.

ASCII hex(07), <Ctrl><G>, sound the terminal's bell

ASCII hex(08), <Ctrl><H>, back-space

ASCII hex(09), <Ctrl><I>, horizontal tab

ASCII hex(0A), <Ctrl><J>, line-feed

ASCII hex(0B), <Ctrl><K>, vertical-tab or line-feed

ASCII hex(0C), <Ctrl><L>, form-feed or line-feed

ASCII hex(0D), <Ctrl><M>, carriage-return

ASCII hex(0E), <Ctrl><N>,

A-54 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Control Codes (cont’d)

$SI ASCII hex(0F), <Ctrl><O>,

$DLE

$DC1

$DC2

$DC3

ASCII hex(10), <Ctrl><P>, break

ASCII hex(11), <Ctrl><Q>, send data to computer or terminal (X-ON in x-on, x-off protocol)

ASCII hex(12), <Ctrl><R>,

$DC4

$NAK

$SYN

$ETB

$CAN

$EM

$SUB

$ESC

$FS

$GS

$RS

$US

$DEL

$CSI

ASCII hex(13), <Ctrl><S>, stop sending data to computer or terminal (X-OFF in x-on, x-off protocol).

ASCII hex(14), <Ctrl><T>

ASCII hex(15), <Ctrl><U>

ASCII hex(16), <Ctrl><V>

ASCII hex(17), <Ctrl><W>

ASCII hex(18), <Ctrl><X>

ASCII hex(19), <Ctrl><Y>, end of message

ASCII hex(1A), <Ctrl><Z>

ASCII hex(1B), <Ctrl><[>, escape

ASCII hex(1C), <Ctrl><\>

ASCII hex(1D), <Ctrl><]>

ASCII hex(1E), <Ctrl><^>

ASCII hex(1F), <Ctrl><_>

ASCII hex(7F), delete

Control Sequence Introducer, equates to characters,

Esc[, but known as CSI

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-55

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

Basic cursor movements

These commands move the cursor within its current line or column. They cannot cause data to scroll the screen. The cursor stop at the margins of the display or the defined scrolling region; it does not wrap around.

$CURSOR.UP Cursor up $CURSOR.UP.PN line(s) or row(s)

$CURSOR.DOWN Cursor down $CURSOR.DOWN.PN line(s) or row(s)

$CURSOR.RIGHT Cursor right $CURSOR.RIGHT.PN character position(s) or column(s)

$CURSOR.LEFT Cursor left $CURSOR.LEFT.PN character position(s) or column(s)

$CURSOR.UP.PN

These items are redefinitions of the numeric portion of the

$CURSOR.(UP,DOWN,RIGHT,LEFT) variables. They correspond to the decimal value specifying the number of cursor position moves in the appropriate direction:

Default value 0, range 0-99

$CURSOR.DOWN.PN

$CURSOR.RIGHT.PN

$CURSOR.LEFT.PN

$ADDRESS.CURSOR

Default value 0, range 0-99

Default value 0, range 0-999

$CURSOR.LINE.PN

$CURSOR.COLUMN.PN

Default value 0, range 0-999

Address the cursor to line and column, using

$CURSOR.LINE.PN for absolute line or row, and $CURSOR.COLUMN.PN for row or column.

Default value 1, range 0-99

Default value 1, range 0-999

A-56 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Cursor Addressing within scrolling region

If you have defined a scrolling region and turned on origin mode, cursor addressing lines start at the top of the scrolling region and you cannot address the cursor outside the scrolling region. If origin mode is off, the cursor can move within the entire display.

$CURSOR.HOME Move the cursor to home position, i.e. line 1, column 1 of the display or the scrolling region

$LINE.FEED

Line feed

$REVERSE.LF

$CR.LF

Reverse line feed

Carriage-return line feed

Editing data

$ERASE.TO.EOL

Erase from cursor to end of line

$ERASE.L.CURSOR Erase start of line up to and including cursor

$ERASE.CURSOR.LN Erase entire line

$ERASE.TO.EOS

Erase from cursor to end of screen

$ERASE.HOME.TO.C Erase home position up to and including cursor

$ERASE.SCREEN Erase entire screen

$DEL.R.TO.CURSOR Delete $DEL.R.TO.CSR.PN characters to the right of the cursor. The cursor does not move.

$DEL.R.TO.CSR.PN

Default 0, range 0-999

$INS.LINES

$INS.LINES.PN

Insert $INS.LINES.PN above the cursor line, and resets the line attribute. Lines pushed off the page or scrolling region are lost

Default 0, range 0-99

$DEL.LINES

$DEL.LINES.PN

Delete $DEL.LINES.PN from, and including, the cursor line, and resets the line attribute.

Default 0, range 0-99

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-57

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

Editing data (cont’d)

$INSERT.MODE

$REPLACE.MODE

Character insert mode. Entering new data pushes existing data on the cursor line to the right. Excess data drops from the end of the line.

Character replace or over-type mode. New data overwrites existing data.

Enable block mode

Enable conversational mode

$EDIT.MODE

$NORMAL.MODE

$AUTO.WRAP.ON

Autowrap mode on. The cursor wraps from the end of one line to the start of the next line during data entry.

$AUTO.WRAP.OFF Autowrap mode off. The cursor stops at the end of a line. Each character you enter at the end of a line writes over the previous character without advancing the cursor to the next line.

Screen appearance

$SET.ATT.OFF Set all visual attributes off. (Alternate Name

$NORMAL)

$SET.ATT.ALT

Full intensity (when character intensity is half).

(Alternate Name $BOLD)

$SET.UNDERLINE Underlined. (Alternate Name $UNDERLINE)

$SET.BLINK

$SET.REVERSE

$SEL.80

Blinking. (Alternate Name $BLINK)

Reverse video. (Alternate Name $REVERSE)

$SEL.INVERSE.SCRN Light background.

$SEL.NORMAL.SCRN Dark background.

$SEL.132 Clears screen, and puts terminal into 132 column mode.

Clears screen, and puts terminal into 80 column mode.

A-58 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Screen appearance

(cont’d)

The following line attributes affect all current characters on the cursor line and any entered on that line after you change the attribute. Line attributes affect only the cursor line.

$DBL.H.SGL.W.TOP

Define the cursor line as the top half of doubleheight/single-width characters, (not available on all terminals).

$DBL.H.SGL.W.BOT

Define the cursor line as the bottom half of doubleheight/single-width characters, (not available on all terminals).

$DBL.H.DBL.W.TOP

Define the cursor line as the top half of doubleheight/double-width characters.

$DBL.H.DBL.W.BOT

Define the cursor line as the bottom half of doubleheight/double-width characters.

$SGL.H.SGL.W

Define the cursor line as single-height/single-width characters.

$SGL.H.DBL.W

Define the cursor line as single-height/double-width characters.

Character Graphics

$SEL.CH.GRAPHICS

Put terminal in graphics mode.

$SEL.ASCII

Put terminal in ASCII mode.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-59

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

The following items are used in conjunction with

$SEL.CH.GRAPHICS, and will display one character graphic symbol each time the character is displayed. On completion of the display of character graphics, displaying

$SEL.ASCII will return the terminal to character mode.

The items, with $SEL.CH.GRAPHICS displayed, correspond to character display symbols and keyboard lower-case characters.

Miscellaneous Symbols

$DIAMOND

ASCII <'>, diamond symbol

$CHECKERBOARD

$HORIZONTAL.TAB

$FORM.FEED.SYM

$CARR.RTN.SYM

ASCII <a>, checkerboard symbol

ASCII <b>, horizontal tab symbol

ASCII <c>, form-feed symbol

ASCII <d>, carriage-return symbol

$LINE.FEED.SYM

$DEGREE

$PLUS.MINUS.SYM

$NEWLINE.SYM

ASCII <e>, line-feed symbol

ASCII <f>, degree symbol

ASCII <g>, plus over minus symbol

ASCII <h>, newline symbol

$VERTICAL.TAB

ASCII <i>, vertical tab symbol

$VERTICAL.BAR.SYM

ASCII <x>, vertical bar symbol

$LT.OR.EQ.SYM

$GT.OR.EQ.SYM

ASCII <y>, less than or equal to symbol

ASCII <z>, greater than or equal to symbol

$PI.SYM

$NE.TO.SYM

$UK.POUND

$CENTERED.DOT

ASCII <{>, pi symbol

ASCII <|>, not equal to symbol

ASCII <}>, UK pound symbol

ASCII <~>, centered dot symbol

A-60 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Line Graphics Symbols

$LOW.RIGHT.SYM

ASCII <j>, lower right right-angle symbol

$UP.RIGHT.SYM

$UP.LEFT.SYM

ASCII <k>, upper right right-angle symbol

ASCII <l>, upper left right-angle symbol

$LOW.LEFT.SYM

ASCII <m>, lower left right-angle symbol

$CROSS.LINE.SYM

ASCII <n>, horizontal and vertical line crossing in the center symbol

$HZ.LINE1.SYM

$HZ.LINE3.SYM

$HZ.LINE5.SYM

$HZ.LINE7.SYM

$HZ.LINE9.SYM

$LEFT.T.SYM

$RIGHT.T.SYM

$BOTTOM.T.SYM

$TOP.T.SYM

ASCII <o>, horizontal line in pixel line 1 symbol

ASCII <p>, horizontal line in pixel line 3 symbol

ASCII <q>, horizontal line in pixel line 5 symbol

ASCII <r>, horizontal line in pixel line 7 symbol

ASCII <s>, horizontal line in pixel line 9 symbol

ASCII <t>, vertical center line with horizontal line joining from the center to the right

ASCII <u>, vertical center line with horizontal line joining from the center to the left

ASCII <v>, horizontal line in pixel line 9 joining at the center to vertical line symbol

ASCII <w>, horizontal line in pixel line 1 joining at the center to vertical line symbol

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-61

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

Terminal Mode Settings

$SEL.ANSI.MODE

Select ANSI mode

$SEL.VT52.MODE

Select VT52 mode

$TERM.ID.REQUEST

Send the terminal ID back to host

$TERM.RESET

Reset terminal to power-on (non-volatile memory) values

$CURSOR.POS.RQST Send current cursor position to host

$SAVE.CURSOR

Save the cursor position ; saves the cursor position, character set, visual and selective erase attributes, and origin mode in current memory. When you reset the terminal, the cursor description returns to nonvolatile memory values

$RESTORE.CURSOR

Returns the cursor to the saved position and characteristics. If the cursor description was not previously saved, the cursor moves to home position and the other description values reset to non-volatile settings.

Keyboard

$LOCK.KEYBOARD

$UNLOCK.KEYBOARD

$CURSOR.KEYS.APPL

$CURSOR.KEYS.NRML

$NUMERIC.MODE

$APPLIC.MODE

$APP.COMMA

$APP.MINUS

$APP.PERIOD

$APP.ENTER

Lock the keyboard.

Unlock the keyboard.

Application cursor key mode.

Normal cursor key mode.

Numeric pad enabled for numeric mode.

Numeric pad enabled for applications mode.

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for comma <,>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for minus <->

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for period <.> (full-stop)

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for <enter>

A-62 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Keyboard

(cont’d)

$APP.ZERO

$APP.ONE

$APP.TWO

$APP.THREE

$APP.FOUR

$APP.FIVE

$APP.SIX

$APP.SEVEN

$APP.EIGHT

$APP.NINE

$APP.PF1

$APP.PF2

$APP.PF3

$APP.PF4

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for zero <0>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for one <1>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for two <2>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for three <3>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for four <4>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for five <5>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for six <6>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for seven <7>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for eight <8>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for nine <9>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for program function key 1 <PF1>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for program function key 2 <PF2>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for program function key 3 <PF3>

Application mode keyboard sequence returned to the host for program function key 4 <PF4>

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-63

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

Scrolling

$CH.SCROLL.REG

Change the scrolling region. Set the redefined items

$CH.SCROLL.TOP.PN for top line, and

$CH.SCROLL.BOT.PN for bottom line. Defining a scrolling region moves the cursor to home position.

$CH.SCROLL.TOP.PN Default 1, range 1-24, should be less than or equal to

$CH.SCROLL.BOT.PN

$CH.SCROLL.BOT.PN Default 24, range 1-24, should be equal to or greater than $CH.SCROLL.TOP.PN

$ORIGIN.MODE.ON

Display lines are numbered only in the defined scrolling region. Home position is column 1 line 1 of the scrolling region. You cannot move or address the cursor into a memory-locked area. Each time you set or reset origin mode, the cursor moves to the new home position.

$ORIGIN.MODE.OFF

Line numbers refer to all 24 screen lines, regardless of scrolling region. You still cannot move the cursor out of a scrolling region with the cursor movement keys and commands. However, you can address the cursor to any location on the screen, in or out of the scrolling region. Once you have moved the cursor into a memory-locked area, you can then move it around in the area (and back into the scrolling region ) with the cursor movement keys and commands.

$SMOOTH.SCROLL

Enable smooth scroll mode ; data scrolls smoothly onto the screen, controlled by the terminal.

$JUMP.SCROLL

Enable jump scroll mode ; data scrolls onto the screen at the rate the computer sends it.

A-64 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix E

Screen Attribute Settings

Extended ANSI

$SET.PROT.NO

$SET.PROT.ALT

Set no protection.

Set protection to alternate character set data.

$SET.PROT.UNDLNE Set protection to data with underline attribute.

$SET.PROT.BLINK

Set protection to data with blink attribute.

$SET.PROT.INVERSE Set protection to data with inverse attribute.

$SET.PROT.NORMAL Set protection to data with normal attributes.

$CLEAR.ALL

Clear protected and unprotected data.

$CLEAR.UNPROTECT Clear unprotected data.

$CURSOR.ON

Select visible cursor.

$CURSOR.OFF

Select invisible cursor.

Color Terminal Foreground and Background Settings

The following variables set the foreground and background color attributes for terminals. For example, to have a red foreground on a magenta background:

DISP $RED-FORE,$MAGENTA-BACK

$BLACK-FORE

$RED-FORE

Black foreground

Red foreground

$GREEN-FORE

Green foreground

$YELLOW-FORE

Yellow foreground

$BLUE-FORE

Blue foreground

$MAGENTA-FORE Magenta foreground

$CYAN-FORE

$WHITE-FORE

Cyan foreground

White foreground

$BLACK-BACK

Black background

$RED-BACK

Red background

$GREEN-BACK

Green background

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-65

Screen Attribute Settings

Appendix E

Color Terminal Foreground and Background Settings

(cont’d)

$YELLOW-BACK

Yellow background

$BLUE-BACK

Blue background

$MAGENTA-BACK Magenta background

$WHITE-BACK

White background

Customising ANSI Escape Sequences

It is possible to customise the standard ANSI terminal escape sequences by means of a file called info.ansi which is located in the directory pointed to by the external variable _INFOSYS (Unix), INFOSYS (VMS) or

_INFOSYS (Prime). See Appendix G, “Controlling Default

Assignments”.

A-66 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix F

INFO Internal Files

This Appendix describes the purposes of and the naming conventions for INFO's internal files. These internal files are created by INFO, as needed, in normal processing.

The format of an INFO internal file name is:

xxxnnnext

or xxxext where:

xxx

represents the 3-letter abbreviation of the INFO user name,

nnn

represents the INFO file's 3-digit directory entry number, and

ext

represents the 3-character extension that designates the type of INFO internal file.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-67

INFO Internal Files

Appendix F

Internal file File name format

Description

Directory File xxxDR9 The directory file contains entries for all data files, programs, reports, input forms, and special forms identified with an INFO user name. Because the directory file contains binary information, the user should not alter it in any way.

One and only one directory file is created for each INFO user name. Directory files associated with the same INFO user name must exist in separate operating system directories.

The user should consider all INFO files associated with an INFO user name

(including its directory file) as a unit when performing operating system functions such as saving and restoring.

Data Records File xxxnnnDAT The data records file contains the data records for a corresponding INFO data file. The data records file contains fixedlength records, each of which conforms to the item format specified when the user DEFINED the corresponding INFO data file.

If an INFO data file has been made

EXTERNAL, its data records file holds only one record; the record contains the complete operating system file name of the

EXTERNAL file.

Because each record of the data records file must be of a specific length, this file must not be edited by the user.

A-68 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix F

INFO Internal Files

Internal file

Data Items File

File name format

Description xxxnnnNIT The data items file contains a description of each item defined or redefined for a corresponding INFO data file. Each item description includes information that can be specified using the commands

ALTER, MODIFY, or DEFINE.

Because this file contains binary information, do not modify it.

Source Files for

Programs, Reports,

Input Forms, and

Special Forms xxxnnnSRC An INFO source file is a sequential file which contains the command statements for a corresponding INFO program, report input form, or special form. You can edit INFO source files using the

CHANGE commands or an operating system editor (if proper format is maintained).

INFO decodes source files into corresponding INFO object files, which are executable. An INFO source file is not used when a corresponding INFO object file is executing, except in the case of an INFO program executed using the RUN command with the LIST option.

Object Files for

Programs, Reports,

Input Forms, and

Special Forms xxxnnnOBJ An INFO object file contains the binary form of a corresponding INFO program, report, input form, or special form. Object files are created by INFO when a nondata file is decoded.

An INFO program, report, input form, or special form must have a corresponding object file in order to execute. If an object file does not exist when you first attempt to execute a program, report, input form, or special form, INFO decodes the

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-69

INFO Internal Files

Internal file

Spool File

Limit File

Index File

(bitmap)

Set File

(bitmap)

Appendix F

File name format

Description corresponding source file and creates the object file, which is then executed.

You must not modify INFO object files.

xxxNSP An INFO spool file is a sequential file containing all the printable output generated (for instance, by PRINT,

REPORT, and so on) since the start of your INFO session, or since the previous

SPOOL (without the SAVE option) command. This file is recreated at the start of each INFO session. Any output information held in the spool file at the start of an INFO session is deleted.

The spool file is not deleted at the end of an INFO session, and can be examined, modified, printed, or deleted outside of

INFO.

xxxnnnLIM The limit file is created when a LIMIT command is in effect. This file can be deleted if its INFO user area is not in use.

The limit file is recreated when the LIMIT command is next used.

xxxnnnNDX The index file contains information that identifies the selected records in a corresponding INFO data file. INFO creates and uses one index file for all ISAM files and each large INFO data file (>16219 records). INFO uses an index file only when its associated data file is selected.

You must not alter the index file in any way.

xxxnnnS## A set file contains information that identifies the records from a selected ISAM file that are referenced in a SET. INFO-Text creates a set file when a RESELECT BY command is used on an Isam file. A set

A-70 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix F

INFO Internal Files

Internal file

Set File (cont’d)

Stack File

Scratch File

Scratch File

Scratch File

File name format

Description xxxSTK xxxXSC file is similar in format to an INFO-Text index file. The file name’s # represents a value between 02 and 16 that corresponds to the number of the set created.

A set file is used only when its corresponding datafile is selected. If a set file is deleted, the corresponding set is deleted as well.

The NEWMAP command deletes all set files associated with the selected Isam datafile.

The stack file stores information about an

INFO program if that program runs another INFO program. The stack file always exists while INFO decodes a program. If it exists at other times, it can be deleted.

This is a temporary file that can be created by any of a number of INFO commands during an INFO session. It is deleted when the command using it terminates. One such scratch file can exist per INFO directory. If it exists and is associated with an INFO user name that is not executing INFO, it can be deleted.

xxxnnnXSC This is a temporary file also, but is specific to one INFO file rather than to the

INFO directory.

xxxnnnSZC This is a temporary file used during a

SORT command. If it exists at any other time, it can be deleted.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-71

INFO Internal Files

Appendix F

Internal file File name format

Description

Scratch File

Concordance File xxxnnnNCO The concordance file contains pointers to all the words in concorded items for extended datafiles. This file is built by the CONCORD command and is used for searching the associated text file using RESELECT command word expressions. If this file is modified outside of INFO-Text, the concordance is broken.

Scratch File xxxnnnSYR This is a temporary file used during a

SORT command. If it exists at any other time, it can be deleted.

xxxnnnNWK This is a temporary file used to hold words during the processing of a CONCORD command. If it exists when a CONCORD is not running, it can be deleted.

Dictionary File

Logical Record xxxnnnNDC The dictionary file contains all the words found in all the concorded items for its associated extended datafile. This file is built by the CONCORD command and should not be modified outside of INFO-

Text.

xxxnnnNLR The LRN file is used to translate the logical record numbers of an extended datafile to its actual physical record numbers.

Concordance entries point to logical record numbers. Under no circumstances should this file be deleted.

A-72 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix G Controlling Default Assignments

When INFO is not in use, INFO's message file stores several pieces of information, called settings, that are available to you when using INFO. You can change a setting by using one of INFO's setting commands. The table below lists the INFO settings that reside in the INFO message file and the INFO command used to change that setting.

There are three different effects possible when you change an INFO setting. You may change the default values of

INFO settings either for system-wide use, for your individual use and retaining the setting values between sessions, or for your current INFO session. Each of these is described below.

System-wide changes

You can change the system-wide default setting values for the settings in the table below by following the steps below. The new default values apply to all INFO users on your system and are retained across all INFO sessions.

n

Attach to the INFOSYS directory n

Invoke INFO with username RE9 n

Enter an appropriate command (ADIR, ARET, etc.) to define the override setting

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-73

Controlling Default Assignments Appendix G

Settings stored in the INFO message file

Setting description

Assign alternate directory

Define automatic return feature

Assign control characters (<KEEP>,

<CLEAR>, <TAB>, <BACKTAB>)

<TRUNCATION>

Define current delimiter character

Define date format

Define current lead-fill character

Define terminal characteristics

Command to set individually

ADIR

ARET

CCHR

DELIMITER

DFMT

LCHAR

TERMINAL

Local permanent changes

Local temporary changes see also

You can change default setting values for your individual use by following the steps below. The new setting values apply to your processing across INFO sessions, but can be changed at any time via another INFO setting command.

n

Copy the INFO message file (MESSAGES) into your directory n

Start up INFO n

Enter an appropriate command to define an override setting that is different from the system default

You can make a temporary change to an INFO setting from within a program or interactive session by entering the appropriate INFO setting command to change a setting. The new setting will apply only for the duration of the session (or until the next command to change the setting).You can change settings temporarily, regardless of which copy of the INFO message file is in use.

Appendix Q CONFIGURATION FILES

A-74 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix H

Topic

Data Delete

Data Entry

Data Retrieval

Data Update

Datafile Create

INFO Reference Manual

INFO Commands by function

Commands Covered

ERASE

ACCEPT

ADDRECS

ADD

CALCULATE

CONCATENATE

EXPAND

PURGE

GET

IMPORT

INPUT FORM

MOVE

SAVE

UPDATE

ASELECT

BOTM

DISPLAY

DSEL

EXPORT

FILL

FIRST

GET

IMPORT

LIST

LIMIT

MERGE

MODE

NEWMAP

NEXT

NSELECT

OUTPUT

ACCEPT

ADD

ATOE

CALCULATE

CCASE

CONCATENATE

ENCODE

EXPAND

GET

JUSTIFY

MOVE

ALTER

DEFINE

EXPORT

POS

PREVIOUS

PRINT

RELATE

RESELECT

RGET

SELECT

SET

SKIP

SORT

SPOOL

TOP

XGET

XRELATE

XRES

XRGET

XSELECT

NMVE

RECASE

REPLACE

SAVE

SCI

SCPY

SHIFT

STRIP

UPDATE

UPF

ITEMS

MODIFY

REDEFINE

Appendices A-75

INFO Commands by function

Datafile Management

Directory Management

Environment

INFO session commands

INFO variables

Program commands

Reporting

Screen handling and display

Appendix H

ALTER

CWID

DEFINE

DIRECTORY

ERASE

ADIR

CHANGE

COMPILE

COPY

DECODE

DEXT

DIRECTORY

EDIT

ADIR

ARET

CCHR

DELIMITER

QUIT

CLEAR

DINT

FORMAT

CHANGE

COMPILE

DECODE

DO....DOEND

DONE

EDIT

END

ERASE

EXECUTE

FC

FORMS CONTROL

LIST

OUTPUT

BOX

CCHR

CURSOR

DICE

ITEMS

MODIFY

MRED

REDEFINE

SELECT

ERASE

EXTERNAL

FILES

GNAME

PROGRAM

RENAME

TAKE

TYPE

DFMT

LCHR

TERMINAL

STOP

INTERNAL

REFORMAT

MODE

FIRST

GOTO

IF....ENDIF

INKEY

LABEL

REMARK

RUN

SLEEP

PRINT

REPORT

SPECIAL FORM

FULL

HALF

UBOX

A-76 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix H

Security

String handling

System Commands

PASSWORD

CCASE

CLAC

ENCODE

EXPAND

JUSTIFY

NMVE

RECASE

.

BROFF

BRON

CATALOG

CNAME

COMINPUT

COMOUTPUT

CPL

CREATE

DAY

DELETE

DIF

DOCDF

DOCIF

DOCRP

DOCSF

DPG

DRP

DSF

ELAPSED

INFO Commands by function

PROTECT

SCI

SCPY

SHIFT

SOUNDEX

SRCH

STRIP

EXST

GETLOG

GTIM

GVGET

GVSET

LOG

MIDAS

MODE SET COND

PHANTOM

PRIF

PRIM

RWLK

SPAWN

STAT UN

SUFFIX

SYSTEM

TIME

USER

WHO

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-77

AVG

AVGN

AW

AY

BF

BREA

BY

CC

CEIL

CLOS

COMP

ABS

ACCE

ACOS

AD

AL

ALL

AND

APPE

AR

ASIN

AT

ATAN

Appendix I

INFO Reserved Words

INFO RESERVED WORDS

This appendix lists all INFO reserved words that are not command names. When defining or renaming a datafile item using the ALTER, DEFINE, MODIFY, or REDEFINE commands, avoid using these reserved words as datafile item names, otherwise, problems may occur when trying to reference the item in an INFO command which uses these words in its syntax.

DUMP

DYNA

EJEC

ELIM

END

FAIL

FAST

FILL

FIM

FLOOR

FOR

COS

COSH

CONT

COPY

COUNT

CREA

DATA

DD

DIM

DIY

DOW

DUMB

MAP

MAX

MAXI

MAXN

MC

MCYY

MESS

MIN

MINN

MINP

MM

FORM

FROM

GRAN

INIT

INTO

ITEM

LIM

LINK

LIST

LN

LONG

LP

OTHE

PACK

PAGE

PARA

PASS

PAUS

PD

PR

PRIN

PROM

PUP

MOD

NC

NEW

NEWM

NODI

NOHE

NOLI

NUME

OFF

ON

OR

ORDE

SMAR

SQRT

STD

STDN

SUM

STOP

SUMM

SUPP

SYST

TABL

TAN

PW

REV8

RO

SAVE

SCRA

SCRE

SECT

SEQU

SIGN

SIN

SINH

SING

TANH

TEXT

TO

TTY

TYPE

UNSO

UNTI

VAR

VARN

VIA

WD

WHIL

WITH

XOR

YY

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-79

Appendix J

ISAM Considerations

Special considerations apply when using ISAM (Indexed

Sequential Access Method) files with INFO. The creation and maintenance of the link to an ISAM file requires special care and effort. You should consider using ISAM files with INFO when circumstances such as these exist: n

You want to access an existing ISAM file.

n

An application requires that multiple users have write access to the file at the same time.

n

Records are added to the file frequently and must be maintained in sequential order.

n

An application requires that records in a large file be accessed quickly by key.

Before reading this chapter, you should be familiar with the relevant ISAM utilities and those INFO commands that reference ISAM files or provide ISAM capability: ALTER,

DEFINE, DIRECTORY, EXTERNAL, FILES, ITEMS,

LIMIT, NEWMAP, PURGE, REDEFINE, RELATE,

RESELECT, SELECT, and SET.

This chapter provides separate discussions about creating the link between INFO and an ISAM file and maintaining the ISAM link once it is established.

Creating the INFO and ISAM Link.

Before you can establish a link between INFO and an

ISAM file, the file must be defined both to the operating system and to INFO. The order in which you do this is not important. You can define the file to INFO before you create the ISAM file under the operating system, or vice versa.

The instructions first describe how to define an ISAM file to INFO and then explain how to create the link between

INFO and the ISAM file at the operating system.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-81

ISAM Considerations

Appendix J

Defining the ISAM file to INFO.

To define the ISAM file to INFO, use the DEFINE command. You must know the data type of each field in the ISAM file. Remember that the ISAM file does not have to exist before you define the file to INFO, but you must ensure that the INFO definition of the file matches the actual file before you can create the link from INFO to the file.

After you define the file, use the ALTER command to define the ISAM key fields. The dialog on the next page shows the command sequence used to alter the item

PRIMARY.KEY in ISAM. EXAMPLE to be a primary key, and data item SECONDARY.KEY to be a secondary key.

Sample ALTER Dialog to Create ISAM keys.

ENTER COMMAND >ITEMS LONG

DATAFILE NAME: ISAM-DF

5 ITEMS: STARTING IN POSITION 1

COL ITEM NAME WDTH OPUT TYP N.DEC PROT KEY OCCRS INDX CNLV CC CN UN

1 PRIMARY.KEY 3 3 C - 4 - - - - - - -

4 SECONDARY.KEY 2 2 C - 4 - - - - - - -

6 DATA1 10 10 C - 4 - - - - - - -

16 DATA2 10 10 C - 4 - - - - - - -

26 SPARES 15 15 C - 4 - - - - - - -

ENTER COMMAND >ALTER PRIMARY KEY

1 PRIMARY.KEY 3 3 C - 4 - - - - - - -

ITEM NAME><R>

ALTERNATE NAME ><R>

ITEM OUTPUT WIDTH ><R>

ITEM TYPE ><R>

ITEM PROT. LEVEL ><R>

ENTER KEY LEVEL >0

ENTER INDEX NUMBER ><R>

1 PRIMARY.KEY 3 3 C - 4 - - - - - - -

A-82 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix J

ISAM Considerations

ENTER COMMAND >ALTER SECONDARY.KEY

4 SECONDARY.KEY 2 2 I - 4 - - - - - - -

ITEM NAME ><R>

ALTERNATE ITEM NAME ><R>

ITEM OUTPUT WIDTH ><R>

ITEM TYPE ><R>

ITEM PROT. LEVEL ><R>

ENTER KEY LEVEL >1

ENTER INDEX NUMBERS ><R>

4 SECONDARY.KEY 2 2 C - 4 D1 - - - - - -

ENTER COMMAND >ITEMS LONG

DATAFILE NAME: ISAM - DF

5 ITEMS: STARTING IN POSITION 1

COL ITEM NAME WDTH OPUT TYP N.DEC PROT KEY OCCRS INDX CNLV CC CN UN

1 PRIMARY.KEY 3 3 C - 4 O - - - - - -

4 SECONDARY.KEY 2 2 I - 4 D1 - - - - - -

6 DATA1 10 10 C - 4 - - - - - - -

16 DATA2 10 10 C - 4 - - - - - - -

26 SPARES 15 15 C - 4 - - - - - - eg.

Linking to an existing ISAM file.

If the ISAM file already exists at the operating system, the

INFO file template may be linked to this by use of the

EXTERNAL command.

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

ENTER COMMAND >EXTERNAL

ENTER COMPLETE FILE NAME OF EXTERNAL FILE

pathname/filename

DATABASE (C/R FOR DEFAULT, LIST FOR OPTIONS)

CI (Unix) OR XI (VMS and Primos)

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF NEWMAP

^ RECORD(S) SELECTED

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-83

ISAM Considerations

Appendix J

Creating an ISAM file at the operating system.

If the ISAM file does not already exist at the operating system level, it is possible to create an empty ISAM template using the INFO file template. The procedure varies according to the operating system.

UNIX

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

ENTER COMMAND >EXTERNAL

ENTER COMPLETE FILE NAME OF EXTERNAL FILE pathname/isam-df

DATABASE (C/R FOR DEFAULT, LIST FOR OPTIONS)>CI

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF (or REL ISAM-DF BY KEY)

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

At this point, two files will have been created in the directory specified in the external pathname (or in the local directory if no pathname was specified): isam-df.idx

isam-df.dat

Note: The ISAM filename at Unix level can have a maximum of 10 characters before the extension; this is a limitation of the C-ISAM file system.

VMS

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

ENTER COMMAND >EXTERNAL

ENTER COMPLETE FILENAME OF EXTERNAL FILE

[pathname]ISAM-DF.ISM

DATABASE (C/R FOR DEFAULT, LIST FOR OPTIONS)>XI

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF (or REL ISAM-DF BY KEY)

CREATING NEW ISAM FILE. OKAY? (Y/N).Y

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

A-84 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix J

ISAM Considerations

At this point, one file will have been created in the directory specified in the external pathname (or in the local directory if no pathname was specified):

ISAM-DF.ISM

N.B The VMS ISAM template will have been created with most parameters set to their default values. If it is required to alter any of these, use the EDIT/FDL utility.

See the appropriate VMS documentation for details.

INFO does not support the following RMS ISAM options: n

Segmented keys. Corresponding key items in the ISAM file and the INFO file template must match exactly.

n

Individual keys that are greater than 64 bytes in length n

Variable length records.

Primos

ENTER COMMAND >SEL ISAM-DF

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

ENTER COMMAND >MIDAS treename filename

*** MIDAS FILE BUILD COMPLETE - FILE NOW BEING

SELECTED! ***

O RECORD(S) SELECTED

At this point one file will have been created in the directory specified in the treename argument in the MIDAS command with the specified filename; if neither argument was supplied, INFO will have created an empty MIDAS template in the local directory with the same name as the

INFO file template, i.e. ISAM-DF

Maintaining the ISAM link.

Once the link from INFO to an ISAM file has been established, you can begin to access the file from INFO.

The first time you select the ISAM file , INFO creates a file of primary key values, called a bitmap. For more information about bitmap files, see APPENDIX F, INFO

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-85

ISAM Considerations

Appendix J

Internal Files. INFO uses the bitmap to access the file, as described below.

When you issue a SORT command on an ISAM file, INFO reorders your bitmap according to the SORT criteria. It does not change the organisation of the ISAM file itself.

When you access records in an ISAM file by key items, you can create record sets. More information about how to do this is provided below.

You can add records to an ISAM file through INFO, using the ADD command or an input form or with RELATE FILL.

When you select or relate an ISAM file that you only want to read, such as with REPORT or match processing in an input form, you should always use the RO (read-only) option with the command.

ISAM file records may become locked during processing when another user is using a record when you request it.

INFO provides the system variables $LOCK0 through

$LOCK9 and $LOCK-QUESTION to allow you to control whether or not INFO attempts again to access a locked record. See Appendix D, System Items for a detailed discussion of these system items.

The rest of this discussion provides details of bitmap, set, and related files processing, and information about using

ISAM files in INFO programs.

Bitmap Processing.

As stated above, when you first select an ISAM file, INFO builds a bitmap containing an entry for each record in the file. This bitmap is created for your sign-on user name.

Each time you select the file subsequently, you can only access those records that have entries in you bitmap for the file. You are responsible for maintaining your copy of the bitmap, as described below.

A-86 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix J

ISAM Considerations

When records are added, modified, or deleted from the file, the following conditions determine whether or not your bitmap is updated to reflect the changes: n

If you add records using the ADD command or an input form, or delete records from the file using the PURGE command, INFO updates your bitmap to reflect the added or deleted records. Be aware that other INFO users may be modifying the same file concurrently. In that case, you must recreate you bitmap following the completion of all updating so that it reflects all changes made to the file.

n

If you change key data items, INFO deletes the record and adds a new record with the new key data value. Your bitmap is updated to reflect the change.

n

When you use an UPDATE BY command that specifies a key field, INFO ignores your bitmap and updates the file directly. You can use this command to bypass bitmap processing when you need to update records quickly.

n

If another INFO user, or program outside of INFO adds or deletes records from, your bitmap does not reflect these changes until you recreate your bitmap.

To recreate your bitmap for an ISAM file, you can use the

SELECT, or NEWMAP commands. See the discussion of each command, in this manual, for detailed information about how each command causes the bitmap to be recreated, then decide which method is most appropriate for your processing circumstances.

Please note that in most circumstances, it is more efficient to SELECT an ISAM file with the DYNAMIC option rather than with NEWMAP: this is because the NEWMAP option will direct INFO to immediately make a complete pass through the ISAM file and build a new bitmap, whereas the

DYNAMIC option will cause the bitmap to be created as the file is processed.

Set Processing

When you select a file, INFO includes each record in the file in your selected record set. This initial selected set is

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-87

ISAM Considerations

Appendix J

called SET 1 for the file. You can establish up to 16 sets for the file, as described below. Each set represents an alternative bitmap that reflects different selection criteria for records in the file. When you establish a set, INFO displays the number assigned to the set. Set numbers are assigned in sequential order (Set 2, then Set 3, and so on).

The current set number is held in the System Item

$MSET.

Each time you specify a primary or secondary ISAM key item in a RESELECT BY command, INFO processes the entire ISAM file. Subsequent RESELECT BY commands with different selection criteria create alternative sets of records.

To return to a previously selected set of records, specify the desired set number in a SET command request. If you select another file during the RESELECT BY command sequence, the sets that you have established are unavailable until you select the ISAM file again. INFO maintains a record of the sets created so that you can reference them again the next time you select the ISAM file. Any time you recreate your bitmap, however, INFO deletes any existing sets for the file.

Relating File Processing.

After you select an ISAM file, you can relate other INFO datafiles to it by any data item in the file. If you want to relate to an ISAM file, you must relate by a key field and specify either no options, the FILL or TABLE options, or the RO (read-only) option. You cannot use any other

RELATE options when relating an ISAM file.

When you relate an ISAM file, INFO ignores the bitmap and accesses all the records in the ISAM file directory.

When you specify the FILL option, you can only add a record if its key field data does not already exist in the file; if it does, INFO will position to that related ISAM record.

Using ISAM Files in Programs.

When you access an ISAM file in an INFO program, minimize the number of write requests to the file. To do this, you should perform any MOVE or CALCULATE logic to ISAM file records in an even-numbered program section. INFO writes each record only once at the end of

A-88 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

`

Appendix J

$NOSEL

$SETMAX

$SETMIN

ISAM Considerations

an even-numbered section, regardless of the number of

MOVE and CALCULATE commands executed on the record in the section. If you move or calculate to ISAM records in an odd-numbered program section, INFO writes each record in the datafile for each command. That is,

INFO makes a complete pass through the file for each command.

System Items

The following System Items behave differently when used in conjunction with ISAM files: if the ISAM file is selected with the DYNAMIC option,

$NOSEL is initially set to 0, and is incremented as records are read.

if the ISAM file is processed by the LIMIT command, INFO will read the file until it either finds a record that matches the condition or reaches end of file; if the former, $NOSEL is set to 1 and incremented when any other records meeting the LIMIT condition are read by the next active command; if the latter, $NOSEL is set to 0.

as for $NOSEL always set to 1 when ISAM file is selected DYNAMIC or

NEWMAP or processed by the LIMIT command.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-89

Appendix K

$CHECK-NOMATCH

Record Matching

This control variable allows users to change default processing with regard to tests on related file item values of blank, (for characters), and zero (for numerics).

Its scope covers tree-structured relates: when used in condition testing: and, when there is a 'nomatch' condition, whether to attempt a file position on a dependant related file, or to simply return 'nomatch' on this file as well.

$CHECK-NOMATCH IF or DO related file check:

Zero for numerics

Blank for characters

Pass/Fail test when

‘nomatch’

0

1 fail pass

2

3 fail pass

Tree Structured positioning:

Where ‘nomatch’ in parent attempt position in target file yes no no yes

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-91

Record Matching

Appendix K

Examples - Matching on Tree-Related Files

EMPLOYEE

Name Emp-

Num

Joe

Sue

Sam

001

002

PREVIOUS-POSTS

Emp-Num Job

001

001

001

CL

LT

RM

002

002 TA

<no records for 000>

JOB-DESCRIPTION

Job

CL

JUG

KP

LT

RM

Job-Desc

Not Classified

Clown

Juggler

Kitchen Porter

Lion Tamer

Ring Master

A tree-related structure is set up in the following program using the above files and changing value of $CHECK-NOMATCH and its effects on matching are shown:

$CHECK-NOMATCH = #

SELECT EMPLOYEE

(where # = 0, 1, 2, or 3)

RELATE PREVIOUS-POSTS 1 BY EMP-NUM

RELATE JOB-DESCRIPTION 2 BY $1JOB

NEXT 1

A-92 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix K

Record Matching

Joe

Joe

Joe

Sue

Sue

Sam

$CHECK-NOMATCH = 0

DISPLAY NAME,$1JOB,$2JOB-DESC

CL

LT

Clown

Lion Tamer

RM Ring Master

Not Classified

TA

Not Classified

Joe

Joe

Joe

Sue

Sue

Sam

$CHECK-NOMATCH = 1

DISPLAY NAME,$1JOB,$2JOB-DESC

CL

LT

Clown

Lion Tamer

RM Ring Master

Not Classified

TA

Joe

Joe

Joe

Sue

Sue

Sam

$CHECK-NOMATCH = 2

DISPLAY NAME,$1JOB,$2JOB-DESC

CL Clown

LT Lion Tamer

RM Ring Master

Not Classified

TA

$CHECK-NOMATCH = 3

DISPLAY NAME,$1JOB,$2JOB-DESC

Joe

Joe

Joe

Sue

Sue

Sam

CL

LT

Clown

Lion Tamer

RM Ring Master

Not Classified

TA

Not Classified

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-93

Record Matching

Appendix K

Examples - Condition Testing for a Match

The examples below use the same data to illustrate the effect of the new settings of $CHECK-NOMATCH on condition Testing:

First Related File

$CHECK-NOMATCH = #

(where # = 0, 1, 2 or 3)

SELECT EMPLOYEE

RELATE PREVIOUS-POSTS 1 BY EMP-NUM

RELATE JOB-DESCRIPTION 2 BY $1JOB

.

PROGRAM SECTION TWO

IF $1JOB = ' '

DISPLAY 'Nomatch = ',$CHECK-NOMATCH,NAME,$1JOB,$2JOB-DESC

ENDIF

NEXT 1

Nomatch = 0

Nomatch = 1

Nomatch = 1

Nomatch = 2

Nomatch = 3

Nomatch = 3

Sue

Sue

Sam

Sue

Sue

Sam

Not Classified

Not Classified

Not Classified

Not Classified

Not Classified

A-94 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix K

Record Matching

Second Related File

$CHECK-NOMATCH = #

SELECT EMPLOYEE

(where # = 0, 1, 2 or 3)

RELATE PREVIOUS-POSTS 1 BY EMP-NUM

RELATE JOB-DESCRIPTION 2 BY $1JOB

.

PROGRAM SECTION TWO

IF $2JOB = ' '

ENDIF

DISPLAY 'Nomatch = ',$CHECK-NOMATCH,NAME,$1JOB,$2JOB-DESC

NEXT 1

Nomatch = 0

Nomatch = 1

Nomatch = 1

Nomatch = 1

Nomatch = 2

Nomatch = 3

Nomatch = 3

Nomatch = 3

Sue

Sue

Sue

Sam

Sue

Sue

Sue

Sam

TA

TA

Not Classified

Not Classified

Not Classified

Not Classified

Not Classified

Compatibility with Earlier Revisions of INFO

To emulate pre-revision 9.6 processing as much as possible, $CHECK-NO-MATCH should be set to 3.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-95

-

Appendix L

Unary minus

Functions

Arithmetic, statistical & date functions.

In the following examples, the system variable $NUM1 is used to hold the value returned from the function and is formatted as 8,20,F,12 : i.e. floating point, 8 bytes wide on input, 20 bytes wide on output, with 12 decimal places.

Where numeric literals are used in the examples, system variables, system items and datafile items may also be used. $PI is an INFO system item containing the value for

π

, correct to 12 decimal places, i.e. 3.141592653589.

Negates the following operand.

e.g.

$NUM1 = -39

$NUM39 will be set to -39 (i.e. minus 39)

**

Exponentiation

*

Multiplication

The left operand is calculated to the power of the right operand. The left operand must be positive.

e.g.

$NUM1 = 39 ** 3

$NUM1 will be set to 59,319 ( i.e. 39 cubed ) e.g.

$NUM1 = 39 ** 0.5

$NUM1 will be set to 6.244997998398, i.e. the square root of 39; this is synonymous with the function SQRT (see below).

e.g.

$NUM1 = 39 ** 0.333333333333333 ( i.e. 0.3 recurring)

$NUM1 will be set to 3.391211443014 ( i.e. the cube root of 39 )

The left and right operands are multiplied.

e.g.

$NUM1 = 39 * 3

$NUM1 will be set to 117

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-97

Functions

Appendix L

/

Division

The left operand is divided by the value of the right operand.

e.g.

$NUM1 = 39 / 3

$NUM1 will be set to 13

+

Addition

The left and right operands are added together.

e.g

$NUM1 = 39 + 3

$NUM1 will be set to 42

-

Subtraction

The right operand is subtracted from the left operand.

e.g.

$NUM1 = 39 - 3

Calculates the width of the operand, excluding trailing blanks. The operand must be defined as character (type

C).

$NUM1 will be set to 36

WD

Width computation

e.g.

$CHR10 = ‘ AB C ’

$NUM1 = WD $CHR10

$NUM1 will be set to 4

LN Natural Log Calculates the natural logarithm of the operand. The operand must be defined as numeric and must be positive.

e.g.

$NUM1 = LN 39

$NUM1 will be set to 3.663561646130

MOD Remainder Calculates the remainder after the operand is divided by the divisor.

e.g. $NUM1 = 39 mod 5

$NUM1 will be set to 4

A-98 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix L

LOG10

Base 10 Log

SIN

Sine

COS

Cosine

TAN

Tangent

Functions

Calculates the base 10 logarithm of the operand.

The operand must be defined as numeric and must be positive.

e.g.

$NUM1 = LOG10 39

$NUM1 will be set to 1.591064607026

Calculates the sine of the given angle. The operand should be in radians : if the argument is in degrees, it should be converted to radians by multiplying it by $PI /

180.

e.g.

to calculate the sine of 30

°

$NUM1 = SIN ( 30 * $PI / 180 )

$NUM1 will be set to 0.50

Calculates the consine of the given angle.

The operand should be in radians : if the argument is in degrees, it should be onverted to radians by multiplying it by $PI / 180.

e.g.

to calculate the cosine of 30

°

$NUM1 = COS ( 30 * $PI / 180 )

$NUM1 will be set to 0.866025403784

Calculates the tangent of the given angle.

The operand should be in radians : if the argument is in degrees, it should be converted to radians by multiplying it by $PI / 180.

e.g.

to calculate the tangent of 30

°

$NUM1 = TAN ( 30 * $PI / 180 )

$NUM1 will be set to 0.577350269190

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-99

Functions

ASIN

Arcsine

ACOS

Arccosine

ATAN

Arctangent

Appendix L

Calculates the arcsine of a given operand. The operand is the sine of the required angle and must be in the range -1 to 1. The returned angle is given in radians : to convert to degrees, multiply the result by $PI / 180.

e.g.

$NUM1 = ASIN 0.5

$NUM1 will be set to 0.523598775598, the value in radians to convert the result to degrees :

$NUM3 = $NUM1 * 180 / $PI

$NUM3 will be set to 30, the value in degrees

Calculates the arccosine of a given operand. The operand is the. cosine of the required angle and must be in the range -1 to 1. The returned angle is given in radians to convert to degrees, multiply the result by $PI / 180.

e.g.

$NUM1 = ACOS 0.866025403784

$NUM1 will be set to 0.523598775599, the value in radians to convert the result to degrees :

$NUM3 = $NUM3 * 180 / $PI

$NUM1 will be set to 30, the value in degrees

Calculates the arctangent of a given operand. The operand is the tangent of the required angle. The returned angle is given in radians : to convert to degrees, multiply the result by $PI / 180.

e.g.

$NUM1 = ATAN 0.577350269190

$NUM1 will be set to 0.523598775599, the value in radians to convert the result to degrees :

$NUM3 = $NUM1 * 180 / $PI

$NUM3 will be set to 30, the value in degrees

A-100 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix L

Functions

SINH

Hyperbolic sine

Calculates the hyperbolic sine of a given operand where the operand is any real number.

e.g.

$NUM1 = SINH 4

$NUM1 will be set to 27.289917197128

COSH

Calculates the hyperbolic cosine of a given operand,where

Hyperbolic cosine

the operand is any real number.

e.g.

$NUM1 = COSH 4

$NUM1 will be set to 27.308232836016

TANH

Calculates the hyperbolic tangent of a given operand,

Hyperbolic tangent where the operand is any real number.

e.g.

$NUM1 = TANH 4

$NUM1 will be set to 0.999329299739

ABS

Absolute value

CEIL

Ceiling

FLOOR

Floor

Calculates the absolute value of a given operand, where the operand is any real number.

e.g.

$NUM1 = ABS -39

$NUM1 will be set to 39

Calculates the operand rounded up, away from zero, to the nearest multiple of significance, where the operand is any real number.

e.g. $NUM1 = CEIL 39.5,1

$NUM1 will be set to 40 e.g. $NUM1 = CEIL 39.5,9

$NUM1 will be set to 45

Calculates the operand rounded down, toward zero, to the nearest multiple of significance, where the operand is any real number.

e.g. $NUM1 = FLOOR 39.5,1

$NUM1 will be set to 39 e.g. $NUM1 = FLOOR 39.5,9

$NUM1 will be set to 36

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-101

Functions

SQRT

Square root

SIGN

Sign

AVG

Average

Appendix L

Calculates the square root of the operand, where the operand is any positive number.

e.g. $NUM1 = SQRT 39

$NUM1 will be set to 6.244997998398

e.g.

$NUM1 = SQRT 1E+08

$NUM1 will be set to 10,000 e.g. $NUM1 = SQRT 1D-08

$NUM1 will be set to 0.0001

Determines the sign of a given operand. Returns 1 if the operand is positive, 0 if the operand is zero and -1 if the operand is negative.

e.g.

$NUM1 = SIGN 39

$NUM1 will be set to 1 e.g.

$NUM1 = SIGN 0

$NUM1 will be set to 0 e.g.

$NUM1 = SIGN -39

$NUM1 will be set to -1

The following functions are group functions and operate on a specified item in the current working set. In the following examples, there are 6 records in the working set : the values of an integer item called STOCK are 39, 42, 17,

22, -7, -228.

Calculates the average (arithmetic mean) of the values of a specified datafile item.

e.g.

$NUM1 = AVG STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to -19.166666666667

A-102 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix L

Functions

COUNT

Count

Calculates the number of occurrences of the specified datafile item. Synonymous with the INFO system item $NOSEL.

e.g.

$NUM1 = COUNT STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 6

MAX

Maximum

MIN

Minimum

SUM

Sum

VAR

Variance

Returns the maximum value of the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g.

$NUM1 = MAX STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 42

Returns the minimum value of the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g.

$NUM1 = MIN STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to -228

Calculates the sum of all the values of the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g.

$NUM1 = SUM STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to -115

Calculates the variance based on the entire population of values in the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g.

$NUM1 = VAR STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 8981.138888888889

STD

Calculates the standard deviation based on the entire

Standard deviation population of values in the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g.

$NUM1 = STD STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 94.768870885375

The following group functions ignore values of zero :

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-103

Functions

Appendix L

AVGN

Average

MAXN

Maximum

MINN

Minimum

Calculates the average (arithmetic mean) of the values of a specified data item, ignoring any zero values.

e.g.

If the values of STOCK were 1, 2, 0, 3 :

$NUM1 = AVGN STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 2 rather than 1.5

Returns the maximum value of the specified datafile item in the current working set, ignoring zero values.

e.g.

If the values of STOCK were -1, -2, 0, -3 :

$NUM1 = MAXN STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to -1 rather than 0

Returns the minimum value of the specified datafile item in the current working set, ignoring zero values.

e.g.

If the values of STOCK were 1, 2, 0, 3 :

$NUM1 = MINN STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 1 rather than 0

MINP

Returns the minimum positve value, ignoring zero values,

Minimum positive of the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g.

If the values of STOCK were -5, -3, 0, 2, 8 :

$NUM1 = MINP STOCK

VARN

Variance

$NUM1 will be set to 2 rather than -5

Calculates the variance based on the entire population of values (apart from zero values) in the spcified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g. If the values of STOCK were 1, 2, 0, 3 :

$NUM1 = VARN STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 0.66 recurring rather than

1.25

A-104 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix L

Functions

STDN

Calculates the standard deviation based on the entire

Standard deviation population of values (apart from zero values) in the specified datafile item in the current working set.

e.g

If the values of STOCK were 1, 2, 0, 3 :

$NUM1 = STDN STOCK

$NUM1 will be set to 0.816496580928 rather than 1.118033988750

In the following examples, $DAT40 is set to the date

02/17/1996 and $DAT20 is set to 03/31/1996 : the system item $ZDATE is set to 1 so that days and months less than 10 are displayed with a leading zero.

DD

Day of month

MM

Month

MCYY

Full year

Extracts the day of the specified date e.g. $NUM1 = DD $DAT40

$NUM1 will be set to 17

Extracts the month of the specified date e.g.

$NUM1 = MM $DAT40

$NUM1 will be set to 2

Extracts the full YYYY component of the specified date e.g.

$NUM1 = MCYY $DAT40

MC

Century

YY

Year

DIY

Day in year

$NUM1 will be set to 1996

Extracts the millennium and century of the specified date.

e.g.

$NUM1 = MC $DAT40

$NUM1 will be set to 19

Extracts the decade and year of the specified date.

e.g.

$NUM1 = YY $DAT40

$NUM1 will be set to 96

Returns the day of the specified date as a value between 1 and 366.

e.g.

$NUM1 = DIY $DAT40

$NUM1 will be set to 48

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-105

Functions

Appendix L

DIM

Days in month

Returns the number of days in the month of the specified date e.g.

$NUM1 = DIM $DAT40

$NUM1 will be set to 29

FIM

Returns an INFO date set to the first day of the month in

First day in month

the specified date.

e.g.

$DAT39 = FIM $DAT40

$DAT39 will be set to 02/01/1996

LIM

Returns an INFO date set to the last day of the month in

Last day in month

the specified date.

e.g.

$DAT39 = LIM $DAT40

$DAT39 will be set to 02/29/1996

DOW

Day of week

DD+ #

Add # days

Returns the day of the specified date as a value between 1 and 7, with Monday being 1 and Sunday being 7.

e.g.

$NUM1 = DOW $DAT40

$NUM1 = 6 i.e. Saturday

Returns an INFO date with # days added to the specified date.

e.g.

$DAT39 = $DAT40 DD+ 12

$DAT39 will be set to 02/29/1996 note: this result may also be achieved by the following command :

$DAT39 = $DAT40 + 12

A-106 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix L

Functions

DD- #

Returns an INFO date with # days subtracted from the

Subtract # days

specified date.

e.g.

$DAT39 = $DAT40 DD- 17

$DAT39 will be set to 01/31/1996 note: this result may also be achieved by the following command :

$DAT39 = $DAT40 - 17

MM+ #

Add # months

Returns an INFO date with # months added to the specified date.

e.g.

$DAT39 = $DAT20 MM+ 3

$DAT39 will be set to 06/30/1996 note: if the specified date has a higher day number than the month of the target date, the target date will be set to the last day of thatmonth.

MM- #

Returns an INFO date with # months subtracted from the

Subtract # months specified date.

YY+ #

Add # years

e.g. $DAT39 = $DAT20 MM- 3

$DAT39 will be set to 06/30/1996 note: if the specified date has a higher day number than the month ofthe target date, the target date will be set to the last day of thatmonth.

Returns an INFO date with # years added to the specified date.

e.g. $DAT39 = $DAT40 YY+ 4

$DAT39 will be set to 02/17/2000

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-107

Functions

Appendix L

note: Leap years are accounted for : e.g.

$DAT22 = 02/29/1996

$DAT39 = $DAT22 YY+ 1

$DAT39 will be set to 02/28/1997

$DAT39 = $DAT22 YY+ 4

$DAT39 will be set to 02/29/2000

YY- #

Returns an INFO date with # years subtracted from the

Subtract # years

specified date.

e.g.

$DAT39 = $DAT40 YY- 4

$DAT39 will be set to 02/17/1992 note: Leap years are accounted for : e.g.

$DAT22 = 02/29/1996

$DAT39 = $DAT22 YY- 1

$DAT39 will be set to 02/28/1995

$DAT39 = $DAT22 YY- 96

$DAT39 will be set to 02/28/1900

A-108 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix M

The

HLPFULHLP file

Using The Help Facility

INFO's Help Facility is designed so that you can extend it to suit your needs. This section describes the format to use when adding your own files to INFO's Help Facility.

INFO determines whether a given help topic is available by searching a special file called HLPFULHLP, found in the INFOSYS directory. The HLPFULHLP file contains one record for each help topic supported by INFO.

HLPFULHLP contains only ASCII character information.

The first 12 characters of each HLPFULHLP record contain the name by which that particular help topic is referenced. The next 2 characters describe the length of the minimum abbreviation for the topic name (an integer).

The next 2 characters describe the number of words in the topic name. The rest of each HLPFULHLP record contains the full pathname of the file in which the help text itself is stored. These file names end with 'HLP'. Below is an example of the layout of the HLPFULHLP file.

INPUT FORM

IPF

GET

03

03

03

2

1

1

INPUT

INPUT

GET

The records in the HLPFULHLP file do not have to be in sorted order.

Once INFO has found a specified help topic in the

HLPFULHLP file, it searches for the appropriate file in your current directory. If the file does not exist there,

INFO searches for it in the directory specified in your current ADIR setting. INFO's default help files are in the

INFOSYS directory. Note that when the current ADIR setting is not INFOSYS, the Help Facility does not operate correctly.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-109

Using The Help Facility

Appendix M

Format of a help file

$SUBT subtopic name

$OVRV

$WAIT question string

$ST subtopic

$END

Each help file in the Help Facility contains special control commands to tell INFO how many subtopics exist for that help topic and where each subtopic text segment begins and ends. The control records and their formats are as follows:

Defines the subtopics available in a specified help topic.

The length of the subtopic name is limited to 40 characters. You can include more than one $SUBT control command in one help file. $SUBT control commands must precede $ST control commands in a help file.

Indicates the beginning of the overview section of a help file. The text in this section of a help file is shown when you do not specify a subtopic on the HELP command line.

Indicates that INFO should pause and ask if you want more help. If you have specified a question in the $WAIT control command, INFO uses this question to prompt you

Otherwise, it uses the default message NEED MORE

HELP (Y OR N) as each screenful of help text is displayed

If you respond Y, INFO displays another page of help text.

If you respond N, INFO ends the help session.

Indicates the beginning of a subtopic text segment and the end of the previous one. If you specify both a help topic and a subtopic, the specified help file is searched until a control record with the specified subtopic name is found.

INFO then lists that portion of the help file until it finds another subtopic control record or reaches an $END control record. A corresponding $SUBTOPIC control record must precede a given $ST control record; if the

$SUBTOPIC control record is not found, INFO displays a

NO HELP AVAILABLE... message.

Indicates the end of a help file.

A-110 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix M

Using The Help Facility

Sample help file

An individual help file might look something like this:

$OVRV

Jogging with INFO.

PURPOSE: To become productive at work while using the INFO data management system.

$SUBT FUN

$SUBT EFFICIENT

$SUBT FAST

$ST FUN

Fun Jogging with INFO

It is fun to include INFO in your daily exercise regimen.

.

.

.

$ST EFFICIENT

Efficient Jogging with INFO

You can gain efficiency by including INFO in your daily exercise regimen.

.

.

.

$ST FAST

Running Fast with INFO

You can take off with INFO.

$WAIT Do you really want to read more of this?

.

.

.

$END

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-111

Appendix N

Setup

UNIX

VMS

Application Mode

Application Mode allows any number of users to point to and share the same INFO application; only one copy of the INF0 DR9 with all its associated programs, datafiles and forms is required. By default any sorting will be performed in the user’s area, ISAM sets and bitmaps will be created locally and each user will have their own local copy of the NSP file. If required, other local user work files or temporary files may be set up prior to invoking

INFO. See Impact of Application Mode on INFO

Commands, for fuller explanation.

note Concurrency coding is still required.

Application Mode will simplify the set up and maintenance of multi-user INFO applications. It should be considered as a simpler, more efficient alternative to the ADIR model.

This mode of operation and set up, controlled by the use of external variables, enables a user to enter an INFO application anywhere without moving from the current directory. In the following examples, AIRPORT is the name of the directory containing the INFO application and the INFO username is DEM.

Method 1

Set up a 3 character-named external variable preceded by an underscore (Unix) or dot (VMS and Primos) containing the full pathname of an INFO application area. The name of the external variable must match the 3-character system item $SHORT-NAME (from now on referred to as the INFO username) for that application.

_dem=/airport;export _dem (for bourne or korn shells)

or

setenv _dem /airport (for c shell)

note you must precede the environment variable with “_”

DEFINE

.

DEM DUB5:[AIRPORT]

note

you must precede the logical with “

.

”

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-113

Application Mode

PRIMOS

Appendix N

SET_VAR

.

DEM AIRPORT

note

you must precede the global variable with “

.

”

When this external variable is entered at the prompt:

ENTER USER NAME>dem or when part of the QUIT command:

ENTER COMMAND>QUIT dem

Setup

UNIX

VMS

PRIMOS

INFO checks to see if dem is an external variable and, if so, expands it : the user is taken into the INFO application area airport with the INFO username of dem. The user’s current attach-point directory remains the same throughout.

Method 2

Set up a 3-8-character named external variable containing the full pathname of the <DR9> file for an application area.

_GOTODEMO=/airport/demdr9;export _GOTODEMO

(bourne or korn shells) or setenv _GOTODEMO /airport/demdr9 (c-shell)

note

the environment variable must be preceded by “_”

Under UNIX, environment variables you set up are case sensitive; for example, the above environment variable

GOTODEMO would have to be entered in upper case.

DEFINE

.

GOTODEMO DUB5:[AIRPORT]DEM.DR9

note

the logical must be preceded by “

.

”

SET_VAR

.

GOTODEMO AIRPORT>DEMDR9

note

the global variable must be preceded by “

.

”

When this external variable is entered at the prompt:

A-114 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix N

Usage

Application Mode

ENTER USER NAME>GOTODEMO or using the QUIT command:

ENTER COMMAND>QUIT GOTODEMO

INFO expands the external variable GOTODEMO and the user is taken into the INFO application area airport with the username of dem. The user’s current attach point or ‘local area’ remains, once again, the same.

Method 1

At the ENTER USER NAME> (as above), to enter an application area.

Method 2

With the QUIT command option, to enter another application area without exiting INFO, e.g.

QUIT GOTODEMO where GOTODEMO is an external variable containing a

<DR9> pathname.

Method 3

With the QUIT command option, to run a program in an application area, either interactively or by program, e.g.

QUIT GOTODEMO MAIN.PG

where GOTODEMO is an external variable containing a

<DR9> pathname and MAIN.PG is the name of a program in the application area.

note If a PROFILE program exists in the INFO application, it will be run before MAIN.PG

Method 4

In conjunction with the system item $PARAMETERS, to pass parameters between application areas :

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-115

Application Mode

e.g.

FORMAT $CHR1,16

$CHR1 = ‘GREETINGS’

$PARAMETERS = $USER-BUFF

QUIT GOTODEMO

Appendix N

where $USER-BUFF is the system item which is a redefinition of the entire 320-byte internal variable buffer.

now in application area: user DEM in directory AIRPORT :

FORMAT $CHR1,16

$USER-BUFF = $PARAMETERS

DISPLAY ‘$CHR1 = ’,$CHR1 the displayed output would be :

$CHR1 = GREETINGS

IMPACT OF APPLICATION MODE ON INFO COMMANDS

INFO Commands Impact

INFO configuration looks in local area, then the application area, then in the file infosys directory.

ADD

COMPILE

CREATE

DEFINE will look in the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

looks for the <src> file in the application area, then in the local area. If invoked in the local area it will write the object file back to the application area.

creates a sub-directory in the local area.

writes the new <dat> and <nit> files in the application area.

A-116 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

EXST

EXTERNAL

GET

LOG

OUTPUT

PROGRAM

PURGE

RELATE

DELETE

DIF

DOCDF

DOCRP

DOCSF

DPG

DRP

DSF

EDIT

Appendix N

RGET

Application Mode

deletes the file or sub-directory from the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

creates the file in the local area.

same as DIF same as DIF same as DIF same as DIF same as DIF same as DIF looks for the <src> file in the application area, then in the local area. If invoked in the local area it will write the source file back to the application area upon leaving the editor.

looks in the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

will look in the local area first, then in the application area, unless a pathname is specified.

will look in the local area first, then in the application area unless a pathname is specified.

creates the log file in the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

creates the output file in the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

puts the <src> file in the application area.

re-creates the file in its resident area, with its protection privileges as they were.

looks for the <dat> and <nit> files in the application area first and then in the local area, unless the file is externalled.

same as GET

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-117

Application Mode

RUN

SAVE

SELECT

SORT

SPOOL

SUFFIX

TYPE

XGET

XPRG

XRGET

Implications

Appendix N

looks for the <obj> file in the application area, then in the local area.

creates the file in the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

looks for the <dat> and <nit> files in the application area first, and then in the local area, unless the file is externalled. For Isam files, all sets and bitmaps are created locally.

all temporary work files are created in the local area. If the file being sorted is a fixed-length INFO file (i.e.non-

Isam) the sorted data will be written back to its original area; if more than one user sorts the file at the same time then, depending on the read-write access, the second user will either receive READ ONLY ACCESS and be unable to sort, or will overwrite the first user’s result. If the file being sorted is an Isam file, it is the INFO bitmap which is sorted and this is local to each user.

spools the files in the local area, unless a pathname is specified.

looks in the local area.

looks for <src> file in the application area, then in the local area.

same as GET same as PURGE same as RGET

Application Mode should be considered as a simpler, more efficient alternative to the ADIR model. It is inadvisable to combine the two approaches to multi-user applications development.

Because a number of users will be using the same <DR9> file it is important to remove read-write restrictions from this file so that multiple users can share the same <DR9> for an application.

A-118 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix N

Application Mode

The system item $APPLICATION-MODE will be set to 1 if the user entered an INFO directory in Application Mode; this may be tested in programs or interactively.

User work files are temporary in nature and are often purged prior to being used. Under Application Mode “user work files” are best created as local externals. INFO will always look for external files in the user’s local area

(attach point) first, unless a pathname is specified. Work files might be used for summarizing data prior to running a report.

For example, if an application includes a “user work file” called SUMMARY-FILE, which each user requires, then it should be externalled as a local file, perhaps with the same name for clarity. When a user area is set up , an empty SUMMARY-FILE should be present at the operating system level before the user invokes INFO.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-119

Appendix O

External Variables

INFO system external variables

The following external variables, some of which are set when INFO is installed, are used by INFO for such basic functions as picking up INFO’s system files, editing and spooling. These variables may be set by the system administrator or user as required.

INFO will resolve the following external variables:-

UNIX environment variables

_INFOSYS

_INFOARG

_INFOEDIT

_INFOEXT

_INFOSPL

_INFOSPLEX this tells INFO where the infosys directory is and is set up at installation time. The INFO-Text equivalent is

_TEXTSYS may contain any of the INFO run-time options (see

Introduction, Starting INFO, INFO invoking options). Any options on the command line will take precedence over those set in _INFOARG. If the -f option is set in

_INFOARG, then the output filename must be specified on the command line: example: setenv _INFOARG “-e –n –u abc –f” info965 >infologfile this tells INFO which external editor to use when invoking the INFO EDIT command. If it is not set, the default editor is vi.

this is used in conjunction with _INFOEDIT and specifies the extensions that are to be applied to the external editor’s command line invocation.

when set to a command, will replace the default unix command lpr which is used by INFO for spooling.

used in conjunction with _INFOSPL, it can be set to any filter commands that come after the filename.

_SORTPATH set to the scratch area for SORT when creating temporary files. If not set, the default is /tmp

VMS Logicals

INFOSYS this tells INFO where the INFOSYS directory is and is set up at installation time. The INFO-Text equivalent is

TEXTSYS.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-121

External Variables

Appendix O

INFO9CMD

INFO###SHR if set, tells INFO to use the INFO commands file

(INFO9.CMD) in the specified directory. If it is not set, the default is the directory specified in the logical INFOSYS. this will be created at installation time if INFO is installed as a shared image. The INFO-Text equivalent is

TEXT###SHR (### refers to the INFO revision number)

.

INFOEDIT this tells INFO which external editor to use when invoking the INFO EDIT command. If it is not set, the default editor will be the one defined by the VMS symbol EDIT.

.

INFOEXT this is used in conjunction with the extensions that are to be applied to the external editor’s command line invocation.

.

INFOEDIT and specifies

PRIMOS Global Variables

INFOSYS this tells INFO where the INFOSYS directory is and is set up at installation time. The INFO-Text equivalent is

TEXTSYS.

.

INFOEDIT this tells INFO which external editor to use when invoking the INFO EDIT command. If it is not set, the default editor is ED.

.

INFOEXT this is used in conjunction with

.

INFOEDIT and specifies the extensions that are to be applied to the external editor’s command line invocation.

User-defined external variables

External variables may be used as all or part of the

file_path in external INFO datafiles; if used, the external variable should be enclosed by the ‘%’ character. The external variable is expanded when the datafile is selected or related. One great advantage of this is that if there are several sets of data in the same format, only one INFO template is required to link into any one of them.

A-122 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix O

External Variables

e.g. If there are 12 accounting files, one for each month of the year, called jan-acc, feb-acc,mar-acc,...dec-acc, all resident in a directory called /home/accounts/data/, then the INFO datafile ACCOUNTS could be externalled as :

/home/accounts/data/%mth_acc%

where the external variable mth_acc is set, via the INFO command GVSET, to the required filename at the time of execution :

/* prompt for month

DISPLAY ‘Enter month required ( 1 - 12 ) : ‘,=

ACCEPT $NUM40

IF $NUM40 = 1

GVSET ‘mth_acc’ ‘jan-acc’

ELSE

IF $NUM40 = 2 etc

ENDIF

ELSE

GVSET ‘mth_acc’ ‘feb-acc’

SEL ACCOUNTS

It is possible to have more than one external variable in an external pathname. In the above example, if the external variable acc_data was set to the directory_path

/home/accounts/data/ then the INFO datafile template could be externalled as follows :

%acc_data%%mth_acc%

External variables may be used with several INFO commands, such as GET, SAVE, OUTPUT and EXST.

It should be noted that when coding external variables in

INFO programs, the INFO command EDIT should be used, as both the PROGRAM and CHANGE commands will expand the external variable immediately on input, with the result that the current value of the external variable will be hard-coded in the program.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-123

Appendix P IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats

Overview

This appendix discusses the six pre-set file formats that

IMPORT and EXPORT supports. These formats are

ASCII, SDF, 20/20, DIF, SYLK and CSV. It is possible to create other file formats yourself. See INFO-Exchange manual.

For this discussion, we use a sample datafile containing character, numeric, and date data. We print the datafile in each of the formats discussed below so that you can compare the formats. It is not necessary for you to define this datafile in your own work area.

$RECNO SALES

REGION

1

2

3

NORTHEAST

CENTRAL

WEST

ASCII Format

END.DATE

31-MAR-96

30-JUN-96

3--SEP-96

FORECAST

SALES

ACTUAL

SALES

200000

200000

200000

165000

210000

295000

In ASCII file format, each item value is delimited by a carriage return. Each records is delimited by two carriage returns. Character and date data are enclosed in double quotation marks. The example looks like this in ASCII:

“NORTHEAST”

“31-MAR-96”

200000

165000

“CENTRAL”

“30-JUN-96”

200000

210000

“WEST”

“30-SEP-96”

200000

295000

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-125

IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats Appendix P

SYLK Format

CSV Format

INFO adheres to the format specified in Multi-plan documentation. When INFO reads a SYLK file, however, it ignores all formulae, storing only characters, numeric and data.

Our sales information file looks like this in SYLK format:

ID;INFO

B;Y3;X4

C:Y1;X1;K”NORTHEAST”

C:Y1;X2;K”31-MAR-1996”

C;Y1;X3;K200000

C;Y1;X4;K165000

C:Y2;X1;K”CENTRAL”

C:Y2;X2;K”30-JUN-1996”

C;Y2;X3;K200000

C;Y2;X4;K210000

C:Y3;X1;K”WEST”

C:Y3;X2;K”30-SEP-1996”

C;Y3;X3;K200000

C;Y3;X4;K295000

E

Comma Separated Values. INFO assumes that character items and dates are held as strings separated by commas with no quotation marks around the character items..

Example of the above data in CSV format:

NORTHEAST,31/03/1996,200000,165000

CENTRAL,31/06/1996,200000,210000

WEST,30/09/1996,200000,295000

A-126 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix P IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats

SDF Format

SDF format uses a comma as an item-value delimiter and a carriage return as a record delimiter. Character and date data are enclosed in double quotation marks

“NORTHEAST”,”31-MAR-1996”,200000,165000

“CENTRAL”,“30-JUN-1996”,200000,210000

“WEST”,”30-SEP-1996”,200000,295000

2020 Format

2020 format uses a # sign as an item-value delimiter and two # signs as a record delimiter. Character and date data are preceded by a quotation mark. If it is a single quotation mark, the characters are right-hand justified in the cell. If it is a double quotation mark, the characters are left-hand justified in the cell.

DIF Format

‘NORTHEAST#‘31-MAR-1996#200000#165000##

‘CENTRAL#‘30-JUN-1996#200000#210000##

‘WEST#‘30-SEP-1996#200000#295000##

DIF format appears more complex than the preceding three formats because it contains a header in addition to the data.

Header

The header of a DIF file contains data on the file name, the number of records in the file, and the number of item values in each record.

Every piece of information in a header requires three lines.

The first line is a label giving the type of information that follows. The second line is a row/column (often called a vector) designation. The last line is the information itself.

If the information consists of characters, it is enclosed in double quotation marks.

The file name is recorded as

TABLE

0,1

“NAME OF FILE”

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-127

IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats Appendix P

Where NAME OF FILE represents the real name of the file. The row/column designation with the row equal to zero indicates that this is header information.

The number of items (columns) is recorded as follows:

VECTORS

0 NUMBER

“ “

Where NUMBER represents the number of items in the file

The number of records (called tuples in DIF) is recorded as follows:

TUPLES

0, NUMBER

“ “

The information in the header consists of the item names.

They are recorded as.

LABEL

#,0

“NAME”

Where # is the number of the column for this item, and

NAME is the item name.

The end of the header uses a marker to indicate the beginning of the data section. This entry is written as:

DATA

0,0

“ “

Data

Each record is marked by a special record called BOT

(Beginning of Tuple)

-1,0

BOT

A-128 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix P IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats

Each item value is represented by two lines: a numeric line and a character line. For numbers, these two lines take the form

0, number

V

Where number is the actual data.

Character data is written as

1,0

“text”

Where 1,0 is a code explaining that string text follows, and

“text” is the text itself.

The very end of the file is delimited with an EOD or endof-data record.

-1,0

EOD

Example Datafile in DIF Format

TABLE

0,1

“SALES.USA”

VECTORS

0,4

“ “

TUPLES

0,3

“ “

LABEL

1,0

“SALES. REGION”

LABEL

2,0

“END. DATE”

LABEL

3,0

“FORCAST.SALES”

LABEL

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-129

IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats Appendix P

4,0

“ACTUAL. SALES”

DATA

0,0

“ “

-1,0

BOT

1,0

“NORTHEAST”

1,0

“31-MAR-1996”

0,200000

V

0,165000

V

-1,0

BOT

1,0

“CENTRAL”

1,0

“30-MAR-1996”

0,200000

V

0,210000

V

-1,0

BOT

1,0

“WEST”

1,0

“30-SEPT-1996”

0,200000

V

0,295000

V

-1,0

EOD

A-130 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix P IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats

Overview

This section describes how to modify the format table to conform to your file formats.

The format definitions for the six file types handled by

INFO are all stored in one table. You can customize the file formats by modifying the table. You make these modifications using your operating system’s editor software.

Use the Editor

The format table is located in the INFOSYS directory with

To Make Changes the other INFO software. You should copy this file, by its system name, into your system directory. The file name is

info9inx (Unix and Primos) or info9.inx (VMS)

Fields in the

Format Table

Once this copy—under the same name—is in your directory, run the editor. You can alter any of the entries in info9inx or you can add a new line with your own file format.

The table of file formats has several columns. Table O-1 shows the contents of the fields in the format table.

Table O-1. Fields in the Format Table

Field Name Description

FILE FORMAT Name of the format. This is the name used in the

IMPORT or EXPORT command line. It must be written in capital letters.

DELI Delimiter character between fields.

DATE FORM

TXT ENC

LFT TXT

If text is input into a date item type, it is translated into

INFO date storage format from this assumed convention.

Tells INFO whether text has text string delimiters at both ends. If it does, then a double appearance of the delimiter character is taken to be a single appearance of the character in text, that is, ‘INFO’’S RULE’ is translated as

INFO’S RULE.

Character indicating left-justified text.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-131

IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats Appendix P

Table O-1. Fields in the Format Table (cont’d)

Field Name Description

RT TXT

REP CHR

BEG ROW

END ROW

EOD

CELL CONT

NUM

TEXT

BEG-OF-DATA

ROW

COL

SHR VAL

REF

ROW REF

COL REF

Character indicating right-justified text.

Character indicating that next character should be repeated across the cell.

Character indicating that next field is start of new logical record.

Character indicating that no more fields are to be passed for current logical record.

Character indicating end of data.

Character indicating that record contains a data value.

Character indicating that numeric data follows.

Character indicating that text data follows.

Character indicating that data follows.

Character value indicating row where current cell is stored.

Character and value indicating column where current cell is stored.

Character indicating that current cell value is used again by another cell; current cell is called a shared cell.

Character indicating that current cell is filed using data from an earlier cell.

Character and value indicating the row from which to take a shared cell.

Character and value indicating the column from which to take a shared cell.

A-132 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix P IMPORT/EXPORT File Formats

Sources of

Error

Date Formats

Summary

If you elect to add your own file format to the format table, it is important to remember that minor modifications are more apt to work than an entirely new format. Feel free to change a delimiter, but, if you add a new format, take care to follow all the guidelines

Do not specify both NONE for DELI and NO for TXT ENC.

Although published specifications for DIF and SYLK file formats allow extension through additional features, they also state that programs using DIF format should explicity ignore any fields they do not recognize. This is our policy as well. If you make an addition to a DIF file, and INFO does not recognize it, the IMPORT command ignores it.

Most spreadsheets use a date format like this:

29-FEB-1996

The format table contains a column that uses INFO DFMT command notation to set up the date format of the imported data. If you use a spreadsheet with a different date format, you can change the format table so that its format is supported.

INFO handles a large number of date formats; make sure that the table entry you use matches the DFMT command’s date formats.

INFO uses a format table to store information on the delimited file formats its supports. You can use your operating system’s editor to make alterations to this table.

You should, however, keep in mind the many sources of error you can introduce when you alter a working system.

see also

EXPORT

IMPORT

Appendix G “Controlling Default Assignments”

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-133

Appendix Q Configuration files

The INFO configuration file is an ASCII file which may be used for setting up INFO variables, either system-wide or application only. When an INFO username is entered,

INFO will search for the info.cfg file (text.cfg for INFO-

Text) and execute it as a command input file after the

INFO username has been entered but before running the programme PROFILE. THE INFO configuration file will accept interactive commands not associated with SELECT and RELATE, that do not update the INFO dr9 directory file, and that do not require terminal input.

If the settings in the configuration file are to be applied to all INFO users, then the info.cfg (text.cfg) file should be placed in the infosys directory. If the settings are particular to an application, the file should be placed in the application area (if in Application Mode) or the alternative directory (if in ADIR mode). If the settings are particular to one user, the file should be placed in the user’s local directory.

The default settings or execution of some internal variables have changed between previous versions of

INFO. To emulate a previous version, see the table below.

Variable

$ BLANK-FIELD

$ CHECK-NOMATCH

$ DOPS2

$ PURGE-LOCAL

$ SET1NOSEL

$ SINGLE-DETAIL

$ SVIDEL

$ SWITCH-DEFAULT

$ UPF-NC

INFO revision

9.23

9.31

1

3

0

1

1

1

0

1

1

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

3

9.42

0

1

1

0

1

0

1

0

3

9.51

0

1

1

1

1

0

1

0

0

INFO’s search rules for the info.cfg configuration file are:

First look in the local directory.

Secondly, if in Application Mode (see Appendix N of the

INFO Reference Manual), INFO will look in the application directory.

Lastly, INFO will look in the INFOSYS directory.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-135

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

The INFO Dossier is a collection of stand-alone documentation aids producing listings of the application source and where-used cross references.

INFO Dossier is written in INFO The minimum access rights required for a user of INFO Dossier are delete, read and write. If you have any doubts on these, then please ask your system administrator.

=============================

== INFO Dossier MENU ==

=============================

1 - Build Documentation File

2 - Print Documentation

3 - Build Cross Reference Files

4 - Print Files - where used Cross Reference Listing

5 - Print Programs - used Cross Reference Listing

6 - Print Reports - used Cross Reference Listing

7 - Print IPF's - where used Cross Reference Listing

8 - Print SPF's - where used Cross Reference Listing

9 - Print Called Programs Cross Reference Listing

10 - Print Variables used Cross Reference Listing

11 - Print File Item sizes Cross Reference Listing

12 - Print Unreferenced Directory entries

13 - Print 4-12 above Cross Reference Listing

14 - Delete Documentation and Cross Reference files

Enter function (99 TO EXIT INFO)

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-137

Dossier Utility

Menu

Selection

Options

User Name

WARNING

Pathname

Print files

Appendix R

The utilities described in this section are selectable from the above menu. The system will not inquire into your terminal type for if you are running on more than one terminal type within your installation, we have provided you with a terminal configuration system that is independent of the application. Please check with your system administrator if you have any doubts.

General Notes on using INFO Dossier

enter the desired option number followed by carriage return - invalid selection will result in the re-prompting for a valid option.

when in any option, it is possible to return to the Menu by entering a carriage return instead of pathname or user name this is the three character user name as is used by INFO to set up the operating system prefix to all the entries associated with the user. If you normally enter a user name with more than three characters, then INFO will use the 1st, 2nd and 4th characters to identify you - so user name JOHN will generate an INFO directory called

JON.DR9 and the associated directory entries will be held in the form of:

JONOOO.DAT, JONOOO.NIT, JON001.SRC, JON001.OBJ

etc.

if another user has the same User Name as you or indeed if you have generated documentation before and not deleted it then the Build options (1 and 3) will overwrite the existing documentation files.

this is the operating system pathname where the user directory is held. It must be held in the normal operating system format.

e.g. DUB5:[JOHN.DEVELOPMENT] is a valid pathname all the printed output will be sent to the system printer via the spooler with neither a FORM nor PAPER type specified, but with a print option of F implying imbedded

ANSI defined printer control characters. It is NOT possible to run any of the Print options without running the appropriate Build option first.

A-138 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Generated

Files

Dossier Utility

the files generated and used by each option are:

=============================

== INFO Dossier MENU ==

=============================

1 - Build Documentation File

generates XXX.DOC

2 - Print Documentation

prints XXX.DOC

3 - Build Cross Reference Files

generates

XXX.FLE files- where-used

XXX.PRG program used

XXX.RPT reports used

XXX.IPF IPF's used

XXX.SF SPF's used

XXX.CP called programs

XXX.VAR variables

XXX.FMT variable formats

XXX.ITM file item sizes

XXX.NON unreferenced entries

4 - Print Files - where used Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.FLE to Print

XXX.XRF

5 - Print Programs - where used Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.PRG to print

XXX.XRF

6 - Print Reports - where used Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.RTT to Print

XXX.XRF

7 - Print IPF's - where used Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.IPF to print

XXX.XRF

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-139

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

8 - Print SPF's - where used

9 - Print Called programs

10 - Print Variables used

11 - Print File Items sizes

Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.SF to Print

XXX.XRF

Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.CP to print

XXX.XRF

Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.VAR and XXX.FMT to Print XXX.XRF

Cross Reference Listing

uses XXX.ITM to Print

XXX.XRF

12 - Print Unreferenced Directory entries

uses XXX.NON to Print

XXX.XRF

13 - Print 4-12 above Cross Reference Listings

uses XXX.FIL XXX.PRG

XXX.RPT XXX.IPF XXX.SF

XXX.CP XXX.VAR XXX.FMT

XXX.NON to Print XXX.XRF

14 - Delete Documentation and Cross Reference files deletes XXX.CP XXX.ITM

XXX.DOC XXX.FLE XXX.FMT

XXX.IPF XXX.NON XXX.PRG

XXX.REP XXX.SF XXX.VAR

XXX_XRF.LIS

Enter function( 99 to EXIT INFO )>

A-140 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

1 Build Documentation File

The selection of this function by the operator causes the generation of a complete documentation file of an application system including directory listings, file layouts, input screen formats, program source code, and report and special form formats. They are saved in a file (for later output by Function 2) in the order listed above and are sorted alphabetically by name in each of the categories listed.

Enter function( 99 to EXIT INFO )>1

*** Now Building System Documentation ***

Enter Pathname in which system is located

>DUB5:[JOHN.DEVELOPMENT]

Enter 3 Character INFO User Name >JON

Error

Condition

if pathname incorrect or user not found or permissions denied then the following three lines will be displayed :

LU 4 DUB5:[JOHN .DEVELOPMENT]JON.DR9 %RMS-E-FNF, file not found (DBPGET)

Unsuccessful attempt to retrieve your file

Please re-enter your Pathname otherwise the system will continue by displaying:

** please use user name JON to Print your system documentation **

** Please wait for the documentation to be generated **

The operator is requested to Provide the pathname of the directory where the application system to be documented is located. The pathname should be entered in the standard operating system format.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-141

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

Subsequent to its entry, the system will prompt the operator for the user name with which to enter INFO in the named user file directory. Only the three letter short user name may be entered. The system will then proceed to create a documentation file for the system requested which may be printed out by later selection of Function 2 on the menu. This generation function may require several minutes to complete depending on the size of the system being documented. During the documentation phase read only access is required on the user directory and its associated entries. It is however unwise to document a system while it is in use particularly if programs are being amended as it is possible for changes to be lost if this option is run on a particular entry during the re-filing of a change. On completion, the menu is redisplayed on the screen. The documentation file created with this option is in print image form and held as "XXX.DOC" and is stored in the INFO.Dossier directory where XXX (3 characters) is the user name that was entered earlier.

A-142 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

2 Print Documentation

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 2

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

This function may be selected after Function 1 has been performed for a particular application system or after the user has copied his own documentation file into

INFO.UTILITIES and named it XXX.DOC (XXX is any 3 character INFO user name).

Upon the selection of this function, the operator is asked for the particular user name for which documentation is to be printed. After one is entered, this function simply

SPOOLs the file to the system printer.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-143

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

3 Build Cross Reference Files

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )>3

*** Now Building System Cross Reference Documentation ***

Enter pathname in which system is located>DUB5:[JOHN.DEVELOPMENT]

Enter 3 Character INFO User Name >JON

Error

Condition

if pathname incorrect or user not found or permissions denied then the following three lines will be displayed:

LU 4 DUB5:[JOHN.DEVELOPMENT]JON.DR9 %RMSE-FNF, file not found (DBPGET)

Unsuccessful attempt to retrieve your file

Please re-enter your Pathname otherwise the system will continue by displaying:

** now cross referencing programs **

The operator is requested to provide the pathname of the directory where the application system to be documented is located. The pathname should be entered in the standard operating system format.

Subsequent to its entry, the system will prompt the operator for the user name with which to enter INFO in the named user file directory. Only the three letter short user name may be entered. The system will then proceed to create the cross reference files for the system requested which may be printed out by later selection of Functions 4 to 13 on the menu. This generation function may require several minutes to complete depending on the size of the system being cross referenced. During the cross reference phase read only access is required on the user directory and its associated entries. It is however unwise to cross reference a system while it is in use Particularly if programs are being amended as it is possible for changes

A-144 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

to be lost if this option is run on a particular entry during the re-filing of a change. The program displays courtesy messages when running such as

** Cross Referencing STOCK.UPDATE.PG ** so the user can see how far the cross referencing has progressed. On completion, the menu is redisplayed on the screen. The cross reference files created with this option are NOT in Print image form. The names of the files have been described in the overview above.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-145

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

4 Print Files - where used

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 4

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

The selection of this function causes the generation of a file cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by file name and lists each program and the line numbers on which each file is called along with the file's relation numbers (0 if selected), relation items, and relation options.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the directory pathname and the user name of the system for which the cross-reference listing is to be printed as in option 1 above.

After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the file cross-reference file for that user and generates the cross-reference report. The file crossreference file generated by Function 3 is saved as a direct-access file with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

A-146 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

5 Print Programs - used

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 5

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

Selecting this option generates a program cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by program and lists all files, reports, input forms, special forms, and other programs called by each program and the line numbers on which they are called. For files, their relation numbers, items, and options are additionally listed and for reports, input forms, and special forms the options selected are also

Printed out.

On selecting this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the cross-reference listing is to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the program cross-reference file for that user and generates the cross-reference report.

The program cross-reference file generated by Function 3 is saved as a direct-access file with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-147

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

6 Print Reports - used

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 6

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

Selecting this function generates a report cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by report name and lists each program and the line numbers on which each report is called, the Print option selected, and the files selected and related when the report is generated.

Note: Only those files selected and related in the same program in which the report is generated are listed.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the crossreference listing is to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the report crossreference file for that user and generates the crossreference report.

The report cross-reference file generated by Function 3 is saved as a direct access file with a Prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

A-148 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

7 Print Input Forms - where used

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 7

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

This option generates an input form cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by input form name and lists each program and the line numbers on which each input form is called, the options selected, and the files selected and related when the input form is generated.

Note: Only those files selected and related in the same program in which the input form is generated are listed.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the crossreference listing is to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the input form crossreference file for that user and generates the crossreference report.

The input form cross-reference file generated by Function

3 is saved as a direct-access file with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-149

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

8 Print Special Forms - where used

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 8

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

This option generates a special form cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by special form name and lists each program and the line numbers on which each special form is called, the options selected, and the files selected and related when the special form is generated.

Note: Only those files selected and related in the same program in which the special form is generated are listed.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the crossreference listing is to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the special form crossreference file for that user and generates the crossreference report.

The special form cross-reference file generated by

Function 3 is saved as a direct-access file with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

A-150 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

9 Print Called Programs

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 9

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

This option generates a called program cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by program name that is called and lists the Programs and the line numbers from which each program is called.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the crossreference listing is to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the called program cross-reference file for that user and generates the crossreference report.

The called program cross-reference file generated by

Function 3 is saved as a direct-access file with a Prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-151

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

10 Print Variables Used

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 10

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

The selection of this function causes the generation of an internal variable cross-reference listing and the formats of the internal variables where explicitly formatted by the programs. The cross reference report is ordered by program name and by internal variable number (1-40) within each program and lists the line number, internal variable, and full text of each program line on which every internal variable is used. The variable formats file is ordered by variable number (i.e. 1 through 40), variable prefix ($CHR, $DAT, $NUM) and program.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the crossreference listings are to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the internal variable cross-reference file for that user and generates the cross-reference report and the unreferenced directory entries file for its associated report.

Both internal variable cross-reference files generated by

Function 3 are saved as direct-access files with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

A-152 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

11 Print File Item Sizes

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 11

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

The selection of this function causes the generation of an items cross-reference listing. The report is ordered by item name and by file in which it is located and lists its defined width, output width, type, and number of decimals in each file.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the crossreference listing is to be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the items crossreference file for that user and generates the crossreference report.

The items cross-reference file generated by Function 3 is saved as a direct-access file with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-153

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

12 Print Uncalled Directory Entries

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 12

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

The selection of this function causes the generation of a cross-reference listing of the unreferenced entries in the user directory. The report is ordered by entry name but at the current release it may be inaccurate and include entries that are only referenced by the execute command from file based menu-programs.

Upon selection of this function, the operator is asked to enter the user name of the system for which the unreferenced directory listing is to-be printed. After the user name has been entered, the system accesses the unreferenced directory file for that user and generates the unreferenced directory report.

The unreferenced directory file generated by Function 3 is saved as a direct-access file with a prefix of the user's name so that multiple users can operate from this directory easily without impacting one another.

A-154 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix R

Dossier Utility

13 Print 4-12 Above

(Cross Reference Listing)

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 13

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

Job JON (queue SYS$PRINT), entry 19) started on SYS$PRINT

The selection of this function causes the generation of all of the cross-reference listings described in Functions 4 through 12. This function may be used to save the time required to request each listing separately when all are desired. All listings are also SPOOLed at once as one large SPOOL file after all have been formatted.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-155

Dossier Utility

Appendix R

14 Delete Documentation and Cross

Reference Files

Enter function (99 to EXIT INFO )> 14

Enter User Name for Documentation > JON

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.CP;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.DOC;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.FLE;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.FMT;1

DU85:[DOSSIER]JON.IPF;1

DU85:[DOSSIER]JON.ITM;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.NON;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.PRG;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.REP;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.SF;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON.VAR;1

DUB5:[DOSSIER]JON_XRF.LIS;1

Total of 12 files

Do you want to delete these files? (Y/N) Y

Files DELETED .. returning to MENU

Error

Condition

if a file is open, user not found or access rights denied then the following line will be displayed:

%DIRECT-W-NOFILES, no files found

The selection of this function causes the display of the cross reference flies generated by Functions 1,3,4 through

12. This function may be used to delete any documentation files generated for a specific user. If the user name is not found then no files will be displayed. Any response other than "Y" to the question, "Do you want to delete these files (Y/N)"

will leave the files intact. The program returns to the menu on completion.

A-156 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix S

Data Entry

DATA ENTRY

Scientific

Notation

To enter a value into INFO, type the value or command and press <RETURN>. INFO interprets the values you enter accordingly: n

Character data entered as character strings.

n

Numeric data entered as numeric constants. Can be regular numbers per data type, or entered in scientific notation. Always interpreted as the numeric value the entry represents. Numbers greater than 1,000 can include commas (see below).

n

Dates entered as mm/dd/yyyy or fewer characters or in military format as mmm-dd. Always stored as

YYYYMMDD (see below).

INFO accepts numeric values expressed in scientific notation. INFO stores the value in that item's internal storage format. The entered term must fit within the item's output width. The value (not the length of the term expressed in scientific notation) must fit the item's internal width. Scientific notation is an alternate way of displaying a value, not an alternative storage format. Any numeric value except a date can be entered in scientific notation.

When INFO displays or prints a numeric value, if the item's output width does not permit display of the entire value, INFO attempts to display the value in scientific notation.

A value in scientific notation consists of a real number and a power of ten by which the real number is multiplied.

Values expressed in scientific notation appear in this syntax:

+#E+NN

-D-

Where # is the real number and NN is the power of ten by which it is multiplied: E and D are synonymous

A + or - sign preceding the numeric value is optional. If the sign is omitted, INFO assumes a positive value.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-157

Data Entry

Appendix S

Comma Use

The value # must be at least one digit long, and cannot be longer than sixteen significant figures. The value of # can include a decimal point. If # is one digit, this digit can either precede or follow the decimal point. The number of digits in n may range up to the maximum places for which the field is specified.

An exponent consists of the letter E, a + or - sign, and two digits NN. A leading 0 is required if the exponent is less than 10. The exponent can range from -99 to +99.

D can be specified instead of an E as it is used with some other languages (notably BASIC).

The examples below show the expression of values in regular and scientific notation:

.00000141 1.41E-06

4,236,000 +4.236E+06

The number -28,900,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 can be expressed as a BASIC double-precision number:

-2.89D+28

Since INFO stores the values in the internal form, INFO considers 4236E+03 to be the same as 4.236E+06.

You can express values using scientific notation at any point in an INFO session that you express values as numeric constants. The minimum output width for an item to express a value in scientific notation is five.

INFO accepts and displays commas as part of numeric values under the following circumstances: n

Comma (,) is not the current delimiter character. To set the delimiter character, see the DELIMITER command.

n

The system item $COMMA-SWITCH does not have the value of -1.

If $COMMA-SWITCH is set to 0, its default value, INFO displays commas where there is space. If the output width is sufficiently larger than the internal width of a given datafile item or system variable to include the added spaces required by commas, INFO displays the commas.

A-158 Appendices INFO Reference Manual

Appendix S

Data Entry

Date Formats

Date Output Displays

As long as there is sufficient space in the output width of the item, INFO accepts data that includes commas.

INFO stores dates in the format of YYYYMMDD. The internal width of a D-type item is always 8 bytes. The output width of a D-type item can vary. The table below shows the effect of different date output widths on the same date:

Date Displayed

12/24/1996

12/24/96

12/24

12

Output Width

10

8

5

2

INFO accepts dates in the format determined by the current DFMT setting. You can also change the date separator character from its default character / (slash).

If the setting is MDY, the setting can include the M option for the date format of mmm-dd-yyyy, where mmm is the first three letters of the month. For example, 01/12/96 is expressed as JAN-15-1996.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-159

Appendix T

Dates

Start date is 1/1/1801

To obtain the number of days since 12/31/1800, set a $DAT variable to the required date and then calculate a $NUM variable to it.

eg.

$DAT1 = 1/2/1934

$NUM40 = $DAT1

$NUM40 = 48,579 i.e

1/2/1934 is the 48,609 th

day since 13/31/1800 eg.

$DAT1 = 1/1/2000

$NUM40 = $DAT1

$NUM40 = 72,684 i.e.

on 1/1/2000, 72,684 days have passed since 12/31/1800

DATES are held internally in the format CCYYMMDD.

Months and days <10 are, by default, space filled: if leading zeros are required when displaying dates, this may be achieved by setting the internal variable

$ZDATE to 1.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-161

Appendix U

Printing

UNIX

An unqualified INFO SPOOL command sends the contents of the INFO spool file (or the currently open output file) to the default printer, using the UNIX command lpr. It is possible to force INFO to use another UNIX command rather than lpr by setting the environment variables _INFOSPL and

_INFOSPLEX. For example, if you wished to display the contents of the spool file to the screen, by setting the environment variable _INFOSPL to the UNIX command more, the INFO SPOOL command will perform a more on the specified file. Another example is where you may wish to save the contents of the spool file to another file: by setting the environment variables _INFOSPL to the UNIX command cat and _INFOSPLEX to >/tmp/tempfile, the INFO SPOOL command will write the contents of the specified file to /tmp/tempfile.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-163

Appendix V

Terminal Drivers

To change a terminal type within an INFO session, use the INFO command

TERM: an unqualified TERM command displays the current setting. To change the setting, simply type TERM terminal_type : a list of valid terminal types may be displayed by typing in an invalid type, such as TERM BOBO.

To change the terminal type for all INFO users, you need to attach to the

_INFOSYS directory and invoke INFO with the username re9 : any change you make to the terminal type in here will be reflected to all INFO users, unless they have their own local setting. It is also possible to define your own termial driver for use within INFO: in the re9 username in the _INFOSYS directory there is a program called P.NT, and running this will prompt you for details of the terminal, such as screen clear.

UNIX only

If you invoke INFO without the –n option, INFO will use the UNIX curses terminal handler; it will take the value of the UNIX environment variable TERM.

If you invoke INFO with the –n option, INFO will use its own terminal drivers for terminal handling. The default terminal type shipped is ANSI but this may be changed, either for an INFO session or system-wide.

If you are running INFO on a workstation X11 terminal, you would probably wish to use the curses library for terminal handling. If you are running INFO from an ANSI or VT100 compatible terminal, you may prefer to use the INFO terminal handling mode.

INFO Reference Manual Appendices A-165