VMS Beginner's FAQ

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Table of Contents

1. About this FAQ

1. Who wrote this?
2. What is OpenVMS? Is it VMS?
3. What version of the FAQ is this?
4. Where can I get a newer copy?
5. Can I give this to other users or post it on my server?
6. What conventions are used in this FAQ?

2. Processes

• How do I...
  1. login?
  2. logout?
  3. configure a terminal?
  4. execute a bunch of commands at login?
  5. create a subprocess?
  6. stop a process?
  7. start a program?
  8. stop a program?
  9. tell what a program is doing?
  10. redirect the input or output of a program?
  11. start a batch job?
  12. stop a batch job?
  13. modify a process's attributes: priority, privileges, and so forth?
• What is/are...
  1. a UIC?
  2. a priority?
  3. a working set?
  4. a privilege?
  5. symbols?
  6. logical names?
  7. foreign commands?
  8. usernames and passwords?
  9. text editors?

3. Files and Directories

• How do I...
  1. list the files in a directory?
  2. copy files?
  3. create files?
  4. delete files?
  5. delete older versions of files?
  6. edit files?
  7. move files?
  8. rename files?
  9. view files' contents?
  10. print files' contents?
  11. find files by name, date, or other property?
  12. find files by their contents?
  13. protect files from other users?
  14. share files with other users?
  15. create a directory?
  16. delete a directory?
  17. rename a directory?
  18. move to another directory?
  19. identify the current directory?
• What is/are...
  1. RMS attributes?
  2. creation, modification, and backup dates?

4. Communications

• How do I...
  1. handle mail?
  2. have a conversation with somebody on the same machine?
  3. have a conversation with somebody on a different machine?
  4. copy files to/from another machine?
  5. execute commands on another machine?
  6. use a news reader?
  7. participate in IRC sessions?

5. DCL

1. What is DCL?
2. What is a DCL procedure?
3. Why would I ever use a DCL procedure?

• How do I...
  1. create a DCL procedure?
  2. pass parameters into a DCL procedure interactively?
  3. pass parameters into a DCL procedure when it runs in batch?
  4. see parameters inside a DCL procedure?
  5. control the flow of the procedure?
  6. manipulate symbols?
  7. manipulate logical names?
  8. gather information about files, processes, the system, etc.?
  9. bury untypable values in symbols?
  10. make text blink, underlined, and so forth?
  11. do decimal math?

6. POSIX

1. What is POSIX?
2. Why would I ever use POSIX?

7. DECwindows

1. What is DECwindows?
2. Why would I ever use DECwindows?
3. How do I redirect the display to another machine?
4. How do I tell where the display is going now?
5. How do I allow another machine to display on my screen?
6. Isn't there some sort of simple way to move files around?
7. How do I stop an application that is locked up?
8. How do I select menus and options without the mouse?
9. What do each of the three buttons on the mouse do?

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Author: David Mathog
Credits: Rich Lafferty
Maintained by: helpline@alcor.concordia.ca
Last update: $Date: 1999/05/18 16:16:23 $ -- Rich Lafferty