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HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

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HP OpenVMS DCL Dictionary


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CONNECT

Connects your physical terminal to a virtual terminal that is connected to another process.

You must connect to a virtual terminal that is connected to a process with your user identification code (UIC). No other physical terminals may be connected to the virtual terminal.


Format

CONNECT virtual-terminal-name


Parameter

virtual-terminal-name

Specifies the name of the virtual terminal to which you are connecting. A virtual terminal name always begins with the letters VTA. To determine the name of the virtual terminal that is connected to a process, enter the SHOW USERS command.

Description

The CONNECT command connects you to a separate process, as opposed to the SPAWN and ATTACH commands, which create and attach subprocesses.

The CONNECT command is useful when you are logged in to the system using telecommunications lines. If there is noise over the line and you lose the carrier signal, your process does not terminate. After you log in again, you can reconnect to the original process and log out of your second process.

To use the CONNECT command, the virtual terminal feature must be enabled for your system with the System Manager utility (SYSMAN) on OpenVMS Alpha systems and the System Generation utility (SYSGEN) on OpenVMS VAX systems.

If virtual terminals are allowed on your system, use the SET TERMINAL/DISCONNECT/PERMANENT command to enable the virtual terminal characteristic for a particular physical terminal. When you enable this characteristic, a virtual terminal is created when a user logs in to the physical terminal. The physical terminal is connected to the virtual terminal, which is in turn connected to the process.

For new virtual terminals, you must first set the TT2$V_DISCONNECT bit in the TTY_DEFCHAR2 system parameter and reboot the system. This is done by creating the virtual device VTA0: using the ttdriver. For example, on Alpha:


$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSMAN
SYSMAN> IO CONNECT/NOADAPTER/DRIVER=SYS$LOADABLE_IMAGES:SYS$TTDRIVER VTA0:

On VAX:


$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:SYSGEN
SYSGEN> CONNECT /NOADAPTER/DRIVER=TTDRIVER VTA0:

When the connection between the physical terminal and the virtual terminal is broken, you are logged out of your current process (and any images that the process is executing stop running) unless you have specified the /NOLOGOUT qualifier.

If you have specified the /NOLOGOUT qualifier, the process remains connected to the virtual terminal. If the process is executing an image, it continues until the process needs terminal input or attempts to write to the terminal. At that point, the process waits until the physical terminal is reconnected to the virtual terminal.

You can connect to a virtual terminal even if you are not currently using a virtual terminal; however, to log out of your current process you must use the CONNECT command with the /LOGOUT qualifier. If you connect to a virtual terminal from another virtual terminal, you can save your current process by using the /NOLOGOUT qualifier.


Qualifiers

/CONTINUE

/NOCONTINUE (default)

Controls whether the CONTINUE command is executed in the current process just before connecting to another process. This qualifier allows an interrupted image to continue processing after you connect to another process.

The /CONTINUE qualifier is incompatible with the /LOGOUT qualifier.

/LOGOUT (default)

/NOLOGOUT

Logs out your current process when you connect to another process using a virtual terminal.

When you enter the CONNECT command from a process that is not connected to a virtual terminal, you must specify the /LOGOUT qualifier; otherwise, DCL displays an error message.

The /LOGOUT qualifier is incompatible with the /CONTINUE qualifier.


Examples

#1

$ RUN AVERAGE
[Ctrl/Y]
$ CONNECT/CONTINUE VTA72
      

In this example, you use the RUN command to execute the image AVERAGE.EXE. You enter this command from a terminal that is connected to a virtual terminal. Next, you press Ctrl/Y to interrupt the image. After you interrupt the image, enter the CONNECT command with the /CONTINUE qualifier. This operation issues the CONTINUE command, so the image continues to run and connects you to another virtual terminal. You can reconnect to the process later.

#2

$ SHOW USERS/FULL
     VAX/VMS User Processes at 22-DEC-2001 14:11:56.91
   Total number of users = 51,  number of processes = 158

Username    Node   Process Name       PID     Terminal
KIDDER     BUKETT  KIDDER           29A0015E  FTA3:
KIDDER     BUKETT  _FTA4:           29A0015F  FTA4:
KIDDER     RACEY1  KIDDER           05800062  FTA5:
KIDDER     RACEY1  DECW$MWM         0580005D  MBA44:   Disconnected
KIDDER     RACEY1  DECW$SESSION     05800059
KIDDER     RACEY1  VUE$KIDDER_2     0580005E  (subprocess of 05800059)
KIDDER     RACEY1  VUE$KIDDER_3     0580005F  MBA51:   Disconnected
KIDDER     RACEY1  VUE$KIDDER_4     05800060  MBA53:   Disconnected
SMITH      BUKETT  SMITH            29A002C1  FTA7:
SMITH      BUKETT  SMITH_1          29A006C2  (subprocess of 29A002C1)
SMITH      BUKETT  SMITH_2          29A00244  (subprocess of 29A002C1)
SMITH      HAMLET  SMITH            24800126  FTA6:
SMITH      HAMLET  DECW$BANNER      24800155  (subprocess of 24800126)
SMITH      HAMLET  DECW$MWM         2480011F  MBA170:  Disconnected
SMITH      HAMLET  DECW$SESSION     2480011D  FTA5:
.
.
.

$ CONNECT VTA273
  SMITH         logged out at 22-DEC-2001 14:12:04.53
$
      

This example shows how to reconnect to your original process after you have lost the carrier signal. First, you must log in again and create a new process. After you log in, enter the SHOW USERS/FULL command to determine the virtual terminal name for your initial process. Then enter the CONNECT command to connect to the virtual terminal associated with your original process. The process from which you enter the CONNECT command is logged out because you have not specified any qualifiers.

When you reconnect to the original process, you continue running the image that you were running when you lost the carrier signal. In this example, the user SMITH was at interactive level when the connection was broken.


CONTINUE

Resumes execution of a DCL command, a program, or a command procedure that was interrupted by pressing Ctrl/Y or Ctrl/C. You cannot resume execution of the image if you have entered a command that executes another image or if you have invoked a command procedure.

Format

CONTINUE


Parameters

None.

Description

The CONTINUE command enables you to resume processing an image or a command procedure that was interrupted by pressing Ctrl/Y or Ctrl/C. You cannot resume execution of the image if you have entered a command that executes another image or if you have invoked a command procedure; however, you can use CONTINUE after commands that do not execute separate images. For a list of these commands, refer to the OpenVMS User's Manual.

You can abbreviate the CONTINUE command to a single letter, C.

The CONTINUE command serves as the target command of an IF or ON command in a command procedure. The CONTINUE command is also a target command when it follows a label that is the target of a GOTO command. In addition, you can use the CONTINUE command to resume processing of a program that has executed either a VAX Fortran PAUSE statement or a VAX COBOL-74 STOP literal statement.


Examples

#1

$ RUN MYPROGRAM_A
[Ctrl/Y]
$ SHOW TIME
  14-DEC-2001 13:40:12
$ CONTINUE

      

In this example, the RUN command executes the program MYPROGRAM_A. While the program is running, pressing Ctrl/Y interrupts the image. The SHOW TIME command requests a display of the current date and time. The CONTINUE command resumes the image.

#2

$ ON SEVERE_ERROR THEN CONTINUE
      

In this example, the command procedure statement requests the command interpreter to continue executing the procedure if any warning, error, or severe error status value is returned from the execution of a command or program. This ON statement overrides the default action, which is to exit from a procedure following errors or severe errors.


CONVERT

Invokes the Convert utility, which copies records from one file to another and changes the organization and format of the input file to those of the output file.

For more information about the Convert utility, refer to the OpenVMS Record Management Utilities Reference Manual or online help.


Format

CONVERT input-filespec[,...] output-filespec


CONVERT/DOCUMENT

Converts a CDA supported revisable input file to another revisable or final form output file.

Note

You can use this command only if DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS is installed on your system.

Format

CONVERT/DOCUMENT input-filespec output-filespec


Parameters

input-filespec

Specifies the name of the input file to be converted. The default file type is .DDIF.

output-filespec

Specifies the name of the output file. The default file type is .DDIF.

Description

The CONVERT/DOCUMENT command lets you convert documents from one format to another. You specify the name and format of the input file (a file whose format is incompatible with the application that needs to read the file) and the output file (the file to be created in a new format).

You can convert a file from one format to another if an input converter exists for the input file format and an output converter exists for the output file format. The default input and output file format is DDIF (DIGITAL Document Interchange Format). DDIF is a standard format for the storage and interchange of compound documents, which can include text, graphics, and images.

DDIF input and output converters, in addition to several other converters, are installed with the CDA Base Services for DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS. Some of the converters support processing options, which ensure minimal changes when your input file is converted to a different output file format. Create an options file with the processing options you need before specifying the CONVERT/DOCUMENT command with the /OPTIONS qualifier.

Every converter supports a message log option, which is a file name you specify and to which informational and error messages are logged during the conversion.


Qualifiers

/FORMAT=format-name

Specifies the encoding format of the input or output file. The default input and output format is DDIF.

Input converters bundled with the CDA Base Services for DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS and the default file type for the file formats they support are as follows:

Input Format File Type
DDIF .DDIF
DTIF .DTIF
TEXT .TXT

Output converters bundled with the CDA Base Services for DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS and the default file types for the file formats they support are as follows:

Output Format File Type
DDIF .DDIF
DTIF .DTIF
TEXT .TXT
PS .PS
ANALYSIS .CDA$ANALYSIS

The CDA Converter Library is a layered product that offers several other document, graphics, image, and data table input and output converters. Independent software vendors also write CDA conforming applications and converters for the operating system. Contact your system manager for a complete list of converters available on your system.

Analysis Output Converter

The Analysis output converter produces an analysis of the intermediate representation of the input file. The analysis output file shows the named objects and values stored in the input file. Application programmers use an analysis output file for debugging purposes.

Application end users use an analysis output file to determine whether an input file contains references or links to multiple subfiles. Each subfile must be copied separately across a network because subfiles are not automatically included when an input file is transferred across the network.

You can search the analysis output file for all occurrences of the string "ERF_". The following example shows that the image file "griffin.img" is linked to the DDIF compound document that is the input file:


ERF_LABEL ISO LATIN1 "griffin.img" ! Char. string.
ERF_LABEL TYPE RMS_LABEL TYPE "$RMS:
ERF_CONTROL COPY_REFERENCE ! Integer = 1

Note that an analysis output file is intended as a programmer's tool. The coded information in the file is not intended for modification but rather to examine the content of a file. The previous example shows how you can search analysis output for references to linked files.

DDIF Input Converter

The DDIF input converter converts a DDIF input file to an intermediate representation that is subsequently converted to the specified output file format. The following list summarizes the data mapping, conversion restrictions, external file references, and document syntax errors relevant to the DDIF input converter:

  • Data mapping
    The information in the DDIF input file maps directly to an intermediate representation.
  • Conversion restrictions
    The DDIF input file does not lose any information when converted to the intermediate representation.
    However, if the DDIF input file is a newer version of the DDIF grammar than that understood by the DDIF input converter, data represented by the new grammar elements is lost.
  • External file references
    Any external file references within the DDIF input file are converted to the intermediate representation.
    The DDIF input converter makes no attempt to resolve external references, although the converter kernel can if requested by the output converter.
  • Document syntax errors
    A document syntax error in the DDIF input file causes a fatal input processing error. If the DDIF input converter encounters a document syntax error, the conversion stops and no further input processing occurs.

DDIF Output Converter

The DDIF output converter creates a DDIF output file from the intermediate representation of the input file. The following list summarizes the data mapping and conversion restrictions relevant to the DDIF output converter.

  • Data mapping
    The information in the intermediate representation of the input file maps directly to the DDIF output file.
  • Conversion restrictions
    The intermediate representation of the input file does not lose any information when converted to the DDIF output file.

DTIF Input Converter

The DTIF input converter converts a DTIF input file to an intermediate representation that is subsequently converted to the specified output file format. The following list summarizes the data mapping, conversion restrictions, external file references, and document syntax errors relevant to the DTIF input converter:

  • Data mapping
    The information in the DTIF input file maps directly to an intermediate representation.
  • Conversion restrictions
    The DTIF input file does not lose any information when converted to the intermediate representation.
    However, if the DTIF input file is a newer version of the DTIF grammar than that understood by the DTIF front end, data represented by the new grammar elements is lost.
  • External file references
    Any external file references within the DTIF input file are converted to the intermediate representation.
    The DTIF input converter makes no attempt to resolve external references.
  • Document syntax errors
    A document syntax error in the DTIF input file causes a fatal input processing error. If the DTIF input converter encounters a document syntax error, the conversion stops and no further input processing occurs.

DTIF Output Converter

The DTIF output converter converts the intermediate representation of the input file to a DTIF output file. The following list summarizes the data mapping, conversion restrictions, and external file references relevant to the DTIF output converter:

  • Data mapping
    The information in the intermediate representation of the input file maps directly to the DTIF output file.
  • Conversion restrictions
    The intermediate representation of the input file does not lose any information when converted to the DTIF output file.
  • External file references
    The DTIF output converter converts external file references stored in the intermediate representation of the input file but makes no attempt to resolve external references.

Text Input Converter

The Text input converter converts a Text (ISO Latin1) input file to an intermediate representation that is subsequently converted to the specified output file format. The following list summarizes the data mapping, conversion restrictions, external file references, and document syntax errors relevant to the Text input converter:

  • Data mapping
    The information in the text input file maps directly to an intermediate representation. Line breaks and form feeds are mapped to DDIF directives. One or more contiguous blank lines are interpreted as end-of-paragraph markers.
    If the text input file was entered as a DEC Multinational character set file on a character-cell terminal or terminal emulator, the following conversions occur:
    Original Character Converted Character
    Concurrency sign Diaeresis
    Capital OE ligature Multiplication sign
    Capital Y with diaeresis Capital Y with acute accent
    Small oe ligature Division sign
    Small y with diaeresis Y with acute accent
  • Conversion restrictions
    The text input file does not lose any information when converted to the intermediate representation because no structure information is contained in a text file.
    All nonprinting characters are converted to space characters. For example, characters introducing ANSI escape characters are converted to space characters. There is no attempt to interpret ANSI escape sequences.
  • External file references
    Text files do not contain external file references.
  • Document syntax errors
    Text files do not contain syntax, so syntax errors are not reported by the Text input converter.

Text Output Converter

The Text output converter converts the intermediate representation of the input file to a Text output file. The following list summarizes the data mapping and conversion restrictions relevant to the Text output converter:

  • Data mapping
    All Latin1 text in the intermediate representation of the input file is converted to the text output file.
    When converting an input file to a text output file, you should be aware that text output files can contain only textual content and minimal formatting such as line feeds, page breaks, and tabs. The Text output converter preserves formatting information to the extent possible. Page coordinates convert to the nearest character cell (line,column) position.
  • Conversion restrictions
    All graphics, images, and text attributes in the intermediate representation of the input file are lost when converted to the text output file.
    Because a monospace font is used, it is possible that some text may be lost due to overwriting to preserve the layout. It is also possible that lines can be truncated if the specified page width is smaller than the page width specified in the document's format information. Neither of these cases occur when you use the OVERRIDE_FORMAT processing option because, in that case, the document's format information is ignored.

PostScript Output Converter

The PostScript output converter converts the intermediate representation of the input file to a PostScript output file. The following list summarizes the data mapping and conversion restrictions relevant to the PostScript output converter.

  • Data mapping
    The information in the intermediate representation of the input file maps directly to the PostScript output file.
  • Conversion restrictions
    The intermediate representation of the input file does not lose any information when converted to the PostScript output file.

/MESSAGE_FILE=filespec

/NOMESSAGE_FILE (default)

Turns on message logging for document conversion. Messages output by the input and output converters are directed to the file specified with filespec. If filespec is not specified, messages are output to SYS$ERROR. The default is /NOMESSAGE_FILE.

/OPTIONS=options-filename

Specifies a text file that contains processing options applied to the input file and the output file during the conversion. The default file type for an options file is .CDA$OPTIONS.

Creating the Options File

You can create an options file prior to specifying the CONVERT/DOCUMENT command with the /OPTIONS qualifier. An options file is a text file with a default file type of .CDA$OPTIONS on the operating system.

The options file contains all the processing options for your input file format and your output file format. Processing options help ensure minimal changes when your input file is converted to a different output file format.

An options file is not required. Default processing options are applied automatically when you convert a file. However, you may require an options file if you need to use other than the default settings.

Use the following guidelines to create an options file:

  • Begin each line of the options file with the keyword for the input or output format, followed by one or more spaces or tabs, or by a slash (/).
    For some file formats, such as DDIF and DTIF, there is an input converter and an output converter. You can restrict a processing option to only the input format or the output format by following the format keyword with _INPUT or _OUTPUT.
  • Specify only one processing option on each line when there are several options for the same input or output format.
  • Use uppercase and lowercase alphabetic characters, digits (0-9), dollar signs ($), and underscores (_) to specify the processing options.
  • Use one or more spaces or tabs to precede values specified for a processing option.

The following example is a typical entry in an options file:


PS PAPER_HEIGHT 10

In this example, the extension _OUTPUT is not required for the format keyword because PostScript is available only as an output format. The value specified for PAPER_HEIGHT is in inches by default.

If the options file includes options that do not apply to the converters for a particular conversion, those options are ignored.

If you specify an invalid option for an input or output format or an invalid value for an option, you receive an error message. The processing options described in the following sections document any restrictions.

Processing Options for Analysis Output

The Analysis output converter supports the following options:

  • COMMENT DEFAULT_VALUES
    Inserts a comment character (!) at the beginning of lines generated by default values. (The comment prefix is also included on associated aggregate brackets and array parentheses where they may apply.)

  • COMMENT INHERITED_VALUES
    Inserts a comment character (!) at the beginning of lines generated by inherited values. (The comment prefix is also included on associated aggregate brackets and array parentheses where they may apply.)
  • TRANSLATE_BYTE_STRINGS
    Overrides the default. For data of type BYTE STRING, the analysis output no longer displays the hexadecimal translation if all the characters in the byte string are printable characters (hex values 20 through 7E). This feature can be overridden by supplying the TRANSLATE_BYTE_STRINGS option.
  • IMAGE_DATA
    Overrides the default. For the special case of byte string data for item DDIF$_IDU_PLANE_DATA (a bitmapped image), the analysis output previously included both a hexadecimal and an ASCII translation display, neither of which were of particular value to most users. With the new version, both displays will be replaced with the following comment:


    ! *** Bit-mapped data not displayed here ***
    

    To retain the hexadecimal display, supply the IMAGE_DATA option. Even with this option turned on, there will be no translation into ASCII.
  • INHERITANCE
    Specifies that the analysis is shown with attribute inheritance enabled. Inherited attributes are marked as "[Inherited value.]" in the output. This option also causes external references to be imported into the main document.


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