HP OpenVMS Systems

DCL Symbol Substitution? (REPLY)

» close window

The Question is:

 
I would like to be able to give a select few of my captive users an
interface for using the REPLY command.  My intention was to write a DCL
command file which would ask them to fill in the blanks of a standard reply
(i.e. NOTICE TO <blank> USERS:  Please
log out in <blank> minutes for <blank>) through a series of questions (i.e.
Which group(s) does this notice apply to?).  My command procedure then takes
the answers (stored as symbols) and the text from the question, concatenates
them into a reply message
 and then I hit a brick wall because the REPLY command won't accept anything
except a straight text message.  It doesn't seem to accept the symbols and
the text concatenated on the command line, nor a symbol containing the
concatenated version.  Is there
a way around this?
 
 

The Answer is :

 
  The following sequence works as expected on the local system:
 
    $ sym = "Hello, how are you?"
    $ reply/user=wizard "''sym'"
 
  Without a specific example of the exact commands used and the error
  message(s) received, a more specific answer is difficult.
 
  There are various books and manuals available that describe using
  DCL on OpenVMS -- the Wizard would initially assume that this is a
  problem with the local use of the DCL symbol substitution mechanisms.
  Please see the OpenVMS FAQ for pointers to the OpenVMS documentation,
  to various available websites, and to books that are available.
 

  

     

     
answer written or last revised on ( 23-SEP-1999 )
     
» close window