openvms / dcl / symbols

[John Tannahill]

I am new to OpenVMS and have a question regarding symbols. Is it possible to create a symbol that takes "cmd1 a1 a2" and executes "cmd2 a2 a1", or do I have to write a small command procedure?

Thanks,
John

[Robert Gezelter · Accepted solution]

John,

Your question is a good one, but the answer is no. There is no way to reverse the "a1" and "a2" from within a symbol.

The command file is, as was noted in your posting, a small one.

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[Steven Schweda]

As usual, it depends some on omitted details.
What's "cmd1", a DCL verb or an executable?
What are "a1" and "a2",?

For an executable, the dollar sign is
important. For example:

alp $ show symbol gvim
GVIM == "$ UTILITY:VIM.EXE -g"

Have you consulted the FAQ?

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/faq/openvms_faq.html
http://h71000.www7.hp.com/faq/vmsfaq_stmlf.txt

[Steven Schweda]

Ah. I missed the fine print. That
complicates things.

[John Tannahill]

Thanks for the help; got the info that I needed!

John

[Robert Gezelter]

John,

I was glad to be of assistance.

I would also be remiss if I did not welcome you to the OpenVMS forum on ITRC.

A small observation on netiquette and the awarding of points. There is no limitation on the total points awarded relating to an individual question (except for the limit of 10 points per answer).

While I appreciate that my answer answered your question, consider awarding some points to Steve, who also took the time to respond, and included some information that I did include in my post.

You may also find my presentation from the Fall 1995 US DECUS symposium useful, specifically "DCL Lexicals: OpenVMS Jujitsu (slides at http://www.rlgsc.com/decus/usf95/index.html ).

Also, you should note that the entire OpenVMS documentation set is available online via the OpenVMS www site at http://www.hp.com/go/openvms

- Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] consider awarding some points to
> Steve [...]

Zero is a valid value, too, for particularly
useless advice. The important thing is to
keep M close to N in that

I have assigned points to M of N
responses to my questions.

thing in your profile, if you want to keep
the Points Police off your case.

[Jan van den Ende]

From Steven:

>>>
thing in your profile, if you want to keep
the Points Police off your case.
<<<

Yeah, NOW I can not resist!

Steven obviously prefers the somewhat anarchistic view that conforming to an etiquette is "not cool".

Well, I have about 15 years of experience in Amsterdam (arguably) the capital of noncorformism, but on the other hand: working for the police force; so I think I can view this from multiple sites.

And always having been in for any kind of competition, and nowadays physically unfit for most of them, _I_ just see the points as a game I like!

(Not to forget, it looks not too bad on a professional CV!)

Oh well, it is late, and I have a good beer \r\e\e\b bier (yes, I _KNOW_ the USA definition of beer, and this one does NOT fit) in front of me.

Just my EUR 0,02 ("decimal point is comma")

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe