APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 307 0 replies Left by: KEVIN HANEY On 20-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: JOB OPPORTUNITY GVSC Inc., is looking for experienced software specialist interested in projects dealing with state-of-the-art technology. We have several immediate openings in the areas of DATABASE/4GL application development @consulting, and ADA systems support. We desire highly motivated candidates with a degree in Computer or Physical Sciences and/or 3 or more years of CURRENT job experience in one or more of the following areas: INGRES/VMS FOCUS DBASE3/PC ADA/UNIX For concideration, please send your resume to: PRESIDENT GVSC Inc. 2 Cool Valley Road Malvern, PA 19355 attn: ARIS CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 364 0 replies Reply to # 360 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 20-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: LAT TERMINALS What is the name of the software package you are running that is tied to the terminal? The software vendor may have a way to tie it to the username or some other unique attribute for a job. As an example, WordMARC is normally tied to the terminal name. However, since LTA's are always different, they allow you to define a logical name which points to an entry in the configuration file. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 478 0 replies Reply to # 417 Left by: STEVE MULLENIX On 20-Jan-89 At : LIBERTY SYSTEMS INC. Subject: REGARDING VIRUSES In answer to your question on viruses... I saw a book at (I think)Waldenbooks in the computer dept on viruses, etc.... it did include some source code and a whole bunch of disclaimers on the use, care and feeding of the code... Hope it will help... One note.... the book was kind of pricey ($25-30) but may have the info you want... Smx CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 365 0 replies Reply to # 360 Left by: MARK KUEHN On 20-Jan-89 At : (612)646-4501 X 446 Subject: LAT PORT There is a way to translate an LTAx: to its physical server node name and to the physical port number of the server, which I think would accomplish what you want. Call me if you what the details (I'm far to lazy to type them in if you're not interested ! ;-} ) Mark SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 208 0 replies Reply to # 207 Left by: Phil Anthony On 20-Jan-89 At : Here Subject: DCL DATE ARITHMETIC Craig, I'm the wrong person to be answering - I don't know anything about VPA - but the DCL date lexical functions, using a combination of absolute and delta times on the input side and converting to absolute on output, might help you in a command file. I forget the exact syntax (no manuals handy). But the idea would be something like this: $ I = $LOOP: $ DATE_1 = $ DATE_2 = $ $ $ I = I - 1 $ IF I .GT. 0 THEN GOTO LOOP Hope this helps! VMS SIG Message # 831 2 replies Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 22-Jan-89 At : (805) 388-5700 Subject: BACKUP/IMAGE Does Backup/Image includes files that are marked no backup? I was going to restore a system disk from our last monthly backup, but when I checked the backup log file, two of my database files were not backed up because the files were marked no backup. I am afraid to trust the documentation BACKUP/IMAGE because it does not say anything about files marked no backup. I'll appreciate some clarification on this. Thank you. RSTS SIG Message # 330 0 replies Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 22-Jan-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: ARCHIVER/SQUEEZER FOR RSTS? Does anyone know if an archiving program exists for RSTS? I have used a couple in the MS-DOS world that will compress files and combine them into a package--compression can sometimes save 80% of the space originally used. I have a number of files that I would like to keep on disk, but I refer to them very infrequently and would prefer to reduce the space used. Either a compiled program (from a known reliable source) specifically for RSTS or source code in virtually any dialect of BASIC would meet my needs nicely. Thanks for your assistance. VMS SIG Message # 832 0 replies Reply to # 831 Left by: KEVIN G. BARKES On 22-Jan-89 At : ARIS OR SYS$OUTPUT BBS (412) 854-0511 Subject: IMAGE BACKUP Files marked "NOBACKUP" will be ignored during image backups unless you enter the qualifier /IGNORE=NOBACKUP. Quite a few people get burned this way. They use the nobackup qualifier to save time on incremental backups, then forget to remark the files or use /ignore=nobackup when doing an image save. If you want my opinion, I think /ignore=nobackup should be the default when using /IMAGE, but I'm sure there are lots of others who'd prefer maintaining the status quo. Regards, Kevin G. Barkes DCL Editor CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 366 0 replies Reply to # 365 Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 23-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: LAT'S Mark, if you could kindly type your 'info' offline, and 'dump' it into a message on here, I am sure many of us would appreciate it... You never know what could help out... Thanks! EDITORS SIG Message # 195 2 replies Left by: DARREN FEIT On 23-Jan-89 At : 518-385-3113 Subject: PC EDITOR I recall seeing a PC editor advertised in DEC Professional that ran under DOS and emulated the VAX EDT editor. Unfortunately I can't find the ad in my back issues. Can anyone help with an address or pnehnumber of the company? Thanks, Darren Feit EDITORS SIG Message # 196 0 replies Reply to # 195 Left by: ALAN BARKER On 23-Jan-89 At : (314) 895-8267 Subject: PC VERSION OF EDT The name of the company that distributes this software is Boston Buisness Computing. The product is PC-EDT. I use it myself and have found it to be a faithfull replication on the VAX EDT enviroment. I reccomend it highly, as it saves learning a new set of editing commands. BBC also marketsa DCL look-alike enviroment as well as a All-in-1 clone, but I cann't vouch for those as I've never used them. Alan Barker VMS SIG Message # 833 1 replies Reply to # 831 Left by: MARK KUEHN On 23-Jan-89 At : ARIS Subject: BACKUP/IMAGE Files that are marked NOBACKUP (and if you don't issue BACKUP/IGNOR=NOBACKUP) will not have the data they contained backed up in the backup saveset. There is a header entry created for the file (in the saveset), so when the saveset is restored, a file of equivalent size is will be created, but this created file contains none of the original data. This is exactly what you want to happen if you are backing up the system disk, because the SWAP, PAGE, and DUMP files contain no data relavant to a system backup other than the size of the file. However, user files such as database do contain relavant data an should be included in the saveset. I suggest that before you do an image backup, you search the entire disk for an files with NOBACKUP attribute, and change all your user files to not have this attribute. The problem with /IGNOR=NOBACKUP, is that it is an all or nothing proposition, which is a hassle if you have a VAX with 128 MBs of memory (the DUMP, SWAP, and PAGE files are enormous). I would much rather have, the capability to have BACKUP prompt me for an action when it encounters a file marked NOBACKUP. VMS SIG Message # 834 0 replies Reply to # 831 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 23-Jan-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: IMAGE BACKUP It's very simple. Files marked NO BACKUP are not backed up. Typically this is done for files like PAGEFILE.SYS and SWAPFILE.SYS whose contents are worthless. The _file_ will be restored but the _contents_ will not be restored. See also SET FILE /NOBACKUP. EDITORS SIG Message # 197 0 replies Reply to # 195 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 23-Jan-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: EDT+ The product you are thinking of is called EDT+ and is available from Boston Business Computing. I use it myself and I love it. With the LK250 keyboard, you could be on your VAX for all the difference you see. VMS SIG Message # 835 0 replies Reply to # 833 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 23-Jan-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: IMAGE BACKUP Mark, That sounds like an excellent System Improvment Request (SIR). Why don't you write it up and send it in. DEC responds to the top 10 SIRs at each DECUS Symposium. The top ten don't necessarily get implemented but a lot of them do find their way into VMS eventually. VMS SIG Message # 836 0 replies Reply to # 821 Left by: HOWARD Pinsley On 23-Jan-89 At : 212-836-8322 Subject: US Too We found this problem as well. The problem is with WordPerfect's supplied symbiont, not VMS accounting. We called WordPerfect engineering with this and they said they hope to fix it in a future release (5.0?). Any additional good-natured pressure from other clients might help. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 367 0 replies Reply to # 366 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 24-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: GETTING LAT PORT INFORMATION You can obtain the LAT port information very easily (under V5.0) by using the DVI$_TT_ACCPORNAM item code with $GETDVI. In fact, I sent a message several days back referring to this information for use with ALF. The only problem with the port information is: does the application program know how to interpret this information if it is provided or can it only interpret TTcn: or TXcn:? As for obtaining the port information under V4.7, it can be done but it uses $QIO's and the source would take up about 2 1/2 screens of text. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 RSX SIG Message # 255 0 replies Left by: BEN MARTIN On 24-Jan-89 At : 615/265-0607 Subject: RSX V4.1 AST'S We are currently attempting to resolve a problem with older RSX systems running RSX-11M V4.1. The problem seems to be related to AST blocks not properly being deallocated. The blocks are still in Pool, but the link word is zero. Has anyone seen or remember a patch that addresses this issue? Any help would be appreciated greatly! RSX SIG Message # 256 0 replies Reply to # 251 Left by: Barton F Bruce On 24-Jan-89 At : 617-868-111 Subject: MOS Disks I didn't even know SI makes them! But after what I have been through with them over the years, I am not sure I care... BUT the companies one normally associates with this sort of thing are Dataram (old product line, doubt any recent changes), and Imperial Tech. I/T does have all sorts of models emulating various Dec disks, and I would suggest looking them up. I remember seeing yet another companys ad recently but I don't remember who they were - not anyone I had seen before. How much memory do you need? If it fits in whatever is left 4 meg above your system, use the Decus FX: driver, as it is free. If you were on a BIG Q bus box, you can stuff it with 4 meg Clearpoint QED-2 cards. These have a bank select option, and can easily let you use 64 meg. Someone sells an FX: like driver that can manipulate the Clearpoint 'hyper-CSR' controlled windows to use all that memory. On an 11/84, you have only 2 PMI mem slots, and the same Clearpoint QED-2 memory works here in PMI mode rather than slightly dumber vanilla Q mode. 1 slot would be your normal memory, and the second could be a 4 meg more - all you can sneek into that box. The ads are around, but Clearpoint MUST know who makes the driver that sells their cards. Dec made one too! The ML11. Big $s, and a massbuss device. All MOS. You might find one used, but maint. $ will kill you. I once did a sysgen on a 2 meg 11/70 with the top meg setup as FX:. AT., PIP, MAC, LBR, TKB, etc were all installed from FX:. Not only are overlays fast, but those utilities tend to use their scratch space on whatever they were installed from. Sysgen took about 1/2 the normal time. With M+, now, I don't use FX:, but do use the space for CACHE. What are you doing that you need such a fast disk? Cache, especially the new 'defered write' feature for 'tmp' files makes such things FLY. I just checked Dexpo-East's newspaper, and Imperial Tech is exhibiting, but I don't see their phone number handy. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 368 0 replies Reply to # 359 Left by: Barton F Bruce On 25-Jan-89 At : 617-868-1111 Subject: E-Net Bridges There MANY MANY brands now, most of which have just got product out this last year, and there are more to come. While the VitaLink TransLans are the 'name-brand' one thinks of, there are even more expensive things available. Your simple 2 lan config does not warrant something like the Wellfleet true routers, but in a large net with a mesh topology these will do much better than the bridges. Bridges simply shut down many paths for fear of creating loops. The idle paths do serve as hot standby, but are otherwise wasted. Vitalink does now make some use of these otherwise wasted channels, and they are sold/serviced/installed by DEC, but are a bit expensive. There are ones that only do a couple of 56kbs worth of bandwidth, but are well under $5k/end, and the 'add-it-to your PC' card types are maybe $2k/end. Aside from the many comm trade mags, (try Network World, and Data Communication for starters) there is DEXPO soon, and there is a comm show about the same time I think in Washington. If you don't really need a whole T1, but 56kb is too slow, and WAY OVER PRICED if bought as DDS, check out the 'fractional t1' services now being offered by the smaller carriers (Lightnet, C/W, Telenet) and soon to be offered by AT&T + MCI, etc. These sell you DS0 (56/64kb 1/24ths of a t1) slots at nice prices but still good profit to them. POP to POP (i.e. no tail circuits) the least expensive T1 from Boston to NYC is about $2100., but the least expensive fractional t1 64kb is $211./month. Obviously at 24 x $211 they make GOOD money, but $211. is dirt cheap compared to 56kb dds. You buy as many slots as you want. Obviously at some point it is cheaper to buy the whole T1. Some people do bridges when they are actually close enough to run the whole 10meg on fiber, microwave, or infared. How far are you going? CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 369 0 replies Left by: JEFF GOWDY On 25-Jan-89 At : 714 397-4700 EXT 2289 Subject: MAC TO VAX We are currently considering the Mac to Vax networking that seems to be the big topic these days. We have many Macintoshes throughout are School District and would like to network them in with our Vax network. I would like any input anybody would like to share on this subject. We are currently running an 8530 and 2 MicrovaxII's in an LAVC. I have seen demos on Alisa and Pacer software products and the Kinetics hardware. Is this good stuff or is there better. What are the gotchas. I was somewhat impressed with the Alisa and Pacer network software but I would have liked to have seen a smoother user interface. Any comment would be greatly appreciated. Jeff Gowdy Systems Manager Pomona Unified School District MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 234 0 replies Left by: JEFF GOWDY On 25-Jan-89 At : 714 397-4700 EXT 2289 Subject: RA 8-1100 I am currently considering the RA 8-1100 disk drive by System Technologies in Houston Texas. Is anyone running this drive? If so, I would appreciate an comments. This drive sounds to good to be true to solve a specific need for our configuration. Planning to connect it to a 8530 using an existing KDB50 controller. Many thanks in advance. Jeff Gowdy Systems Manager Pomona Unified School District SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 209 0 replies Reply to # 207 Left by: KEVIN BARKES On 25-Jan-89 At : ARIS OR SYS$OUTPUT BBS (412) 854-0511 Subject: VPA, DCL Craig, I'm not that terribly familiar with the date syntax VPA uses. Could you leave an example? We can probably whip something up based on that. The October issue of DECUS' Pageswapper SIG has a nifty command file by Bob De Wolf dealing with weekday relative time that might give you a few ideas. Regards, Kevin Barkes DCL Editor MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 235 0 replies Reply to # 234 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 25-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: GIGA RIG DRIVES PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 362 1 replies Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 25-Jan-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: MACRO Hi. Can anyone give me some references to good books to use for learning VAX/VMS Macro Assembler? I have a _little_ experience with PC-based assembly languages. Basically a tutorial type of text would be best since I have the VAX Macro Reference Manual. Thanks in advance. Marty Chamberlain VMS SIG Message # 837 0 replies Reply to # 834 Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 25-Jan-89 At : (805) 388 5700 Subject: BACKUP/IMAGE Thank you folks. I am now fully enlightened about BACKUP/IMAGE and files marked NO BACKUP. I just want to make sure I don't lose our big database files and rebuild them later because of an oversight. Paul Lucero, System Manager CE-Environmental, Inc. 4765 Calle Quetzal Camarillo, CA 93010 WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 115 0 replies Left by: JULIE VANDERWILT On 25-Jan-89 At : 805-963-8761 X241 Subject: WP WITH TALARIS 800 We are having problems using the proportional fonts 7009 and 7010 on our Talaris 800 using Word Perfect. Word Perfect apparently does not recognize that the font is proportional, so right justification isn't working, etc. Does anyone know the proper way to install the driver to the printer management utility so that the font works properly? VMS SIG Message # 838 0 replies Reply to # 822 Left by: Rod Falanga On 25-Jan-89 At : 505-822-7393 Subject: E-MAIL It *WOULD* be nice if ARIS supported E-Mail, but it doesn't (at least it doesn't as far as I know.) Rod Falanga UTILITIES SIG Message # 344 0 replies Reply to # 331 Left by: Rod Falanga On 25-Jan-89 At : 505-822-7393 Subject: YES, I WOULD Yes,I would like to have a phone number to contact someone with DECUSserve. Thank you for offering!! Rod Falanga MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 236 0 replies Reply to # 229 Left by: MIKE CHEN On 25-Jan-89 At : (818) 405-0131 Subject: TAPEPOSLOST ERROR I look into 'SYSTEM MESSAGES AND RECOVERY PROCEDURES REFERENCE MANUAL', it explained: The magnetic tape ACP (ancillary control process) lost the current position on the tape and cannot continue processing. User Action: Close all open files. Dismount and remount the tape and position it to the desired position, if possible. If the error persists, the tape may be defective. Hope this will help. GOOD LUCK! VMS SIG Message # 839 0 replies Left by: JOE CRUM On 25-Jan-89 At : 803-227-2027 OR ARIS Subject: SETUSER.MAR ON V 5.0 I have been using a routine called SETUSER which I found in DEC Pro or VAX Pro several years ago. It is very useful for lots of things, such as Allin1 support, etc. where you need to change your username without logging out/in. However, a friend said he tried it under VMS 5.0 and it crashed his system, which does not surprise me. Does anyone have a copy of this routine modified for 5.0? If so, I would like to have a copy, or at least I'd like to know what has to be changed. I don't have access to fiche. My address is : 122 Country Acres Rd Greenwood, SC 29646 I will appreciate any help, and so will several other system managers I know. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 457 0 replies Reply to # 454 Left by: JOE CRUM On 25-Jan-89 At : 803-227-2027 Subject: RE: DIALING OUT ON VAX PORT Richard, You should be able to connect to your port TXA2: or whatever with SET HOST/DTE TXA2: Then you can manually dial the number you want to call, unless the DEC modem has autodial capability, in which case I think there is something like SET HOST/DTE/DIAL=number TXA2: although I have never used the DIAL qualifier. I prefer a Hayes compatible modem, and use the AT DT command set. SET HOST/DTE/LOG will let you capture your session in a file, but it's not very good for file transfer because of all the garbage that also ends up in the file. A much better alternative is VAX KERMIT, which I imagine Greenville Tech has. Kermit will allow you to transfer files from other nodes supporting KERMIT protocol, which includes most bulletin boards. Call me if you need a copy, or get the latest DECUS tapes from the LUG which I believe may still be meeting at Greenville Tech. I live in Greenwood. VMS SIG Message # 840 0 replies Reply to # 828 Left by: JOE CRUM On 25-Jan-89 At : ARIS Subject: DUMP FILE LOCATION I think VMS 5.0 supports dump files on drives other than the boot disk. However, it might be my memory playing tricks on me again... As far as other versions go, I don't think it is possible, at least not with normal VMS commands. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 363 0 replies Reply to # 362 Left by: JOE CRUM On 25-Jan-89 At : 803-227-2027 Subject: VAX MACRO I took a pre-symposium seminar at the last Spring DECUS symposium on Vax Macro that was a very good way to start learning Macro. If you can get to a symposium, try to get into this seminar. It was very helpful. I think the names of the guys who taught it were John and Kerry. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 116 0 replies Reply to # 115 Left by: Phil Anthony On 25-Jan-89 At : Here Subject: WORDPERFECT PRINTER DRIVERS Julie, I can't help you - but if I were a wagering man, I'd be willing to offer rather large odds that WordPerfect Corp. can. They have an entire division devoted solely to helping users out with print driver problems, even going so far as to talk you through creating your own driver if one of theirs doesn't work. I've availed myself of their services a number of times with unusual printers hooked to PCs and have always been impressed with their knowl- edge and helpfulness (coming from me that's darned high praise, too). The freebie number is 1 (800) 321-5906. Have your serial number handy when you call. VMS SIG Message # 841 1 replies Reply to # 839 Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 26-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: SETUSER.MAR Joe, the SETUSER.MAR program crashed on my system as well - but I expected it, since I got a linking error - specifically, there was an undefined symbol - SCH$GL_CURPCB - it was there in V4.7 - but not in V5.0 and above. From what I have heard, the SCH$ routines have 'become'(?) CTL$ routines, or were shifted so CTL$ accommodates it. Many programs that deal with changing your 'process', that are NOT already in VMS, are probably headed for the same result- so if you see an error about undefined symbols when linking, do NOT run the program, unless of course, no users are on and you can afford to crash your system. As far as I know, there hasn't been an 'update' to the code to 5.0 - and hopefully,. someone will do it - soon! PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 364 1 replies Left by: don roberts On 26-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: COBOL AND RMS I was writing a program yesterday to access an existing file. We have always, in the past, accessed this file by its primary key, which was its only key. We needed an alternate key so we added one (we have done this before on another file and accessed it with COBOL, so we think we did that part right). When attempting to read a record by that new key, with perform with test after until not record-lock read file key is alternate-key invalid key set invalid-key to true end-read end-perform. We get an RMS error 94, Invalid Internal Stream Identifier (ISI) value. Any clues? Is there something wrong with the read? What can I check in RMS? UTILITIES SIG Message # 345 0 replies Reply to # 344 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 26-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: DECUSERVE Try 508/480-3312. That should get you the right results. Otherwise, if Jeff Killeen is paying attention (decuserve chairperson), he can send you an application directly. If you have access to pageswapper, leave a message there, he will get back to you. VMS SIG Message # 842 0 replies Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 26-Jan-89 At : (805) 388 5700 Subject: WORD PERFECT'S PERFORMANCE I am planning to buy Word Perfect for our VAX 8200 with 8 meg of memory and running VMS 4.6. I would like to know from users with Word Perfect on their VAX system how this software performs within the VMS environment. I've heard it is a hog, if so, how manya users can it handle before it becomes a hog. Any advice will help. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 210 0 replies Reply to # 209 Left by: CRAIG PLUNKETT On 26-Jan-89 At : 212-841-5618 Subject: VPA, DCL Kevin, Thanks for the reply, VPA uses standard absolute time, but will only generate a report for one day, not one spanning several. So, you have to issue the VPA commands for each day you want a report for. This quickly becomes tedious. What I am trying to write is a procedure that will take an initial date and an ending date, and issue the same VPA command for each date within that period. So far, I haven't succeeded. Thanks for the pointer to the Pageswapper. -Craig PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 365 0 replies Reply to # 364 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 26-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: BLUSH oops, finally found the problem. forgot open input file-name allowing all. oh well how come this system always strips off my tabs? EDITORS SIG Message # 198 0 replies Reply to # 194 Left by: BOB MCCASKEY On 26-Jan-89 At : REVIEW BOARD (VAXPRO) Subject: VMS VER 5 EDITOR PROBLEM This is in reply to Rod's problem with an editor under vms version 5. (# 194) The Problem that you are experiencing is not data going into your file, but your terminal's interpretation (or lack of interpretation) of the control characters that are being sent by the editor. a few things to try: 1. set the baud rate down (way down) and try it again. It is possible that your terminal is not keeping up (is it dec or an emulator). 2. Trap the data comming to your terminal (use a PC in Emulation mode with capture on.) then dump the capture file. 3. Call your source for the software (do this one first). 4. Call DEC and bitch about 5 oh (I have). I hope this gives some help. good luck bob VMS SIG Message # 843 1 replies Left by: JOE KAZIMIERCZYK On 26-Jan-89 At : 609-921-5448 Subject: SESSION SUPPORT UTILITY I currently have a program that works like a 'show users' command, but also gives the terminal server name and port number if the person is connected to a decserver. It does this with a SYS$QIO call. (IO$_TTY_PORT or IO$M_LT_READPORT to be specific). My problem is that if someone is on a VT330 or VT340 with sessions enabled ("$SSU ENABLE"), I can no longer find out what terminal server they are on. From their VTA device, I can determine their TDA device number, then find the parent template device for this, and then I can get the LTA device number. But the QIO doesn't return anything for this LTA number. A "$LAT SHOW PORT LTA###" does work, but the QIO doesn't. Does anyone have any ideas on this?? MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 237 1 replies Reply to # 234 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 26-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: RA 8-1100 Jeff, I evaluated an RA 8-1100 back in October and I was mostly pleased with what I saw. The drive came up with 2000000+ blocks available and appeared to the system as an RA90. Four of the drives would fit in the same space as one RA82. We never purchased the drive because DEC got aggressive on the RA90's. Several observations though on the RA 8-1100: 1) Currently DEC will not maintain them. If you don't mind having DEC and third party maintenance or only third party maintenance, this is no problem. 2) When the drive was first powered up and loaded with files, I experienced about 27 disk errors involving bad blocks. Some the errors resulted in the 'Forced Error' flag (data lost). The salesman attributed it to "the drive not having a chance to adjust to the computer room temperature". I was also told that they are using two Maxtor 760MB drives to obtain the 1.1GB storage. My past experience with Maxtor drives had not been good and the bad block errors are reminscent(sp?) of that experience. This was also a deciding factor in our decision not to purchase. HOWEVER, I was advised that starting sometime in January or February, STA was going to start using CDC Wren VI's instead of the Maxtor drives. Had they been available sooner, I would have taken a closer look. I have found CDC Disk Drives to be some of the best manufactured devices in the industry. If you have any questions, feel free to call. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 844 0 replies Reply to # 841 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 26-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: A CHANGE USERNAME PROGRAM All you folks who want to change your username, I have a variant of just such a program called USERNAME.MAR. It works on V5.0! The secret is to change all references of SCH$GL_CURPCB to CTL$GL_PCB. Those of you who don't want to fool around with kernel mode code, give a me call and you can download the .MAR and .CLD files from my system. I have KERMIT. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 370 0 replies Reply to # 346 Left by: NICK D'APICE On 26-Jan-89 At : (301)-682-0298 Subject: STAND ALONE FROM HSC50 The first thing you have to do is build a stand-alone root on the disk you wish to boot from as follows: (preferably use the SYSE directory. SYSF is reserved for updates) 'command file' 'p1' 'p2' @sys$update:stabackit target_disk: [SYSE.SYSEXE] Then, you need to build a boot command file on your console boot device as follows: -for the 780/785 you need to use the EXCHANGE utility and mount the console device. (you must first connect the console using the SYSGEN CONNECT CONSOLE, where sysgen :== $sysgen). -then, the following is needed in your file to boot stand-alne from the HSC50 (its a lot easier if you use either the CIGEN. or CIBOO.CMD files already on your console disk, and first copying that file and then editing the file with the appropriate parameters): DEPOSIT R5 E0004000 !BOOT FROM THE [SYSE] ROOT ->(comment this one out) !DEPOSIT R3 0 !DISK UNIT NUMBER -thats about it. I usually do the following: I name the above file STABOO.CMD and then boot with the following commmand: >>>STA 0 -This causes the staboo.cmd file to be invoked, and the '0' is passed to the procedure and used as the deposit value in the R3 register. That way you can boot stand alone backup from any disk on your HSC50. (or you can hard code it in R3 if you wish). -The 8650 should be similar. However, I do not have an 8650 (we have 8550's and 8700's with a pro console. The pro console command files behave exactly as the 780/785 consoles, or to a large degree, [except for the stupid pro, of course], so there should be no problem (I hope) with your 8650). -Good luck. Call me if any problems. Nick D'Apice. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 371 0 replies Reply to # 229 Left by: KEVIN M. MCGRATH On 26-Jan-89 At : (718) 403-2910 Subject: LAT QUEUE PROBLEM I don't have a solution but I am experiencing the same problem. Since your message was posted awhile ago I wonder if you ever found a fix or work ariund to the problem. Thanks, Kevin UTILITIES SIG Message # 346 0 replies Left by: GEORGE DAWSON On 26-Jan-89 At : ARIS Subject: DISKEEPER PROBLEM I read a message about a problem with diskeeper dealing with losing of files and bad customer support. Does any one remember the message number and SIG. Old age must be catching up with me and I can't remember MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 479 0 replies Reply to # 473 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 27-Jan-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: FREE MAGAZINES??? Advertisements are not the only price we pay for receiving the "free" Dec Professional. We also "pay" in dealing with extra mail sent to us by people making use of the Dec Pro (and, I assume, the Vax Pro) mailing list--if you wish to do the same, they'd be only too happy to take your call. Then again, I'm willing to "pay" in that way; every once in a while I find out about something useful, even though I'm in the PDP world, and 90% of vendors seem to now think DEC=VAX. My own pet beef with this system is that the "non editor" method of leaving a message can be terminated only by hanging up. I've been leaving the sysop messages about this for over a year, and nothing has happened. After you type the CTRL/Z and it prints "Exit" in reverse video in best VMS tradition, the system stops; CTRL/Y will give an "Interrupt" in reverse video, but nothing else gives any response. I have to use the non-editor mode because TPU doesn't exist in PDP-11 land, and I studiously avoid EDT; TECO forever!!! I realize this is a free service, but it would be nice if it worked as advertised. . . MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 238 1 replies Reply to # 237 Left by: JEFF GOWDY On 27-Jan-89 At : 714 397-4700 EXT. 2289 Subject: RA 8-1100 DISK Robert, Thank you for that info. I was not aware that DEC would not maintain the drive. We are considering moving to CDC for maintenance so that may not be an issue. The real appealing part about the STA drives is the fact that they use existing DEC controllers (since we need this drive on our 8530 (BI bus)). Question?? Are there any other third party drives that you or anybody else know about that are plug compatible with the KBD50 controller?? As much as I know that probably it is best to go with DEC equipment, I still need to shop. (Working under a school district budget is such fun). Thanks again!!! Jeff Gowdy System Manager Pomona Unified School District MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 239 0 replies Reply to # 238 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 27-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: SDI COMPATIBLE DRIVES Several manufactures now have SDI (Standard Disk Interconnect / Strategic Defense Initiative) plug compatible drives. EMC, EMULEX, and DILOG come to mind off the top of my head. Also, I believe CDC and System Industries do as well. Hope this helps. FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 60 0 replies Left by: CHARLES KOTAN On 27-Jan-89 At : (916)452-3211 EX4823 Subject: NEW SYSTEM We're rassling with DEC, trying to spec a system that will provide the I/O we need and the CPU. One option is a 3600, which I'm afraid won't do the job over the long run. Another is clustering two 3400's, which DEC Insight (and my sales rep) indicates is a fine solution: I get two cpu's (clustering eats 20% of each cpu), and VERY fast I/O via DSSI. They just announced the RF71 (400Mb) DSSI drive, so I can get the storage I need, and still spread my relational database and system over several spindles. Does anyone see a problem or faster/cheaper solution. I can get into this hardware for about 200K, which my budget can live with. I'll need a fast comm link to half a dozen terms/devices in another bldg. Any suggestions on mux/fast modems? Also, any suggestions for software to make my life better (spm, etc) would be appreciated. Looking at Oracle, Ingres, & RDB. Thanks, Charlie Kotan VMS SIG Message # 845 0 replies Left by: JOE KAZIMIERCZYK On 27-Jan-89 At : 609-921-5448 Subject: SESSION SUPPORT UTILITY Whoever it was that replied to my problem with the Session Support Utility, (message 843 in the VMS SIG), I cant seem to read it. Could you send it again in reply to this message instead of #843 - so I can hopefully get to it. Thanks! UTILITIES SIG Message # 347 0 replies Left by: BOB KUHFAHL On 27-Jan-89 At : (202)7676503 Subject: FILE LAST ACCESSED ROUTINE? Has anyone developed a routine to date files when they were last accessed? This would be useful for disk purges and as far as I know you can't tell when anyone has read a file. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 240 0 replies Left by: LANDIS RAGON On 27-Jan-89 At : 314-233-6869 Subject: TU81+ AND TAPEPOSLOST Has any one else been having trouble with running Extra-length(3600 feet) tapes on a TU81+? We are currently at VMS4.7 (5.02 soon!) and we have to have the R/W head on the tape drive replaced about every 3 months!. We use mostly 3M blackwatch and some Memorex tapes. The DEC field service person mentioned that the 3M tapes were more abrasive and could be the source of the problem. Sounds possible, but I have been using the same tapes on a TU78 many months with no problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I called Colorado user support and they did send a patch tape that was supposed to help VMS4.7 with error recovery on the TU81+. It has helped some, but we are still eating heads. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 372 0 replies Reply to # 344 Left by: JOE GALLACE On 27-Jan-89 At : (613)9922332 Subject: DS200 DISCONNECTING Thanks Simone, at least now I know we are not the only ones having this problem. Surely the people at DEC MUST also encounter it. True, the problem does occurr if you dont fully disconnect from the Service. However, I have seen it so many times, that I don't believe this is the only cause. In any case it makes no sense to me, that the server should go into a DISCONNECTING state and never get out of it! Surely it should be smart enough to know that once, it started discon- necting of it's own accord- it is it's responsibility to finish and tidy up. Let's hope the problem will go away with the next release of LAT. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 241 0 replies Left by: JIM MCRAE On 27-Jan-89 At : (406) 245-3191 Subject: HELICAL SCAN TAPES We are trying out a helical scan tape drive from Megatape. We are backing up about 1 Gbyte nightly and are getting varied results. The backup took 5 hours one night and 11 hours the next. Also we get messages stating that BACKUP recovered errors from redundancy group during the backup and during the verification pass. My questions are: Is anyone else using these types of drives and with what kind of results. Also, since we are getting BACKUP is recovering errors from the redundancy group, how reliable are the backups. We are not concerned with the time so much as we are the variations and errors. The command we are using is: BACKUP/IGNORE=INTERLOCK/VERIFY/BLOCKSIZE=32768/BUFFER=5 input output/SAV The blocksize will be reduced to the default when we are doing this for real. Any explanations or help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jim CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 373 0 replies Reply to # 367 Left by: ERIC S. DUNGAN On 29-Jan-89 At : 612-334-3633 Subject: GETTING LAT PORT INFO You can also get server node and port information by using LATCP (DEC's LAT control program). Just run LATCP and do a SHOW PORT LTAXX This will give you the server name and port name. I wrote a *.COM procedure so I could find out where various LTA terminals were located. I used the SHOW PORT LTAXXX command from LATCP in VMS 4.7 and then changed to F$GETDVI lexical in 5.0 RSTS SIG Message # 331 0 replies Reply to # 330 Left by: Phil Anthony On 29-Jan-89 At : Here Subject: FILE COMPRESSION Kelvin, Brett Bump is talking about porting System Enhancement Associ- ates' ARC program from MS-DOS to RSTS. SEA is very helpful about pro- viding MS-DOS source code and asks only that (1) the resulting code and/or executable be distributed free, and SEA be given copies of source and executables so that they can also distribute it. SEA's code is in C, and Brett's talking about doing it in BASIC, so don't expect it next week. But he's getting tired of working on files under RSTS, downloading them to his Amiga for compression, and then uploading them back to RSTS for data transfer, so he's committed to it. One or the other of us will keep you posted and make sure you get a copy when it's done. As a workaround till then, you might want to do what Brett's doing now - hook a PC up to one of your terminal lines and download the files, then compress and store them on the MS-DOS machine. ARC itself is fairly slow because of SEA's insistence on portable C code, but SEA also distributes fast assembler programs called QARC and ARCE for com- pressing and extracting respectively on true IBM compatibles. The lat- est distribution, containing ARC, ARCE, and QARC, is V5.32. If you want 'em, I can arrange for you to download the full distribution; leave me a message here or call me at (215) 884-9128. Incidentally, .SAVs, .TSKs, and .BACs generally get compressed to about 65 to 75 per cent of their original size using the MS-DOS ARC (or QARC). ASCII files usually get cut in half. With data files, it de- pends on the nature of the files - the more random the data are, the less compression you get. Files with lots of nulls or spaces and a limited character set (e.g., only CHR$(0) to CHR$(127)) do best. DIBOL programmers, take note. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 480 0 replies Reply to # 464 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 29-Jan-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: CONTROL-O FYI. Using control ^O worked great for bypassing the nasty screens of text no matter where you were a year ago. I think the best thing to do would be to bring back ^O. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 374 0 replies Reply to # 362 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 29-Jan-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: TABS ON ARIS Hey Don. Using a tab as your first character has never worked on Aris. I always start a line I want to tab with a "!". I really don't think the system is getting back at you. In fact I think that it is getting better. A while back I don't think that your messages would have lasted five minutes. The reason that the links get mixed up following a conversation are due (I believe) to missing messages that have been taken out. Aris is getting better and better! MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 242 0 replies Reply to # 212 Left by: CHRIS KAYES On 29-Jan-89 At : FEL COMPUTING Subject: CIPHER M990/CONTROLLER We are using an M990 with the EMULEX QT-13 controller. This combination will allow remote density selection, if the controller has been set to emulate a TSCMP (??) TU81 type device. VMS SIG Message # 846 0 replies Left by: JOSEPH DILLON On 30-Jan-89 At : Bitnet - Dillon@IUBACS Subject: UPDATES TO CHECKMAIL PROGRAM V5.0 We are using the JMU checkmail program from DECUS tape library. It ceases to function in VMS version 5.0-2 because of the new format of VMSMAIL_profile.data. Does anyone have a way to 1) fix checkmail or 2) provide the Profile.data format? MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 243 1 replies Reply to # 240 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 30-Jan-89 At : HERE Subject: 3M BLACKWATCH Best advice you can ever get regarding tapes: DO NOT use 3M Blackwatch on a TU81+. That *IS* the source of your problem. Blackwatch works GREAT on IBM and IBM technology drives, probably one of the best around. But on a TU81+, Kennedy any, Cyber any, and *MOST* (not all, such as TU78) Dec drives, they are deadly. Course I have not seen the need to replace heads before, just clean them after every tape. The heads didn't last as long though, but three months??? How many tapes do you use a day? I would expect about 1500 mounts with a blackwatch tape would kill a head. If you are running 25 tapes a day, that would do it then. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 244 0 replies Reply to # 243 Left by: LANDIS RAGON On 30-Jan-89 At : 314-233-6869 Subject: BLACK WATCH TAPE Thanks for the feedback on Black Watch Tapes. I am sure that part of my problem is not cleaning the heads often enough. We are running an average of 2 tapes a day, and I suspect that we should clean the heads daily. After using a TU78, a cast iron drive if ever I saw one, it is hard to use a creampuff like the TU81..... Thanks again... CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 375 0 replies Left by: BRUCE GORDON On 30-Jan-89 At : (503) 323-2782 Subject: VAX CLUSTER DEGRADATION MY COMPANY RECENTLY PURCHASED TWO VAX 6220 COMPUTERS TO FORM A CLUSTER WITH THE VAX 8650 THAT WE ALREADY OWNED. WE DISCOVERED TO OUR DISMAY THAT WHEN A FILE IS OPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT NODES, THERE IS A DEGRADATION OF UP TO SEVEN TIMES. AS A TEST, I CREATED AN RMS INDEXED FILE OF 100,000 RECORDS EACH 100 BYTES LONG. THE KEY IS THE SAME AS THE NUMBER OF THE RECORD. WHEN I READ THROUGH THE FILE SEQUENTIALLY IN BATCH MODE WHEN THE FILE IS OPEN ON ONLY THAT NODE, IT TAKES FOUR MINUTES OF CONNECT TIME. WHEN THE FILE IS OPENED FIRST ON A DIFFERENT NODE, THE BATCH TAKES ELEVEN MINUTES. WHEN THE FILE IS FIRST OPENED ON NODE A, AND THEN THE BATCH RUNS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON NODES B AND C, THE LONGER BATCH TAKES 28 MINUTES TO RUN. WHEN WE MONITOR THE DISTRIBUTED LOCKING (DLOCKS) WHILE THE SAME FILE IS OPEN ON TWO DIFFERENT NODES, THE RATE OF DLOCKS GOES UP AS MUCH AS 100 TIMES OR MORE. WE WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHETHER THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW BUILT INTO VAX/VMS VERSION 5.0 OR WHETHER WE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE A SYSTEM PARAMETER SET WRONG. WE HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT DEC SOFTWARE SUPPORT, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!! TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 265 0 replies Left by: GEORGE PARTELOW On 30-Jan-89 At : 215-283-2319 Subject: LARGE SCREEN VT220 terminals I am interested in a 15-17 inch VT220 terminal that will give me approximately 50 lines per page and a width of 132 (characters in 132 mode should be approximately the same size as in 80 column mode on a regular terminal). Any ideas? I would like to keep the price under $900 retail. Thanks. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 266 0 replies Reply to # 265 Left by: Daniel C. Lanzi On 31-Jan-89 At : (914) 934-6320 Subject: The Big Picture... We have some of the Pericom MT 350 VT-compatible terminals here. This thing can do 132 columns by 50 lines, and is very readable in this mode. Our programmers love 'em, because they can see large parts of their code all at once on the tube. Of the 3 we bought, One had a bad keyboard, and one displays some slight video garbage on the screen edge when in 132 column mode. Otherwise, we have experienced no problems so far. I believe we paid $2,150 for each one. Daniel C. Lanzi MCI International Rye Brook, NY VMS SIG Message # 847 0 replies Reply to # 846 Left by: Robert G. Schaffrath On 31-Jan-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: VMSMAIL_PROFILE.DATA FORMAT Interesting little project. I have been contemplating a re-write of the CHECKMAIL utility for some time. However, there has not been any time for me to do it. So, if you want to make the changes, I have the format of the new VMSMAIL_PROFILE.DATA as well as the MAIL.MAI format. Drop me a line and you can have it. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 MICROVAX SIG Message # 186 0 replies Reply to # 183 Left by: ALBERT LEONARD On 31-Jan-89 At : 714-892-0505 Subject: PVAX-SCSI 1: After doing some initial tinkering with the PVAX and PMAX it would seem that the SCSI port on these machines do indeed have true SCSI compatibility with THIRD PARTY DRIVES. I hooked two third party vendors drives to these machines and had them running in a fairly short period of time . The device drivers supplied with the DEC software was able to recognize these drives and I was able to copy and run programs from these drives. I will have some more in-depth info as soon as it is available but for now it seems that DEC has really done something right for a change. MICROVAX SIG Message # 187 0 replies Reply to # 186 Left by: Phil Anthony On 31-Jan-89 At : Here Subject: PVAX/SCSI Don't worry. They'll change it as soon as they find out how much they'll lose in sales when the compatibility becomes well known. Remember DEC's recent history - incompatible PCs, closed VAXBI - and dream (like me) of the good old Q-Bus, UniBus, and MassBus days. VMS SIG Message # 848 0 replies Reply to # 841 Left by: JOHN BRIGGS On 01-Feb-89 At : (301)231-3061 Subject: CHANGE USER ROUTINE You should be able to simply change the SCH$GL_CURPCB into CTL$GL_PCB and have the code work. We ported such a routine over to a VMS 5.0 system for testing. (The system has since been backed down to VMS v4.7). The kernel mode code fragment we use is: .ENTRY KERNEL_CODE,^M MOVC3 #12,USER_BUFFER,CTL$T_USERNAME MOVL G^CTL$GL_PCB,R0 MOVL PCB$L_JIB(R0),R0 MOVC3 #12,USER_BUFFER,JIB$T_USERNAME(R0) MOVL #SS$_NORMAL,R0 RET LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 44 1 replies Left by: TOM CONNELL On 01-Feb-89 At : (502)426-6455X432 Subject: POSTSCRIPT UNDER VMS I am trying to set up an NEC LC890 laser printer on a Decserver port on our Ethernet. The LC890 is a Postscript device, and as such will only understand Postscript. (That is, unless you opt for using the HP Laserjet or Diablo 630 emulation modes, but THAT is another story.) Does anyone know of a short Postscript program that can be downloaded to the printer (perhaps via a form SETUP module) that would allow the device to then 'read' an ASCII text file and 'print' it? I have heard that such code exists, but I haven't been able to locate it. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!! FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 61 0 replies Reply to # 60 Left by: DR. GONZO On 01-Feb-89 At : Subject: OVERWORKED CPU? Sounds like you need a MicroVAX 3650 with a KFQSA controller for the DSSI drives! The MicroVAX 3650 is based on the Hyperion CVAX chip (currently incorporated in the 6300-series). Release of the MicroVAX 3650 is unknown right now. However, the KFQSA is due for release as an add-on in March. Best advice: Hold off buying any equipment if you can until DEC comes up with some more specifications. They are already talking about the Rigel chip being released in September which, if incorporated in a MicroVAX configuration, would be almost twice as fast as the (non-existant) 3650! APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 308 0 replies Left by: SIMON BROWN On 01-Feb-89 At : HERE Subject: COPY FORWARD MAIL Hi Aris Enthusiasts (and no hopers like me!). Is it possible under v5.02 to set a forwarding address for mail, and at the same time get a copy of the mail as it is automatically forwarded off to wherever. Sure, I can get a copy when I issue the forward command, but what I can't do is to use set forward and somehow come up with a copy. Bet it's in a manual, but I've read as much as I can, and can't find anything. Help. Simon psi%02062210339::SPLOT EDITORS SIG Message # 199 0 replies Reply to # 196 THE ADDRESS for Boston Business computing is 360 Merrimack St. Riverwalk Center Lawrence, MA 01843 (17-683-7920 Left by: BOB GRUBB On 01-Feb-89 At : 703-685-8196 Subject: PC EDT 4.0 UTILITIES SIG Message # 348 0 replies Reply to # 346 Left by: JACK GARRETT On 01-Feb-89 At : (613)-748-0209 Subject: unYou'll find that message #203 in the system performance category answers your question. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 246 0 replies Reply to # 240 Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 01-Feb-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: BLACKWATCH TAPES I have to agree with Don and Kitty about Black Watch tapes. It seems that the write surfaces of the tapes do not have any sort of coating over the oxide. The tapes are actually rough to the touch. I, like Kitty, prefer Memorex tapes. I've had no problems with them. As for your tape heads...WOW! Three months?!?!?! Even using 100-grit BLECH Watch tapes, this seems _very_ excessive. Are you sure your 3rd shift operators aren't using the heads to hammer nails? But seriously, our third shift runs 3 to 4 tapes through our TU81+ nightly. I clean the heads once a week (if I remember) and we've had the same heads for three years. I don't think cleaning the heads every day is the answer. Especially if you run only 2 tapes a day. What exactly does your DEC Field Engineer have to say about this? I'd be interested to know. Marty Chamberlain LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 45 0 replies Reply to # 44 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 01-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: ASCII TO POSTSCRIPT Tom, There is indeed such a file. When sent to the printer and followed by ASCII text, the result is a printout of your ASCII text. I believe it was written by someone at Adobe Systems and placed in the public domain. There is a copy on CompuServe's VAX Forum (GO VAXSIG) LIBrary 12. It might also be available on one of the DECUS VAXSIG Symposium tapes. FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 62 0 replies Reply to # 61 Left by: DR. GONZO On 02-Feb-89 At : Subject: OOPS! A little mistake in my previous message. There is no such CPU as the MicroVAX 3650. Instead, marketing has christened the new MicroVAX CPU's as MicroVAX 3800 and MicroVAX 3900. These replace the 3500 and the 3600 respectively. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 117 0 replies Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 02-Feb-89 At : (805) 388-5700 Subject: LEX-11 TO WORDPERFECT CONVERSION We are planning to change our word processing system from LEX-11 to WordPerfect. Is there any conversion package out there that can convert LEX documents to WordPerfect format. I tried all kinds of publications and did not encounter any. Any suggestions will surely help. PC'S SIG Message # 197 0 replies Left by: RICHARD L COUCH On 02-Feb-89 At : 8056422600 Subject: VAX & MAC I'm interested in talking with anyone who is using MAC'S with their VAX'S. I have a MicroVAX 3600 and am looking at all the possibilties for terminal emulation and up/down loading. I've only be using the VAX for 4 months so any info would be helpful. Thanks, Richard Couch, Pemko Mfg Co, Ventura CA 93003. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 267 0 replies Left by: DON ROBERTS On 02-Feb-89 At : HERE Subject: 1200 LPM PRINTER We need a 1200 lpm printer that can print 17 cpi and on multipart forms. It needs to be able to handle limited graphics, so a solid character printer is out. Could I get information on which vendors handle such beasts, and maybe even brief reviews? Thanks much, see ya in Atlanta Don MICROVAX SIG Message # 188 0 replies Left by: VAX3200 On 03-Feb-89 At : 215 646-4851 Subject: VAX3200 BACKPLANE I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VAXSTATION 3200. Has anyone installed 3rd party disk and tape controllers into this BA23 box? Is there enough room for 2 quad controllers? Does the 3200 cpu allow AB an CD slots in the BA23 box to be connected. I understand that the new 3600/3500 box (BA213 I think) doesn't allow two dual controllers in a single backplane slot. Also I get conflicting information about the number of users supported. DEC says its a single user system, but that they only sell licenses with two or more users. Does that mean we can connect another user through SET HOST nodename? Finally, how far can the workstation sit from the BA23 box. We would like to mount the BA23 in a cabinet and place the monitor about 50 feet away. Any information about your experience would be appreciated. Thanks. VMS SIG Message # 849 0 replies Reply to # 846 Left by: HUNTER GOATLEY On 03-Feb-89 At : 801-224-5306 Subject: MAILCHK I have a program, MAILCHK, that I wrote and submitted to the DECUS tapes way back in 1985. I recently had to convert it to work under VMS V5.x for a site that has been using it all this time. It's not real pretty, and it's not real smart, but it can handle single node mail stuff. Anyone interested can reach me at 801-224-5306 or send mail to: Hunter Goatley Clyde Digital Systems 371 East 800 South Orem, Utah 84058 We can arrange something. Hunter In the land of 14+ inches of snow on 2/3/89. MICROVAX SIG Message # 189 0 replies Reply to # 188 Left by: ALBERT LEONARD On 03-Feb-89 At : (714)892-0505 Subject: DISKS IN 3200 I have had a great deal of success in installing Third party controllers and disks into the MicrVax 3200 or Vaxstation 3200. The Vaxstation is limited to a single user enviroment supposedly however this remains a constraint of the software liscencing issues and not primarily to the hardware. The utilization of the Vaxstation is geared towards a single user enviroment however. As to the issue of networking this is a feasible method of sharing information between the host and remote users and many stations are set up in clusters for this purpose. The disc controllers and drives are transparent to the software but considerations must be taken into account as to the power requirements of the controller in the backplane and the AC/DC loading. As far as the Vaxsation is concerned many are diskless so the primary (or first disc) installed will not put a strain on the power supply. I would go into further details as to the manufacturers however I'm not sure that is the purpose of this bulletin board. Please feel free to contact me if you need any further info. VMS SIG Message # 850 0 replies Left by: David Beorn On 03-Feb-89 At : 804-788-7410 Subject: PDP MACRO to VAX MACRO Conversion You all may have seen this, but anyone wanting to convert PDP-11 MACRO (MACRO-11) to VAX MACRO (MACRO-32), there is a company called Digital Scientific that has a program that does this. Cost in the $4000 range. It is capable of translating "98%" of and MACRO-11 code. Contact them at 805-295-1155. The product is called MacroVAX (yeh - that's an "a"). David DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 459 1 replies Left by: RUSSELL MOSEMANN On 04-Feb-89 At : 402-643-3651 Subject: KEYBOARD LOGGING We are a new VAX site running on a VAX3500, after moving from a PDP 11/70. One feature we really miss from the 11/70 is the ability to log output from the keyboard. We know about SET HOST and we have tried writing some programs and directing output to a maibox so that it can be intercepted and written to a file. However, there are some problems with each of these approaches. What we would like to do is write a program, preferably in Pascal, that intercepts characers sent or echoed to the keyboard and writes them to a file. The program should be transparent to the user. Does anyone have the solution to this situation? TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 268 0 replies Left by: RUSSELL MOSEMANN On 04-Feb-89 At : 402-643-3651 Subject: PRINTER AS TERMINAL We have an LA100 connected to a DECServer 500. A queue is configured for this printer and the symbiont assigns the device. We would like to use the printer also as a terminal by logging in. The DECServer manual describes the configuration of such an operation and the use of the break key to establish a new connection with the host computer even though the device may be owned by an application. This does not work. We have called Atlanta and they have confirmed our tests. This is also no way to have the symbiont release the device unless we stop and rest the queue. Can anyone give us a solution to this problem? We want to spool documents to our printer, but we also want to be able to login on the printer and run applications there. It should be automatic and trasparent to the user. Stopping and resetting the queue each time we log in or out is not an option. VMS SIG Message # 851 0 replies Left by: HOWARD PINSLEY On 04-Feb-89 At : (212) 836-8322 Subject: SYS$CHANGE_ACL I discovered a problem with one of my applications when I moved it from 4.7 to 5.0. The application implements an acl editor and uses sys$change_acl to accomplish the real work. It locks the acl, potentially modifies it, and then unlocks the acl. It seems that the unlock function of change_acl no longer works as advertised and in fact does not unlock. The write function, interestingly, does unlock the acl. Is this correct behavior?? It did not function this way under 4.7. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 460 0 replies Reply to # 459 Left by: Phil Anthony On 04-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: KEYBOARD LOGGING UNDER VMS Russell, you may be able to find more about this from some of the gurus on the VMS SIG (SIG 37). But Clyde Digital has a product that permits people with the appropriate privileges to look at what somebody else is typing at her/his terminal, or even to run the terminal from a remote location. Can't remember its name, but somebody out at Clyde can help you, I'm sure, and maybe you can buy an off-the-shelf product instead of having to reinvent the wheel. Clyde Digital's address and telephone number, as found in ARIS' adver- tiser index, is . 371 East 800 South . Orem, Utah 84058 . 1 (801) 224-5306. Good luck! SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 211 0 replies Reply to # 207 Left by: PAUL BUOB On 05-Feb-89 At : 309-578-3829 Subject: VPA MULTIPLE DAY GRAPHS Many people have been asking about the abili to graph multiple days with VPA. Rumors have it that VPA release 2.0 will have all this and more. However multiple day graphs with VPA can be obtained by defining the logical : $ DEFINE VPA$MULTI_DAY_GRAPH "YES" You must keep the data files around for the periods you wish to graph, a costly alternative for long range graphs. Once the logical is defined and the data files are present, one should be able to specify /Begin= and /End= dates beyond 24hrs. This works on the graphs only, and will only work with version 1.2 of VPA. I've tried this and it works. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 212 0 replies Left by: PAUL BUOB On 05-Feb-89 At : 309-578-3829 Subject: VPA MULTI DAY GRAPHS You can graph multiple days with VPA (vers 1.2) by defining an undocumented logical. $ Define VPA$Multi_Day_Graph "YES" You must keep your VPA data files for the period you want to graph. If you wanted to graph the date 1-jan-1989 to 6-jan-1989 try the following. $ Advise/Graph/Begin=1-Jan-1989/End=6-Jan-1989/Type= (whatever you want....) This logical works for graphing several days. VMS SIG Message # 852 0 replies Left by: KEVIN VERBLE On 06-Feb-89 At : 714-998-5500 Subject: PRINT QUE DATA SET HANG-UP We use print queues to pass data down to PCs for further processing. One of our branches says that each morning the print queue has a data set hang-up error message and they must start the queue. I think this has something to do with the PC being turned off at night. I'd like to know if anybody could verfiy this or enlighten me any further on this problem, thanks in advance. KEVIN VERBLE TRW-RELS PC'S SIG Message # 198 0 replies Left by: RICK MORRISON On 06-Feb-89 At : 313-745-4963 Subject: VMS SERVICES & WORDPERF. I have a growing network of PC's (30 currently....goal is 120) using the network versions of WordPerfect Office and WordPerfect. All functions of this software seem to work just fine...with the exception of mail notification (WordPerfect Office Mail). All PC's boot with NETBIOS as SESSION.EXE....still no notification of new messages from WordPerfect Office Mail. The user still has to check his mail manually if he wants to know if he has any new mail. Does anybody else use this product on VMS Services for MS-DOS ? Have you been successful in implementing this mail notification function ? Also, I have spent several months with this product (VMS Services for MS-DOS) and am quite comfortable with it. I would be willing to help anyone with it. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 269 0 replies Reply to # 267 Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 06-Feb-89 At : HERE Subject: 1200 LPI PRINTER Don, look into the C-Itoh line - I know I have used a ci-600 and it was capable of italics, graphics, etc, etc... and was very reliable - i am pretty sure they have a 1200 version now... can handle multipart forms with no problems.... I have a dec lxy2 (printronix 600 clone) and I wish I could trade for the ci-600 - wouldbe same speed but I preferred the c-itoh. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 461 0 replies Reply to # 459 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 07-Feb-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: TERMINAL LOGGING SOFTWARE Another product besides the one Phil mentioned is VAXwatch from Advanced Systems Concepts, Inc. We compared the product from Clyde with VAXwatch and found VAXwatch to be better priced. Besides being able to log all terminal I/O to a file, you can also connect your terminal to the I/O streams of another process and interact with it. The address of the company is: Advanced Systems Concepts, Inc. 33-41 Newark Street Hoboken, NH 07030 (201) 798-6400 p.s. I don't work for them Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 853 0 replies Reply to # 836 Left by: J. BOYD NOLAN On 07-Feb-89 At : 405 677 0526 Subject: THANKS THANKS FOR THE INFO HOWARD. I'VE BECOME VERY ADEPT AT APPLYING GOOD NATURED(AND SOMETIMES NOT SO GOOD NATURED) PRESSURE. I'LL BE SURE AND GIVE THEM A CALL. THANKS AGAIN!!!!! VMS SIG Message # 854 0 replies Reply to # 746 Left by: JAY TROY On 07-Feb-89 At : Subject: PICK AND VMS Hi, I have used/worked with both PICK and VMS. The latter being the better of the two by far. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 309 0 replies Left by: LEONARD GERSTLE On 07-Feb-89 At : 212-236-2061 Subject: RDB/SQL LOCKING & INDEXES The documentation on SQL states that you can declare transactions requesting different types of locking. Has anyone been able to get this to work ? All of my test seem to show that none of this stuff works. Also, if a table has a multi-column index, and you do a select based on only one of those columns, does SQL take advantage of the existing index ? PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 366 0 replies Left by: HOWARD PINSLEY On 07-Feb-89 At : (212) 836-8322 Subject: C++ Is anyone using C++ on the Vax. What products? How do you like it? Any comments on migrating from a procedureal to an objective approach to software development? Is it a passing fad or a developing revolution? MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 247 0 replies Reply to # 241 Left by: MARK KRAWEC On 08-Feb-89 At : WYSE TECHNOLOGY Subject: 8MM{TAPE SUBSYSTEMS WE CU{RENTLY USE EXA{YT{E TAPE SUBSYSTEMS TO BACKUP OUR SUNS. EACH SUN SERVER HAS A SCSI CONTROLLER AND ITS OWN 8MM TAPE SYSTEM. THIS PROVIDES FOR UNATTENDED BACKUPS WHICH IS NICE WHEN YOU'RE UNDERSTAFFE{. I'M ALSO INTERESTED{I{ USING THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR VA{CLU{TE{. {AT THIS POINT I'M WAITING FOR A CLUSTER-ACCESSABLE 8MM UNIT WITH THROUGHPUT COMPARABLE TO A TA81 {468KB/S). MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS WHAT CONTROLLER ARE YOU USING ON YOUR VA{. IF IT'S{A{SCSI YOU'RE LIMITED TO AROUND{24{ KB/S. I UNDERSTAND THAT PERTEK HAS A 9 TRACK CONTROLLER THAT WILL WORK WITH THE HELICAL SCAN UNITS AND WILL PROVIDE{yM THROUGHPUT OF 900+KB/S. ALSO YOU NEED TO FIND OUT IF CRC IS BEING HANDLED BETWEEN YOUR MEGATAPE AND IT'S TAPE CONTROLLER ON A HARDWARE LEVEL. IF THAT'S THE CASE YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD "/NOCRw3C" TO YOUR BACKUP COMMAND LINE. THIS COULD BE DISASTEROUS IF CRC ISN'T BEING HANDLED BY THE SUBSYSTEM THOUGH. LET ME KNOW THE TYPE OF VAX AND TAPE INTERFACE YOU'RE USING. RSTS SIG Message # 334 0 replies Left by: BOB DUDLEY On 09-Feb-89 At : (314) 731-3444 Subject: TK50 TAPE PROBLEM Ackkk. I've got a problem with a TK50 tape (RSTS V9.x). Tape has been maintained with Backup, has about 30 backup sets on it. I can't get past the 3rd backup set. Restore gives the RSTS error msg "Device Hung or Write Locked". The Error package mumbles its usual 6-digit stuff, and says "Serious Exception (End Flag=24), Endcode-245 (Unknown), Status/Event Code=21 (Unknown). Field Service shrugs, says "huh", and then must be a problem with the tape (yeh, I know). I've tried pip (tape mounted in ANSI mode) with /ignore. It won't skip past the offending backup set. I've tried a basic program, and I can skip records in the offending set, up to a certain point. At that point, each record skip the program issues results in the same hard error posted to ERRLOG, and no apparent change in the tape position. If I can figure out how to position the tape past this "bad spot", I can at least salvage the rest of the data on the tape. Any ideas??? Bob... APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 311 0 replies Left by: JOHN ROSTERN On 09-Feb-89 At : (212) 237-2641 Subject: MDBS III UNDER VMS Is anyone else out there using MDBS III DBMS on a VAX under VMS? The product is made by Micro Data Base Systems and we are currently developing / refining an application on an 8250 using 'C' and the IQ report writer. We are having tremendous performance problems with a light (under 10 users) load. Any help would be appreciated..... LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 46 0 replies Left by: STEVE DYER On 09-Feb-89 At : 812-853-1333 Subject: VWS PRINT SCREEN TO LN03 Does anyone know if VWS 3.3 knows how to tell the LN03 to go into either landscape mode or portrait mode automatically when using the PRINT SCREEN selection from the workstation's menu ? When I use that command, the workstation software leaves the LN03 in normal ( portrait ) mode, even when landscape would give more area. We send escape sequences to the LN03 to solve the problem, but I would have expected the software for the PRINT SCREEN command to be smarter than that. Any comments ??? DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 462 0 replies Left by: ZIA AHMAD On 09-Feb-89 At : (213) 486 7816 Subject: VAX TO AS/400 FILE TRANSFER Does anybody out there know of a mechanism to transfer files between a AS/400 system and the VAX? This transfer mechanism should be bi-directional and cheap! CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 376 0 replies Reply to # 30 Left by: ZIA AHMAD On 09-Feb-89 At : (213) 486 7816 Subject: DECNET 780 TO MV'S To completely answer your question I need to know various items. How are you physically connected? What version of VMS etc. I'll be happy to talk to you via the phone. I have a similar configuration it works like a charm! PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 367 0 replies Left by: TOM CACHAT On 09-Feb-89 At : 714 837-5198 X354 Subject: BASIC TO COBOL SOURCE CONVERTER We are considering converting VAX BASIC applications on an 11/785 to COBOL. Anyone know of a program that does this? Thanks. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 463 0 replies Reply to # 462 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 09-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: FILE TRANSFER Zia, For low volume file transfers, I would suggest Kermit. Kermit is readily available for almost any computer and is cheap. Columbia University sells tapes for about $100 but you can freely copy a Kermit from anybody who has one. DECUS offers a collection of Kermit programs for various hardware. Tapes from DECUS cost up to $154 for members, slightly more for non-members. (You might as well join, it's free). In addition to the software, all you would need would be two serial ports connected by a null-modem cable or, if the two machines are separated by more than about 200 feet, two modem cables, two modems and a telelphone line. For high volume file transfers I would suggest getting a tape drive for each machine. It will cost you money but you would quickly become dissatisfied with the data rates available with serial communications. MICROVAX SIG Message # 190 0 replies Reply to # 188 Left by: JOHN BRIGGS On 10-Feb-89 At : (301)231-3061 Subject: SINGLE USER LICENSE As of VMS version 4.7, DEC's single user license is implemented in LOGINOUT.EXE and limits the system to two interactive users. Regardless of how many windows are on the workstation screen, they jointly count as only one user. You CAN have one additional user via SET HOST or through a terminal server. Batch, detached and network processes do not count toward the limits. VMS 5.x implements the licensing through the license management facility (LMF). You again get 2 users by default as I recall. The limit is on interactive users defined the same way as in v4.7. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 368 0 replies Reply to # 367 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 10-Feb-89 At : 818/969-6741 X265 Subject: BASIC TO COBOL I don't think I have heard of anyone ever converting from basic to cobol. Those two languages are so *different*. Unless you are using VAXbasic with maps, you will see nothing like the data division, and how would you construct that? I am not even sure you would WANT to convert that way, cause you would never know how to take advantage of COBOL's features starting from basic source. Especially if it was ported from some old BASIC+, as is often the case. I have worked with both languages, and I would be more than willing to discuss the ramifications of what you are doing. Although I suspect you have an idea. I can just see it "Let's convert, okay, here's a program, lets see, let's create a data division, oh wow, there has to be an easier way! Let's get on Aris and see if anybody can help..." Don SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 213 0 replies Left by: JOHN ROSTERN On 10-Feb-89 At : (212) 237-2641 Subject: ADJUSTING QUANTUM I am currently running a VAX 8250 with 32MB of memory and 2 RA82 disks. SPM reports show non-existent page faulting, plenty of free list, etc.. However CPU utilization is buried at 100% for long stretches of time (60 minutes plus). The applications are written in 'C' using MDBS III DBMS. Currently, Quantum is set at 2, my understanding is that in a heavily CPU loaded system you should drop quantum below default (20). Baseon SPM however I feel that the problem mt be that with a short Quantum the procs needs more attempts at CPU to complete its task. Therefore I am considering raising Quantum bacto at least 20. Has anyone had any experience in similar situation MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 248 0 replies Left by: FRANCIS SHIELDS On 10-Feb-89 At : 215-293-0410 Subject: SI 8MM TAPE DRIVE We have been using the SI 8mm tape backup system for about 6 months and have had alot of hardware/software problems. SI has done an ok job in replacing the drive at least 3 times. When it works, it does a great job (i.e., fast, storage capacity, etc.). We would like to purchase another for our other MicroVAX, but obviously have some concerns about the hadware problems. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE WITH SI 8MM EXPERIENCE (GOOD OR BAD). Message # 335 1 replies Reply to # 334 Left by: Phil Anthony On 10-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: DAMAGED BACKUP TAPE Bob, you'll probably have to write yourself a home-grown program to read your damaged tape non-file-structured, then write back the good information to another tape, also non-file-structured. When you get a tape error that isn't a tape mark during the read phase, use the .SPEC function to skip for- ward to the next tape mark and discard the data you've already read in from that particular save set. That'll get you past the bad part of the tape. The reason for the non-file-structured writes is that you want to write the original ANSI headers back on the tape, rather than creating new ones via PIP or whatever. Also, *you* want to control the blocking, so that it's what BACKUP expects when you go to do a restore. RSTS SIG Message # 336 0 replies Reply to # 335 Left by: BOB DUDLEY On 11-Feb-89 At : (314) 731-3444 Subject: TK50 I think I tried that already, Phil. I didn't worry about the NFS mode at first. I opened it in basic, used record skips, and can't get past that spot on the tape. I trap the error, try the record skip again, and get nowhere. Are you suggesting that a file skip (tape mark skip) might work at that point, where a record skip won't work? Bob Dudley VMS SIG Message # 855 1 replies Left by: RUSSELL MOSEMANN On 11-Feb-89 At : (402) 643-3651 Subject: LOGGING KEYBOARD I/O I left a message under the Software/Communications SIG, and I was directed to the gurus of the VMS SIG. We are a new VAX site running on a VAX3500 with a DECServer 500. We are running VMS 5.0. We moved from a PDP 11/70, and were quite used to the keyboard I/O logging feature of DCL. We know about the SET HOST feature to do logging, but this is cumbersome and also difficult to explain to users (not to mention the fact that they could get into trouble). I have tried creating subprocesses and directing I/O to a mailbox and trapping it there before sending it on. The problem with this is that applications will not recognize a mailbox as a terminal device and may not run. We are looking for an application that a user could run, which would log the session to a file until they logout, and then perhaps queue the file. The application should be transparent. If you have information that would be helpful to us in designing and tayloring such a program to our specific needs, it would be MUCH appreciated! VMS SIG Message # 856 0 replies Reply to # 855 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 11-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: LOGGING KEYBOARD I/O Russell, There is a program available called PHOTO that will log a terminal session to a file. If you want to send me a tape and some return postage I could send you a copy. It may also be on one of the recent DECUS VAXSIG Symposium tapes. If you have access to the ARPAnet/Internet, I could make it available for anonymous FTP. Let me know. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 369 1 replies Left by: GREG TESCH On 12-Feb-89 At : (714) 582-4371 Subject: VAX C ANSI FUNCTION PROTOTYPES Does anyone out there know how to make VAX C give argument type mismatch warnings when using function prototypes and the call argument type doesn't match the prototype argument type? Thanx for any help.... RSTS SIG Message # 337 0 replies Reply to # 336 Left by: Phil Anthony On 13-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: DAMAGED TAPE Bob, I'm not real sure. For one thing, the RSTS V9.x driver for TK50s is different from the RSTS V6C through V8.0 Sysgen L drivers for TU devices I was writing to. But I think it's worth a shot. You may have to do multiple reads to tape mark before you actually get there, of course. As I remember, to find a tape mark, the RSTS drivers read each block on tape until the mark is found; so you'll get an error at each block that's been damaged. But if the TK50 driver works the same way the TU driver did, *the tape will advance* with each attempt till you're past the bad area. And if the worst comes to the worst, and the TK50 driver doesn't even ad- vance the tape when you request a read to tape mark, at least you'll know where to start cutting and splicing - which is the only alternative I can think of. Then again, I suspect you already know where the damage begins. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 249 0 replies Reply to # 247 Left by: Jim McRae On 13-Feb-89 At : (406) 245-3191 Subject: 8MM TAPES We were running this on a 750 with the SCSI controller. I say "were" because we sent it back. The Megatape engineers promised to get back to us a couple of times to help us with our problems and did not. We did have the CRC check on and I for one argued strongly for it, reasoning that if it will give some additional checking, it's worth the time. Our biggest concern was the variability in the times (from 1.5 hrs to 6 hrs on the same set of data). There is a possibility that our problems were caused by the CPU. Errors began showing up about the time we sent it back. These errors were traced to the Nemonix accelerator causing problems in an L003 board (so Nemonix said). We removed the accelerator and the CPU problems disappeared. So, maybe the tape would have worked, but the support we got was not the most wonderful. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 118 0 replies Left by: BOB KERNS On 14-Feb-89 At : Subject: LN03 WITH WORDPERFECT We are trying to use Wordperfect 4.2 on the VAX (works great) but can't seem to figure out how to make WP recognize the font cartridges. Is there something we need to do to the printer definition? RT SIG Message # 21 0 replies Left by: JEFFREY R. WHEELER On 14-Feb-89 At : (502)586-9251 Subject: CDC 9766 DISK INITIALIZE WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE IN INITIALIZATION OF CDC 9766 DISK PACK ON CROSFIELD SCANNER HARDWARE. FORMAT PROCESS IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND NO PROBLEM, BUT NOT SO WITH INITIALIZE. WE NEED ASSISTANCE WITH INIT FROM RT11 DOT PROMPT, AND UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE OF THE CDC 9766. PLEASE DON'T ASK WHY THIS INIT IS NOT SUPPORTED, IT WAS JUST PROBALY OVERLOOKED. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 271 0 replies Left by: DAVID FITZGERALD On 14-Feb-89 At : 617-241-9220 Subject: VT320 LINE 25 HAS ANY GURU OUT THERE FIGURED OUT HOW TO WRITE TO THE SO CALLED "HOST WRITABLE" STATUS LINE (LINE 25) ON THE DEC VT320'S ? THEIR USER'S GUIDE IS OBTUSE !!! END SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 214 0 replies Reply to # 213 Left by: JOHN P. FLYNN On 15-Feb-89 At : (615)269-2266 Subject: ADJUSTING QUANTUM I also would like to see a definitive answer about the effects of adjusting quantum. But as I currently understand things, lowering quantum will decrease the amount of time each process must wait before getting its next turn in the CPU. In effect, it will negate the "priority" of CPU-bound processes over non-CPU-bound processes. The total throughput, or cumulative time spent by all processes in the CPU, will not improve because you can't use more than 100% of it. At best, lowering quantum may improve response time (so I have heard). However it will hurt throughput because of the increased overhead for context-switching. I have seen a suggestion to lower quantum from 20 to 10, but I would expect that a value as low as 2 would increase overhead tremendously. If your system runs many CPU-bound processes, maybe it would make sense to raise quantum, in order to decrease the cost of context-switching. For what it's worth, I recently asked some system-performance "experts" at a DEC training center about lowering quantum. They said it's never worth the increased context-switching overhead. John. VMS SIG Message # 857 0 replies Left by: JOHN P. FLYNN On 15-Feb-89 At : (615)269-2266 Subject: VMS 4.6 BACKUP Under V4.6, BACKUP appears to exhibit an annoying "feature" when you use the /EXCLUDE qualifier. Let's say your current default directory is DISK1:[ABC] and you use the following command: $ BACKUP DISK2: /EXCLUDE=[XYZ...] .... BACKUP uses your current default device to qualify the exclude directory, rather than the device specified in the BACKUP command. In this case, rather than excluding the intended DISK2:[XYZ], BACKUP tries to exclude DISK1:[XYZ], and reports an error because that directory doesn't exist. If you change it to: $ BACKUP DISK2: /EXCLUDE=DISK2:[XYZ...] an error is reported because you're not allowed to specify a device name in the /EXCLUDE qualifier. Does anyone know of a solution to this other than setting your default directory to the device you're backing up? Thanks. John. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 312 0 replies Left by: LEONARD GERSTLE On 15-Feb-89 At : 212-236-2061 Subject: MORE RDB/SQL QUESTIONS Does anyone know if RDB database files need to/can be compressed. When dropping fields, does the space get freed up for use or does the file need to be compressed. I am not talking about VMS file fragmentation, but making available freed space within tables. Also, is it possible, to list the text of the SQL line which defined a view. I have inherited a poorly designed database that has duplicate fields in various tables. By doing a SHOW VIEW, all you get is a list of field names. this does not tell me which tables these fields are being pulled from. Also, I don't know how these tables are joined. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 272 0 replies Reply to # 271 Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 15-Feb-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: VT320 LINE 25 There are a couple of escape sequences that you need to be aware of to write the the 25th line of a VT3xx display. The first is DECSASD or Select Active Status Display. The format for this is ESC[#$} where the # is either 0 to select the main display or 1 to select the status line. The second sequence that is of some consequence is DECSSDT or Select Status Line Type. The format of this one is ESC[#$- where # is 0 for no status line, 1 for indicator status line, or 2 for host-writable status line. Here's the scenario for the use of these babies: Let's say I want to write the text "This is on line 25" on line 25, the code (in DCL, anyway) would look like this: $ SAY = "WRITE SYS$OUTPUT" $ SAY "[H[J" !Home the cursor and clear the screen $ SAY "[1$}" !Select output to the status line $ SAY "This is on line 25[0$}" !Write the text on the status line $ !reset output to main display $ SAY "This text is on the main display" $ SAY "And so is this" $ EXIT Note that the sequence to reset output to the main display is tacked on to the end of the status line text. This is so that the DCL WRITE does not do a line termination sequence on the status line. This would cause the text to scroll off the status line and disappear. basically you don't want to write line terminators on the status line. Be sure to SETUP the terminal for host-writable status display and be sure that the terminal mode is VT300 series. This code works for me. If you have any problems let me know. Marty Chamberlain GRAPHICS SIG Message # 83 0 replies Left by: GARY LEYDON On 15-Feb-89 At : HERE OR LEYDON@YALEMED Subject: VAX SCA Does anyone know of problems with VAX SCA. I have a vaxstation II with 10 Megs of memory and can't seem to use SCA. Th installation verification program said it installed okay. When I try to load an analysis file into an SCA library the system dies and after about 10 minutes I get a message saying the module is loaded. If I then try LOAD *.ana after about 15 minutes and maybe 3 modules loading okay SCA aborts with an access violation. All my process quotas are set as suggested in the installation guide. Thanks PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 371 0 replies Left by: JOHN ASTARITA On 15-Feb-89 At : (201) 474-4882 Subject: PL/I STREAM FILES Does anyone know of a way to make a stream file shareable??? I have a procedure in which I use a number of PUT SKIP statements for audit purposes, except I cannot examine the file while the image is running. Currently I create a detached process to execute the image. Thanks...John VMS SIG Message # 858 1 replies Left by: TRENT DILKIE On 15-Feb-89 At : 416-857-3240 Subject: CHANGING OWNER/PROT/ACL I am attempting to modify file ownership, protections and ACLs from a FORTRAN program. This is required for our file management/protection scheme. So far, the only method that I have found is to write a MACRO program which is called by my Fortran program. The MACRO program will open the file ($OPEN), change the XABPRO, and close the file ($CLOSE). Another approach would be to call LIB$SPAWN and use the DCL command SET FILE.. etc. Is this the only approach ? Does anyone have or know of a callable utility that I can use to avoid writing this stuff myself ? Trent $-> VMS SIG Message # 859 0 replies Reply to # 858 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 15-Feb-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: CHANGING PROTECTIONS You don't have to use a MACRO subroutine to access the RMS data structures. I believe SYS$LIBRARY:FORSYSDEF.TLB has the various FAB, RAB, NAM, and XAB fields available. You can then call the RMS services just like normal system services (ie. SYS$OPEN, SYS$CLOSE, SYS$UPDATE). It is a bit involved to describe the procedure here. Feel free to drop me a line if you want more information. I have performed the procedure in BASIC using the various RMS system services. Also, if you are so inclined, you can use the QIO services to make the various ownership/protection changes. In fact, it is more efficient. ACL's are changed with SYS$CHANGE_ACL. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 464 0 replies Reply to # 421 Left by: LARRY HUISINGH On 15-Feb-89 At : 509-373-4244 Subject: KERMIT FOR RSX-11M I would very much like to get a copy of Kermit for RSX-11M. Please call me to arrange for it. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 372 0 replies Left by: TOM CACHAT On 15-Feb-89 At : 714 496-1215 OR HERE Subject: BASIC TO COBOL CONVERTER Thanks, Don, for your response to my question. Tom DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 465 0 replies Left by: TOM CACHAT On 15-Feb-89 At : 714 496-1215 X354 OR HERE Subject: VAX DIALBACK I noticed some talk on this board about using VAXNET to get a VAX to dial you back in order to save on your phone bill. Well, I could not get consistent results with my version of VAXNET (9, I think), so I have successfully used the following procedure (must have two modems on VAX): 1. Make sure your modem at home is set to auto answer 2. Dial into the VAX 3. SET TERM TXA5/PERM/SPEED=2400 (if it's set to autobaud) (TXA5 is the port with the modem to do the dialback) 4. SET HOST/DTE TXA5 5. ATD ,,,,,,,,,,,,16195551234 (the Hayes command to dial - the modem will wait about 2 seconds for each comma before dialing) 6. -\ (this will "escape" you out of the SET HOST program) 7. LO (log off the VAX) If the logout does not automatically hang up the phone, you must do #'s 8 & 9. 8. +++ (the Hayes method of escaping to command mode) 9. ATH (the Hayes command to hang up the phone - the phone must be hung up before the VAX modem calls you) SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 215 0 replies Reply to # 214 Left by: Phil Anthony On 15-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: ADJUSTING QUANTUM I set quantum to 10 myself at a VMS site I used to manage. But the program mix was somewhat different: Between screen painting over a stat mux, database management, and sending and receiving data over a synchronous line, the application was highly interactive. However, CPU utilization was rather high, with the application taking up 100 per cent of CPU during peak periods and crying for more (partly because of the CPU costs of RMS, partly because of the inefficiencies of building "strings" representing the full screen in BASIC). The users complained continually about "the computer being slow" - which it was, since it was underpowered for what they were doing. After I dropped quantum to 10, the complaints dropped off, apparently because of increased screen update speed. Since CPU usage was already at 100 per cent, I can't say anything about what the context-switching overhead did to the CPU re- quirement. I suspect it slowed the total system somewhat, but the users were happier .... VMS SIG Message # 861 0 replies Left by: LINDA FEENEY On 16-Feb-89 At : (609)896-5310 Subject: $SNDJBCW We have an LN03+ printer set up as a spooled device on our VAX 11/780 and wish to limit our students' access to it. I have set up an ACL on the queue so that only the Computer Center staff can submit files to it directly. Student access is currently done via a program which establishes and updates "quotas" and copies their files to another directory. The OPERATOR then submits the files from that directory to be printed. I wanted to avoid the necessity of having the OPERATOR submit the files and have updated this program using SYS$SNDJBCW to submit files to the queue. It was then installed /OPEN/HEADER/PRIV=CMKRNL with the idea that the image would have the privilege to override the ACL on the queue. Although the image is submitting the file, the system is apparently looking at the privileges of the user calling the image and the file is not submitted. VMS SIG Message # 862 0 replies Left by: TONY FAZIO On 16-Feb-89 At : (703)482-2231 Subject: LN03 QUEUE PROBLEMS We are configuring an Ethernet network using a mVAX II as a print and file server. We are running VMS 5.0 on the mVAX. Attached to the mVAX we have an LN03 printer. The problem is that the mVAX does not recognize when the printer is not on-line. If we queue a print job when the printer is not powered on we get a message that the job has completed and the job is removed from the queue. Obviously we cannot have our users playing DEC-roullete whenever they try to print a file. Both DEC customer support lines and our local DECies have told us that the mVAX cannot know that the LN03 is not on-line. If anyone has any more encouraging suggestions I would appreciate hearing them.? DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 466 0 replies Left by: TONY FAZIO On 16-Feb-89 At : (703)482-2231 Subject: NETBIOS - HOW TO USE IT? We are configuring an Ethernet network with a mVAX II as a file server and PC AT and compatibles as workstations. We have purchased a distributed data base product called "SQLbase" from Gupta Technologies Inc. According to the salesman, this product will run on any NETBIOS system (Yes, his lips were moving when he said it, but we have run "SQLbase" successfully on a token ring network). We have not been able to establish the database connections between the SQLbase server and router nodes on our DEC network. (We are running VMS 5.0 on the mVAX and VAX/VMS services for MS-DOS 2.0) The fault may be ours, DEC's or the software vendors. The problem is that we have only a passing familiarity with IBM's NETBIOS, have no knowledge on DEC's NETBIOS, have no decent DEC manuals on the subject, have no diagnostic programs to determine if our setup is correct, and have not located anyone at DEC who has ever used their NETBIOS. I would appreciate any information that would help us isolate the cause of the problems or at least help us to find out what we should be doing. VMS SIG Message # 863 0 replies Reply to # 809 Left by: KEVIN MARTIN On 16-Feb-89 At : 212 559-8428 Subject: DIR FROM 3GL The RTL call "LIB$FIND_FILE" works very nicely if you've got any idea what it is you're looking for... using it from COBOL is a little tricky until you realize that it HAS to have a wildcard, and you interpret its results by scanning to make sure that the wildcard is NOT present in the return string. If anybody wants it, I've got it put together as a text file for easy implementation. VMS SIG Message # 864 0 replies Left by: HOWARD PINSLEY On 17-Feb-89 At : (212) 836-8322 Subject: AST QUESTION We are writing an application in Vax C that creates a subprocess and communicates through several mailboxes. The subprocess' sys$output has been directed to one of these mailboxes which is read by AST #1. Meanwhile, AST #2 is executing (I won't bore you with all the details). While AST #2 is executing, AST #1 is blocked and the subprocess is waiting for its output mailbox to be read. The problem is that we want AST #1 to take priority over and be able to interrupt AST #2. Our first thoughts were to declare AST #1 to be a supervisor mode ast (whereas AST #2 is user mode). This, theoretically, would solve our problem. Unfortunately, we have not found a way to declare AST #1 as a supervisor mode AST. We have tried CMEXEC and specifying PSL$C_SUPER as the access mode to use in the call to $CREMBX. If you post a qio in user mode, you get a privilege violation, and if you post it in exec mode, you get an exec mode AST. This brings us to the second part of the problem. If we cannot get a supervisor ast, we would settle for an exec mode ast since it would meet our first requirement of interrupting AST #2. The problem here, however, is that we are doing RMS $PUT operations in AST #1 and if it runs in exec mode, we block RMS. Is there a way around this? What are we not understanding? Thanks in advance. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 313 0 replies Left by: DON ROBERTS On 17-Feb-89 At : 818/969-6741X265 Subject: RMS I have run into a problem with RMS that perhaps someone can help me with. I have a data file that is opened in a COBOL 3.5 program with ALLOWING ALL. I have a DCL routine that opens the same indexed fixed RMS file OPEN/READ. When the COBOL program opens first, the dcl get file locked by another user. When the DCL gets it first, the COBOL gets in no problem. Docs show the DCL open has /SHARE=WRITE as the default, but also tried it explicitly to no effect. If I execute the DCL twice, the first gets in but the second gets file locked. Could this indicate a problem with my FDL, or does V4.7 RMS simply not work as documented? Please call me if you have a solution, I need this quickly. Don VMS SIG Message # 866 0 replies Reply to # 861 Left by: Philip Gravel On 18-Feb-89 At : 312-420-5474 Subject: PROGRAM PRINTING CMKRNL is probably not be the privilege you want to use. I would try (in the following order) OPER, SYSPRV, or BYPASS. One of them should get around the protection on the queue -- CMKRNL won't. Phil APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 314 0 replies Reply to # 313 Left by: HOWARD PINSLEY On 18-Feb-89 At : (212) 836-8322 Subject: SOUNDS WEIRD Definitely strange. Sounds like something's going (lock-wise) that is not as stated. I would suggest running SDA and showing the locks held by the process running the Cobol program. See what type of locks are being help (i.e. protected read, protected write, exclusive write, etc.). Compare that result with what you see when DCL open the file. It might give you some clues. EDITORS SIG Message # 200 1 replies Left by: DICK KRAMER On 18-Feb-89 At : JOHN DEERE HARVESTER WORKS 1100-13th Ave. East Moline, IL 61244 (309) 765-6564 Subject: USING A VT340 MOUSE WITH TPU Has anyone out there found a way to use the VT330/340 mouse port with VAX TPU? I had heard that there was mouse support in TPU as of VMS v5.0, but it appears that it's only for the mouse on workstations. I'm beginning to wonder why they bothered putting a mouse port on the VT340. Has anyone found any use for it? VMS SIG Message # 867 0 replies Reply to # 862 Left by: Philip Gravel On 19-Feb-89 At : 312-420-5474 Subject: PRINTER ON-LINE There is a difference between off-line and powered off. The MicroVAX will sense when the printer is off-line (but powered on) and the print queue will go into a 'stalled' state until the printer is put back on-line. The MicroVAX does not detect when the printer is powered off and merrily sends the bits down the line even if nothing is at the other end to hear it. I can think of three solutions. First, don't power off the printer, just take if off line. Second, stop the queue before you power off the printer. (We do the first one around here -- we rarely power off printers.) Third, put the printer on a DECserver 200 and set the port the 'DSRLogout'. This option will cause the DECserver to logout the port (and thus shutdown the print queue) if it senses that the device on the other end is powered off. Phil EDITORS SIG Message # 201 0 replies Reply to # 200 Left by: Philip Gravel On 19-Feb-89 At : 312-420-5474 Subject: VT300 MOUSE I don't know about the mouse and TPU under VMS 5.0 (I'm not there yet), but we have some molecular modeling applications from third party vendors that use it and I have written several graphic applications that use it. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 467 0 replies Reply to # 464 Left by: Phil Anthony On 19-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: KERMIT FOR RSX Larry, I don't know if anybody's gotten in touch with you yet. If not, your best bet might be to check out recent DECUS tapes, where you're very likely to find Kermit. Or dial into the University of Toledo Kermit BBS (see News from the Sysop). That board has a means of downloading an ASCII text short and not very sophisticated transfer program - extension .BOO if I remember - and then using that to download the real Kermit. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 468 0 replies Reply to # 466 Left by: Phil Anthony On 19-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: NETBIOS PROBLEM? Tom, in the absence of anybody who knows SQLbase or DEC's NETBIOS, my best guess would be a problem in the DEC NETBIOS. Gupta has a good reputation, and you say SQLbase has run successfully using the IBM Token Ring NETBIOS in the PC LAN software. The first thing I'd check (you probably already have) is whether DEC's NETBIOS supports the particular Ethernet board(s) you have in your PCs. There are lots of Ethernet boards out there and no hardware compatibility among them. No two successive 3COM Ethernet boards, for example, have been register-compatible - each one needs its own NETBIOS. That's not too likely to be the problem if you're already using VMS Services for DOS successfully, but it's worth checking out. Next, see if you can locate somebody else's NETBIOS for your particular Ethernet boards, set to the same interrupt/address/DMA parameters you're us- ing. A friend with a Novell network might be able to create you such a thing *for testing purposes only* (Novell is, after all, a proprietary com- mercial product, and we should pay for it if we're going to use it). If you can run SQLbase using that NETBIOS, you've isolated the problem. Outside of that, your best bet would be to go back to Gupta. They have a good reputation, as I say, plus a stake in being able to run on DEC systems, so they may be willing to use their expertise to help you track the problem down. You may still be caught between the Devil and the deep blue if they find it's a flaw in DEC's NETBIOS implementation, but at least you'll have some ammunition to go after DEC with. Good luck! VMS SIG Message # 868 0 replies Reply to # 857 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 19-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: BACKUP BUG John, It sure sounds as if you have found a genuine bug in backup. Have you submitted an SPR on the problem? You can submit an SPR even if you don't have software support, though DEC is not obligated to give you any answer. Is there some reason your workaround for the problem is not usable? RSTS SIG Message # 338 0 replies Reply to # 330 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 19-Feb-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: ARC FOR RSTS Funny that you should mention an Arc program for Rsts Kelvin. Phil Anthony and I have been discussing such a beast for the past couple of weeks. While I don't know of a specific product that is available for Rsts there are a number of ways that you could go about implementing an Arc like program. The in-house program that I use is based on "The Huffman Table". While this technique works quite well for text files, it's compression ability is based on the frequency of known characters. For random access files a better technique to use would be "The Lempel-Ziv Model". Telcor Systems Corp (The modem people) have combined both of these to form "The Telcor Model" which is used to create a 4:1 compression over telephone lines. Of course if you have a PDP running Unix, you could always use "ar". I personally am considering building an Arc program for Rsts so we can be compatable with all of the lower class O/S's. Give me a call if you are still interested. [Upload by pga 19-Feb-89.] VMS SIG Message # 869 0 replies Reply to # 861 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 19-Feb-89 At : (609)452-5130 Subject: $SNDJBCW Linda, One possible solution to your problem is to have either a detached process or a batch job run from an account that holds the necessary identifier to access the queue. Periodically scan the directory holding the student files to be printed, move each one found to yet another directory and submit it to be printed. The additional directory serves to keep track of which files have alread submitted. A batch job would resubmit itself when it was finished. A detached process would be run with the /INTERVAL qualifier. You could do this every ten or fifteen minutes (or any appropriate interval). Once you start it going (from SYSTARTUP.COM maybe?) it should run until someone with appropriate privileges kills it. VMS SIG Message # 870 0 replies Reply to # 862 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 19-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: LN03+ Tony, I wish I could offer you better news but the RS232 serial interface used by the LN03 is pretty limited in what it can do when the printer is powered down. If the printer stops because it is out of paper or jammed or something like that, the LN03 will send an XOFF to the host, and prevent loss of data. If the printer is powered down, there is nothing it can do. The easiest solution is not to turn off the printer. When you must turn power off for maintenance, stop the queue first. VMS SIG Message # 871 0 replies Reply to # 864 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 19-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: AST QUESTION Howard, Is it possible for AST #2 to simply set a flag for the application and exit? The application, seeing the flag would then do some extended processing. As far as I know, AST's within a mode are handled on a first come first served basis. Supervisor mode is where DCL runs and DEC very cleverly did not provide a means for a user process to get into Supervisor mode. There was probably some good reason for the omission. It might be possible to go into kernal or executive mode and then set yourself down to supervisor but this kind of thing is for wizzards only. If DEC did not supply a supported means to do something, almost anything could happen if you actually manage to do it. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 373 0 replies Reply to # 371 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 19-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: SHARING STREAM FILES John, Its been years since I used PL/I and I've never used the VAX implementation. If VAX PL/I is consistent with other VAX languages, there ought to be a parameter or a keyword in the OPEN statement to specify that the file is sharable. If you expect the second program to read the entire file, the first program will have to issue a call to the $FLUSH RMS routine to force any partially full buffer to be written. PL/I may provide some means to do this easily, or not. If you have to do it the hard way, you will need to, somehow, get the Record Access Block (RAB) for the file, and call the $FLUSH service. This can definitly be done, I've done it from Fortran, but the details can get a little icky. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 315 0 replies Reply to # 313 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 20-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: RMS Don, You can exonerate your FDL. File sharing is accomplished via bits set in the File Access Block (FAB) when the file is opened. As I read the Documentation, DCL should be able to open the same file twice, using different logical names and the /SHARE=WRITE qualifier. If it can't, you have probably found a bug. Submit an SPR and think of some other way to solve your problem. Sorry, but that's the only quick solution. If it's a bug, you may be able to fix it by upgrading your system to VMS 5.0-2 or VMS 5.1. Then again, it may still be broken in the latest version if nobody has submitted an SPR on the problem yet. VMS SIG Message # 872 0 replies Reply to # 864 Left by: NICK D'APICE On 20-Feb-89 At : (301) 682-0298 Subject: AST PROBLEMS Howard: I ran into a similar problem with using mailbox communications in 'C' and needed a priority scheme such that when one task wrote to a listener mailbox, the listener needed to process that task immediately. The way we implemented the routine is we used a combination of methods. First of all, we used common event flag clusters heavily. We would have the listener process wait for a common event flag from the "lesser" processes and determine which process sent the message when the event flag "fired" (as set by the processing writing to the listeners mailbox). Additionally, we have the listener set up an AST routine for the priority mailbox such that an interrupt would occur whenever and regardless what the listener was doing so that the mailbox could be serviced immediately. Therefore, we used the event flags for all "minor" mailboxes, and used the AST method only for the "priority" mailbox. I don't know if this is something you have or could consider, but it worked for our application. The only other method that can be considered is allocating non-paged pool from system space, creating your own ACB (AST Control Block), and queuing your own "home brewed" AST to the process in question. This method can be very tricky and is not the "standard" applications method of performing AST's. (However,I have opted to perform this method on several occassions, such as changing another processes process-name, username, authorized quotas, etc. on the fly... they can only be performed in the context of the target process, thus an AST is the only means. Essentially I wrote a utility to modify everything the AUTHORIZE.EXE utility can, but on the running system without having the user logout and login agan...laziness strikes again). Well, thats about all the suggestions I have. If you would like to talk then give me a phone call. Nick D'Apice Martin Marietta (301)682-0298 I may be difficult to reach, so leave a message and I'll get back with you.... CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 377 0 replies Reply to # 330 Left by: STEVE BERMAN On 21-Feb-89 At : 800 832-4362 Subject: COLORSCAN/2 WITH PCSA The COLORSCAN/2 uses a Datamedia proprietary Ethernet adaptor, for which Datamedia supplies the Data Link Layer (DLL.EXE) driver. When a PCSA key disk is created from the DEC Configuration Aide, the DMC Ethernet Adaptor (ENA) is "not supported" as a menu option. The procedure is to create the key diskette for a 3COM adaptor, and then: 1) copy DMC's DLL into your key diskette's \DECNET directory. 2) modify \DECNET\MSNET.INI with the correct parameters, /IRQ:2 /SM:D000 /IO:280, on the DLL line(s). There are currently two versions of DMC's DLL.EXE driver which have been released: version 2.1 (part of ENA release 1.0) supports up to PCSA 2.0, and requires the file \DECNET\DECPARM.DAT to be present before a connection is attempted. Version 2.4 (part of ENA release 1.2) supports all PCSA versions up through 2.1, and does not require the presence of \DECNET\DECPARM.DAT. Also, please note [Message 336] that the DEC documentation is incorrect with its NET START LAD command, and the error message is consistent with Bob Heroux's report. Steve Berman Customer Support Manager Datamedia Corporation VMS SIG Message # 873 1 replies Reply to # 866 Left by: LINDA FEENEY On 21-Feb-89 At : (609)896-5310 Subject: $SNDJBCW Thanks for the feedback, but I'm not sure it will help. According to the System Services, the calling procedure must have CMKRNL in order to submit a file it does not own. I have also installed the image (prior to using $SNDJBCW) with BYPASS privelege and it doesn't work. The system is looking at the privileges of the user invoking the image, not the privileges of the image itself. Thanks anyway. UTILITIES SIG Message # 349 0 replies Reply to # 347 Left by: BOB ZISEK On 21-Feb-89 At : Subject: RE; FILE ACCSS Have youting up expiration dates with retention times on your disk volumes?k volumes? (See the SET DEVICE/RETENTION= command) In this way, you can delete files by thier expiration dates. Hope this helps. Bob Zisek System manager Boehringer Ingelheim 90 East Ridge P.O. 368 Ridgefield, Ct. 06877 VMS SIG Message # 874 0 replies Reply to # 873 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 21-Feb-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: TRICKING THE JOB CONTROLLER The sure fire way of tricking the Job Controller is to change your username to the name of the user that should be submitting the job. This is not as difficult as you would think. Check back on DECUS tapes for the SETUSER program or one of its variants (I have one) and use that to assume the identity of the user you wish to submit the job for. Then restore your username back to normal. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 PC'S SIG Message # 200 0 replies Left by: BRUCE A. GREMBOWSKI On 22-Feb-89 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: ASCII TERMINAL AS A MONITOR I would like to hook up a VT-131 compatible terminal as the monitor for an XT clone. Is this possible? The terminal has RS232-C, CCITT V.24 and CCITT V.28 protocol; the manual also says that it can be configured as a 20mA current loop with some jumpers and unnamed componenets. The terminal is a Qume QVT-103. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks, Bruce TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 273 0 replies Left by: BRUCE A. GREMBOWSKI On 22-Feb-89 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: ASCII TERMINAL AS A MONITOR Is it possible to use a Qume QVT-103 terminal (VT-131 compatible, RS232-C, CCITT V.24, and CCITT V.28 protocol) as a monitor for an XT clone? The terminal can be configured for 20mA current loop according to the manual, with some jumpers and some unnamed components added. Does anyone know how to do this? Thanks, Bruce PC'S SIG Message # 201 0 replies Reply to # 200 Left by: Phil Anthony On 22-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: ASCII TERMINAL AS PC MONITOR Bruce, I ain't no hardware guru, but I just don't think it can be done. Your Qume can do all kinds of wondrous things operating off a serial port of some kind, but PC monitors don't work on serial ports. They work off a con- troller card that uses a hunk of dual-ported memory (in mono, segments mapped to the range 0xB000 through 0xB7FF) for 2,000 attribute/character pairs. The controller logic accesses this memory and sends the following signals through the card's D9 connector to drive the monitor: . 1 - Video ground . 2 - Synchronization ground . 6 - Intensity signal . 7 - Video signal . 8 - Horizontal synchronous signal . 9 - Vertical synchronous signal which is significantly different from anything the Qume knows about. The Qume can work off the XT clone's serial port as an additional terminal if you put up multiuser software such as XENIX. It can also be used to a limited extent with MS-DOS by hooking it to a serial port and issuing a C>CTTY COM1 command. However, CTTY only handles redirection of monitor output that goes through the BIOS, and most serious MS-DOS programs avoid the BIOS and write directly to the screen memory, to pick up significant speed gains. Also, you'd need a standard monitor to boot the system anyway, so using the Qume this way wouldn't buy you anything. VMS SIG Message # 875 0 replies Reply to # 864 Left by: JOHN BRIGGS On 23-Feb-89 At : (301)231-3061 Subject: MULTI-LEVEL AST'S The previous response is probably your best bet -- do your interruptible work in main line code and only the critical work at AST level. If desired, you could have your non-critical AST do a little work at AST level and then send notification (via local event flag or $WAKE) to main line code. You might even consider some kind of "work queue" arrangement where AST routines would create a queue of work requests for main-line code to perform. Another possibility, if you don't mind diddling with call frames, is to modify your first AST routine (the non-critical one) so that it doesn't run at AST level. Have the AST routine save and then modify its fourth and fifth parameters (the saved PC and PSL from main-line code, passed by value) so that when the AST is dismissed, control will come back to the AST routine. Return. Control will return to the AST dispatcher, the AST will be dismissed and control will come back to the AST routine. Build a call frame using the saved PC and PSL, do your stuff and then return back to where you started in main-line code. Note that this is probably going to be difficult in C. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 274 0 replies Reply to # 273 Left by: CHARLES KOTAN On 23-Feb-89 At : (916)452-3211 Subject: TERM FOR XT In a word, no. Study the CTTY command, which will let you take over command mode. You can also put some sort of host s/w on the pc, like HyperAccess or PCAnywhere, or TELIX, but DON'T try to run any programs that do anything but ANSI escape sequences (make sure ANSI.SYS is in the config.sys or that you are using a substitute). If you run any graphics stuff, even accidently, there is a good chance the xt will hang till booted. Now, these comments assume you are going to run programs remotely. If you are careful and your apps are character only, you might get away with it. ck COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 251 0 replies Left by: MIKE BELCH On 23-Feb-89 At : 609 895 0404 Subject: PC CARDS FOR DECNET DOS Does anybody know what Network cards are supported by DECNET DOS. I already know about 3COM's 3C501 and DEC's own DEPCA board. Are there any others? COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 252 0 replies Reply to # 251 Left by: GREG SMITH On 23-Feb-89 At : AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH Subject: DECNET-DOS CARDS The Latest Networks and Comms Guide (Jan to June 1989) lists these: MICOM/INTERLAN NI5010-1 and NI5010-2 3COM Etherlink/IBM PC, Etherlink II and Etherlink/MC RSTS SIG Message # 339 0 replies Reply to # 317 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 24-Feb-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: RECOVERING SEMI-DELETED FILES A belated wrap-up note on this conversation thread which I started almost four months ago. . . I wasn't sure that I felt comfortable fiddling with the UFD (visions of corrupted directories danced in my head), but fortunately I found a couple of programs on an old RSTS SIG tape that explain how to do it and give examples (UFD.BAS/.DOC and ODDNAM.BAS were instructive). It turns out that flipping the "marked for deletion" bit only partially works. Once that's turned off, you can again access the file using a normal OPEN, PIP, or whatever else. However, since the temporary file is still open under the original job (the one that marked it for deletion), apparently the file processor keeps information in its own internal buffers which includes whether the file is marked for deletion. Thus, when the original job finally closes the channel, the file still gets wiped out. The workaround, however, should you need the file permanently, is to turn off the delete bit in the UFD, copy the file, and then let the original job kill the original. Thank you to those who offered suggestions. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 275 0 replies Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 24-Feb-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: AT&T TERMINAL ON VAX I'd like to be able to use an AT&T (or other ANSI) terminal on a VAX running VMS. The terminal works, but you can't take advantage of any of the special function keys since VMS doesn't specifically support these terminals and the codes these special keys send. I know that I can tell VMS that the terminal is a "foriegn" terminal, but that doesn't really do anything but allow applications to know it's foreign. Is there anyway to do something similar to termcaps or termlib on Unix systems to define the capabilities of different terminals to VMS and remap keys? I haven't been able to find anything. Perhaps the DECUS library has something? Any help would be appreciated. Marty Chamberlain RSTS SIG Message # 340 0 replies Left by: TOM MYNAR On 24-Feb-89 At : 714-632-6986 Subject: NEED RSTS/E V9.2 SYSGEN/LIB TAPES I have a client which used his RSTS/E sysgen tapes for backup. We need to gen a new SIL with some different devices and would like to find a set of sysgen tapes. If anyone has V9.2 sysgen and syslib tapes still, please call me. Will cheerfully refund shipping charges. We would prefer to stay with V 9.2 to prevent any application incompatibility problems, however, we will take offers on newer version (9.3 ?). Thanks ahead of time. Tom TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 276 0 replies Reply to # 275 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 24-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: AT&T TERMINALS ON VAX Marty, VMS has two ways to support foreign terminals, and neither one is going to do everything you would like it to. The first type of foreign terminal support dates back to VMS V3 and was never well documented or even supported. In SYS$EXAMPLES (I think) you will find a file called SCRFT.MAR which is a prototype for supporting a foreign terminal. Figuring it out is hardly worth the trouble. As of VMS V4.2, there is a supported means of using foreign terminals. Look in the Run Time Library manual, Volume 1 along about chapter 10 (I don't have my manual handy so I'm guessing). The manual describes foreign terminal support for the screen management facility (SMG$). Unfortunately only a few VMS utilities use the screen management facility. I believe that TPU does use it. EDT, and PHONE do not use it. Unless you have dozens of these terminals that you need to support, it is probably cheaper in the long run to bite the bullet and by VT100/200/300 compatible terminals. RSTS SIG Message # 341 0 replies Reply to # 339 Left by: Phil Anthony On 24-Feb-89 At : Here Subject: RECOVERING MDL FILES Thanks, Kelvin, for the follow-up. The implications of RSTS' directory caching completely escaped me on this one. And there ain't no way to turn that otherwise very useful feature off, is there? VMS SIG Message # 876 0 replies Left by: TOM MYNAR On 24-Feb-89 At : 714-632-6986 Subject: IBM EBCDIC TAPE LABEL Does anyone know how to create an EBCDIC IBM tape label on the VAX, under VMS 4.7 (if it matters). I can write the rest of the data but I'm not sure how to handle the MOUNT command for EBCDIC characters. Could I mount it foreign with /override=(id,owner,????) and then backspace over the label and write what I want there ? Any references to reading material also appreciated on this subject. Thanks Tom MICROVAX SIG Message # 191 0 replies Reply to # 190 Left by: LARRY HELBERS On 25-Feb-89 At : 215 646-4851 Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR INFO Just wanted to thank you John for your useful and detailed information. I wonder why DEC documentation doesn't make these features / constraints more clearly. Your answers are good news indeed. Thanks again. MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 251 0 replies Reply to # 246 Left by: LANDIS RAGON On 25-Feb-89 At : 314-233-6869 Subject: BLACK WATCH TAPES Our FSE is almost as confused about the TU81+ problems as we are. The only part of the drive that has never been replaced is the power supply and the BI interface board in the host system (an 8350). I'm just glad that this system is still under warranty! VMS SIG Message # 877 0 replies Reply to # 876 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 26-Feb-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: EBCDIC LABEL Tom, You need to mount your tape /FOREIGN. This tells VMS that the tape is not labeled. From the point of view of VMS, IBM standard labels are not labels. Now you can write anything you want on the tape. Refer to IBM documentation for the contents of IBM standard labels. The run time library has ASCII to EBCDIC translation routines available. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 277 0 replies Reply to # 265 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 27-Feb-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: LARGE SCREEN PCS Hi George. Your goal to keep the price of a 50 line 132 column terminal under $900 is tricky indeed. I have personally put my terminals out to pasture in favor of microcomputers running VT terminal emulation. If you can handle the flicker, the Amiga microcomputer will give you 48 lines in interlace mode and can be had for within your price range. The nice thing that I like about this microcomputer is that it handles ansi 3.64 all by itself. The ShareWare terminal emulation program that I use handles 132 column mode, double-high, double-wide, and even some of the bugs that are in the VT100 itself (not bad for $25). Now it really doesn't look that sharp in 132 column mode. But then I never could stand any VT series terminal in anything other than 80 columns. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 278 0 replies Reply to # 275 Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 27-Feb-89 At : ARIS Subject: AT&T Marty, which comm program are you using? I have a 6300 and have on occasion used it as a terminal for my 8300 under 5.0-2 - I have only used Procomm Plus but I know there is a VT220 emulator (Shareware) called QVT - I use it on my MAC SE and it works great, with function keys, etc. I know you can download it from Kevin Barke's SYS$OUTPUT BBS -give it a try and let us know - I may even try myself... Brian DeSantis Systems Manager Bergen County Computer Consortium PC'S SIG Message # 202 0 replies Reply to # 197 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 27-Feb-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: AMIGAS Richard. Check out message 277 in term/plot/print. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 279 0 replies Reply to # 275 Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 27-Feb-89 At : ARIS Subject: AT&T/QVT Just to clarify, there is a MAC version of QVT and an IBM compatible version - with the IBM version being available on SYS$OUTPUT. RSTS SIG Message # 342 0 replies Reply to # 334 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 27-Feb-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: DRUNK DRIVERS Bob. The problem that you are having reminds me of when the MSCP disk driver was first created (RSTS V7.?). Dec was in such a hurry to get the device driver out that the first version was a real hack. Regarding your problem with the TK50. Since V9, every other call to Colorado Springs has been for Backup problems (specifically the TK). The problems within the driver were to have been fixed after 9.2 (what version are you?). Digging deeper, there was also a bug in the ramdisk that was to have been fixed after 9.3. Actually that bug got worse (more on that next week). For reading your tape you might try the old "TAPE" program that was published in "Rsts Pro V2. #1. Feb/Mar 80". If you have tossed your issues of "Rsts Pro" (a definite No No) give me a call and I'll see about uploading the program to you. As for everyone else. Look on the bright side. What if any other Operating System do you know of that has made it to the 25 century? Just set your system for stardate and beam yourself up. !Set System/Date=StarDate VMS SIG Message # 878 0 replies Reply to # 877 Left by: TOM MYNAR On 27-Feb-89 At : 714-632-6986 Subject: WRITING LABEL Does this mean that I can then backspace and write the 80 character label I want on there ? I have an IBM tape that I'm going to be duplicating from, so I can read the label and just store it in a file. Then read that in when I'm creating the new tape. But I'm not sure how to backspace, I'll check the library utilities for tape functions (I remember seeing the one on EBCIDC/ASCII conversion). Thanks ! Tom RT SIG Message # 22 0 replies Reply to # 21 Left by: BERN FOX On 28-Feb-89 At : (313)-994-1200 Subject: RM05 SUPPORT ON RT? Jeff: I would be interested in hearing more about your hardware configuration, but I would guess that the 9766 has no direct RT support for its 500K plus blocks (due to addressing limitations within the operating system). Multiple logical drives must be "mappe to the physical drive and a driver must be obtained to handle this situation. What did you format this device with? PC'S SIG Message # 203 0 replies Left by: DAN DONOHUE On 01-Mar-89 At : (215)439-3276 Subject: VAXMATE SERVICES FOR MS-DOS Is there anyone out there using VAXmate Services for MS-DOS? DEC seems to be extremely tight-lipped on the product and I have a few simple questions about it. I am especially interested in finding out whether anyone has successfully used the product on a non-DEC PC server. I realize they don't officially support it, but I'm curious... The only area that may be troublesome as far as I can guess would be the Ethernet/DEPCA board driver. Will the standard PCSA drivers work in a non-VAXmate PC? Are there 3rd parties who may have a usable driver? Companies like Western Digital include replacement PCSA drivers with their boards, and I'm wondering if they could possibly be used in an IBM PC server running VAXmate services. Please help, any VAXmate Services info AT ALL would be appreciated! Thanks, Dan Donohue Mack Trucks, Inc. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 469 0 replies Reply to # 457 Left by: RICHARD EATON On 01-Mar-89 At : 803-2393045 Subject: THANKS Thanks for the info. VMS SIG Message # 879 0 replies Reply to # 874 Left by: LINDA FEENEY On 01-Mar-89 At : (609)896-5196 Subject: $SNDJBCW Your message made me look at my problem in a slightly way different and now things are solved. This is what I did: 1. Created a new user [LASER] 2. Added [LASER] to the queue's ACL 3. Logged into LASER and ran a short program calling $GETJPI to get the longword equivalent of the UIC. (If anyone know how to calculate this from the group and member numbers, I'd be interested to know.) 4. Went into AUTHORIZE and set /FLAGS=DISUSER so that the account cannot be used. 5. In the program calling $SNDJBCW, I fed the call the following: file specification, job name (derived from the calling user's username and filename), note (same as job name), username (LASER), and UIC (longword equivalent for LASER). 6. Installed the image /OPEN/HEAD/PRIV=CMKRNL It works like a charm. The important point was setting the UIC. Otherwise the system takes the UIC of the user running the image and the call bombs because of protection violation. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 378 0 replies Left by: DAN DONOHUE On 01-Mar-89 At : (215)439-3276 Subject: VAXMATE SERVICES FOR MS-DOSS If anyone has any info on VAXmate Services for MS-DOS, I'd appreciate a reply to #203 in the PC's SIG (24). Big Thanks. Dan Donohue Mack Trucks, Inc. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 280 0 replies Reply to # 278 Left by: Phil Anthony On 01-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: AT&T TERMINALS Brian, that won't work for Marty - he's using AT&T terminals, not an AT&T computer. FORUM - DEC SIG Message # 63 0 replies Reply to # 44 Left by: GERALD VEZZOSI On 01-Mar-89 At : 201 802 6249 Subject: 8MM BACKUPS I have been experimenting with unattended backups for the last year. We purchased a tape drive from MegaTape Corporation (818-357 9921). I have a PDP11/83 with a reasonably full RA81 and and RA82 with only a couple hundred thousand blocks on it. We are running RSTS/E. It hasn't been completely without problems, but Exabyte (the manufacturer) has supposedly been working with MegaTape to work out the bugs. I wrote a command file that does full backups on Sunday and modified backup every other day and everything has been fairly reliable. I monitor the backups by checking my log files evey day. Anway when I was at Dexpo East last month, naturally I was looking for the MegaTape booth.I was told they just introduced an 8mm tape system for the BI bus. Wait till DEC finds out. You can call them to find out if that's true or not. By the way even though it's not totally reliable yet it's a heck of a lot better than me staying late changing mag tapes for about 4 hrs. FORUM - 3RD PARTY SUPPLIERS SIG Message # 91 0 replies Reply to # 90 Left by: GERALD VEZZOSI On 01-Mar-89 At : 201-802 6249 Subject: 8MM TAPE DRIVES I've been wrestling with an 8mm tape drive for almost a year now. We purchased a GT88 from MegaTape (manufactured by Exabyte). We have had a lot of frustration and much of it seems to do with timing problems. I wrote a command file that does unattended backups as 3:00am every morning while I'm home sleeping. We do a full backup every Sunday and modified backups every other day. Anyway when it works, which is the majority of the times, it's great. We backup a full RA81 and a couple hundred thousand blocks on an RA82. It sure beats changing mag tapes every ten minutes. When the drive fails I often get a fatal I/O error. We have a PDP11/83 running RSTS/E. I just received a new drive the other day from MegaTape with some new "MODS" from the manufacturer and so far things look better. Good Luck RSTS SIG Message # 343 0 replies Reply to # 341 Left by: STEVEN P. DAVIS On 01-Mar-89 At : 714-956-9159 Subject: MARKED FOR DELETION FILE ON RSTS Directory caching is not related to the "marked for deletion" bit for the file. Once upon a time all file state information was kept only on disk for RSTS... for performance reasons that information was also added to in-memory tables (this was done at the same time that large file support was added to the file processor). When the file is marked for deletion this is noted in the memory table and on disk. Since the file processor looks at the memory table rather than the disk it still assumes the file is on death row. You can track down the bit in memory (see the RSTS internals book), but it can get tricky depending where in memory the buffer for the table was allocated. If I recall accurately, once the bit is changed on the disk the file can be copied but once the job which has the file opened is closes it, the file is history. PC'S SIG Message # 204 0 replies Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 01-Mar-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: PCSA AND MEMORY I have DEC's PCSA Local Area Networking system running on a few PC nodes here and have run into a problem. There's probably nothing I can do about it, but I thought I'd ask. The PCSA LAST, LAD, and LAT drivers, etc. (the PC-based portion) take up about 130Kb of the PC nodes' RAM. This is not a problem unless the PC user want's to use a program that's a bit of a memory hog. Freelance v3.0 is a good example. Anyway, I know that I can choose not to load any or all of the network drivers, but in some cases ALL OF THE DRIVERS ARE NEEDED. In this one situation, the person uses LAT for VT emulation, LAD for some disk services and LAST for some file services. I can't really unload ANYTHING. Does anyone have any ideas? I'd like to find some kind of program (I realize I'm aiming high) that would allow Freelance and other applications to use memory above 640K on the PC. Several of the LAN nodes have, like, 1.5Mb of RAM, ya know?. Opps, slipped into surfer there. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 374 0 replies Reply to # 362 Left by: STEVEN P. DAVIS On 01-Mar-89 At : 714-956-9159 Subject: RE: REQUEST FOR BOOKS ON VAX MACRO There is a fairly decent book available from Digital Press: Computer Programming and Architeture: The VAX Henry M. Levy / Richard H. Eckhouse, Jr. ISBN 1-55558-015-7 Order Nubmer EY-674OE-DP Digital Press 12 Crosby Drive Bedford, MA 01730 It's tutorial in nature rather than being just a reference document. It discusses many applications for the languauge and contains many examples of use. RSTS SIG Message # 344 0 replies Reply to # 343 Left by: Phil Anthony On 02-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: DELETED FILES Blush! No, it's not directory caching, it's what DEC called directory in- formation caching when they introduced it in V7.x. A subtle difference, but one that could send people haring off on the wrong track. Thanks for the correction. PC'S SIG Message # 205 0 replies Reply to # 204 Left by: Phil Anthony On 02-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: MS-DOS MEMORY MANAGEMENT Marty, there's no simple, direct way. MS-DOS uses the 80x86's real mode - for compatibility with 8088/8086 chips on smaller machines - and the maximum memory real mode can address is 20 bits' worth, or 1 Mbyte. Since DOS then turns around and reserves the top 384 Kbytes for device memory (bit-mapped graphics displays, etc.), that leaves a maximum of 640 Kbytes for program RAM. The only workaround is the bank-switching method implemented in hardware as Lotus-Intel-Microsoft (LIM) expanded memory. This is different from ex- tended memory, which is intended for operating systems that use the 80x86 chip in protected mode and is employed in MS-DOS only with special software for data caching and RAM disks. (The Oracle DBMS uses it by effectively supplying its own protected-mode environment.) Programs that understand LIM memory can store data (EMS boards), or even code (EEMS boards), in the area above 1 Mbyte *so long as the controller board follows the LIM specification*. They access it by issuing instruc- tions (subfunctions of DOS INT 67H) to the memory board to map up chunks of the over-1-Mbyte area to a "page frame", or window, in the device memory range. The INT 67H subfunctions permit attaching to the 64-Kbyte page frame and mapping, remapping, and unmapping 16-Kbyte segments. The result is that large amounts of memory over the 1-Mbyte boundary can be accessed, but only 64 Kbytes at a time maximum. The big but is that MS-DOS itself doesn't use LIM memory, nor does it do LIM memory mapping automatically. That leaves it up to the program. Some pro- grams, such as Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Windows, contain the necessary code. Check with the distributor to find out whether Freelance does. You'll also have to find out whether you can configure the memory boards you currently have, usually via jumpers or DIP switches, to follow one or another version of the LIM specification. PC'S SIG Message # 206 1 replies Reply to # 204 Left by: DAN DONOHUE On 02-Mar-89 At : (215)439-3276 Subject: RAM SQUEEZE Matry,Matry,Matry, There are a number of possible kludgy solutions, mostly software-based. However, if you're having this problem in a few isolated locations, a better solution might be to buy a Charge Card. It's a tiny board which is inserted between a '286 chip and the motherboard, and allows DOS to use up to 960K RAM for programs and data. I have the vendor info. Obviously, this will not work for non-286 machines, and it's not something you'd want to throw in every PC on the LAN - cost prohibitive. Valinor makes a utility called Hi-Stepper which MAY allow you to dump the network junk above 640K. It works for 3Com, and they may be able to give you some clues for PCSA. However, it only works with expanded (as opposed to extended) RAM, so those PS/2's and 1MB machines are probably out of luck. Oh yeah, RYBS makes a Charge Card-type of device, too, but I'm unfamiliar with it. I think it's called HiCard. You could swap the Enet board for an intelligent one which would allow you to load the LAN overhead onto the board. Then the only chunk of RAM you'd lose is that taken up by the loader. If the specific applications you're having trouble with support EMS (but I know Freelance doesn't) an expanded memory manager like V-EMM from Fort's software can turn extended RAM into expanded for use by lots of applications. Works like a charm with Lotus 1-2-3 for example. It's cheap, and it's excellent for using that @$##%^ block of PS/2 memory between 640K and 1MB. Or, gee, you could always go to OS/2. That would solve all your problems... Call me if you need more info, or just stop by next time you're at Erv's. Dan VMS SIG Message # 880 0 replies Reply to # 879 Left by: JOE KAZIMIERCZYK On 02-Mar-89 At : 609-921-5448 Subject: UIC CALCULATION It's easy to calculate the longword format of a UIC given the group and member numbers: UIC = (group * 65536) + member Just remember that when most VMS utilities display the UIC number, it's usually in octal. For example, in authorize, if the UIC shows up as [45,10], the decimal equivalent of the group is 37, and the member is 8. VMS SIG Message # 881 0 replies Reply to # 879 Left by: JOE KAZIMIERCZYK On 02-Mar-89 At : 609-921-5448 Subject: UIC CALCULATION See my message #880 for how to calculate the UIC from the group and member numbers. (I had some trouble exiting the editor, and it didn't seem to show up as a reply to your message). PC'S SIG Message # 207 0 replies Reply to # 206 Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 02-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: FREELANCE Danny, Danny, Danny, The last thing I want to do after going to Erv's is to stop by to see YOU! Anyway, the OS/2 solution, of course, is the best thing to do. Unfortunately, that option isn't available to me. My company will not be moving to OS/2 in the very near future. I think the best thing would be if Lotus would modify Freelace to use LIM! Doesn't LIM stand for *LOTUS*, Intel, Microsoft?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Well, thanks for the info. Matry (I mean Marty) DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 470 0 replies Reply to # 469 Left by: RICHARD On 03-Mar-89 At : 803-242-3170X2291 Subject: THANKS AGAIN I am using the technique you suggested here. I dialed the Hayes modem directly and it works fine.... thanks again. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 375 0 replies Left by: MIKE CHEN On 03-Mar-89 At : (818) 405-0131 Subject: OUTPUT FROM SUBMITED PROC Can anyone tell me how to display a message from SUBMIT COM-FILE to terminal of current session. The submitted batch process will write messages to SYS$OUTPUT which is redefined to terminal of submitting process, but that wouldn't work because the terminal already has been assigned to current interactive process. Any hints will help. THANKS! VMS SIG Message # 882 0 replies Reply to # 878 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 03-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: IBM LABELS Tom, There is no need to backspace, you are already at the beginning of the tape. You now have total control of, and total responsibility for what goes on that tape. You can invent your own blocked record format and write it if you wish. There are some programs around that attempt to cope with foreign (to the VAX) tape formats. MTEXCH by Gary Grebus, will read or write IBM VB format as well as RT-11, TOPS-20, and a few other things. PC'S SIG Message # 208 0 replies Reply to # 204 Left by: CHARLES KOTAN On 04-Mar-89 At : (916)273-1250 Subject: HI-Mem Marty - There is a utility from QuarterDeck S/W that's part of the DesqView package that might help you. I think it is called movehigh or highmem or (lights are coming on!!) LOADHIGH (YES!!! I THINK THAT'S IT!!!). You use it in the autoexec to load drivers and tsrs into ems, saving your precious 640K for the real programs. Somehow I doubt you are going to buy $75 copies of DV just to use loadhigh, but I think it will do the job. An associate was just released from the hospital after using LOADHIGH to put his disk partitioning driver into himem. It thrashed his drive format, of course. His self-flagellation (sp?) resulted in severe injury. He's used loadhigh for everything else for (seems like he said) 9 months without problem. Ck (pardon the excessive use of the phrase I THINK in this msg. In reality, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't!) RSTS SIG Message # 345 0 replies Reply to # 343 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 05-Mar-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: FILE MARKED FOR DELETION Thanks for your notes, Steven. Re: "If I recall accurately, one the bit is changed on the disk the file can be copies but once the job which has the file opened closes it, the file is history." This matches my experience exactly. Since that gives me access to my file, I'll not try to mess with the monitor's tables. (Discretion is the better part of valor. . . .) MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 482 1 replies Left by: Dr. Deity On 05-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: More Rumors If you look at the IEEE's listing of allocated ethernet addresses, you'll find something called the "ARGONAUT Console Port". Anybody know what the "Argonaut" is? Whatever it is, it's apparently getting an Ethernet-driven console, if DEC plans to use their 64K worth of Ethernet addresses they asked for from the IEEE. DrD WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 119 0 replies Reply to # 84 Left by: ERIC LINDEEN On 05-Mar-89 At : LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART Subject: WORDPERFECT We are using Wordperfect quite successfully here. We run typically 70 users on an 8350, with no slowing. If you have further questions, feel free to call me at (213) 857-6129. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 483 0 replies Reply to # 482 Left by: Dr. Gonzo On 06-Mar-89 At : Subject: Argonaut Argonaut is the successor to the aborted Aquarius processor. I have to admit that I don't have any specifications at hand for this processor. Interesting to note the Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 connection for the console. It could be that the console will be the much rumored "EtherTerm" device. A wonderful device that would give you access to DECwindows and other workstation products without having to purchase a workstation. RSTS SIG Message # 346 0 replies Reply to # 343 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 06-Mar-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: LESS MDL, MORE FCB Hi Steve, long time no see. I took your advice on your ^F files function for V9 (Mike Mayfield gave me some help also). A controlling program runs in detached (at high priority) in the background. It gives you ^A for Load Averages, ^B for boosting your job back to -8 (if dropped by Dynpri), ^E for Erase Screen, ^F for Files, ^N for 80 column (Narrow), ^V for virtual memory address, ^W for 132 column (Wide), and ^Y for al- ternate ^C. Thanks for the Insight. RSTS SIG Message # 347 0 replies Left by: BRETT BUMP On 06-Mar-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: LESS FCB, MORE JCR To Steve or Mike if around: Why is it do you suppose that information within the JCR is not used the same way as information within a FCB? When implementing SubDirectories under RSTS I decided that the best way to change the current directory should be to modify the device cluster UFD within the JCR. By rewriting the uu.sys call for subfunctions 3 and 4 (yes, my system does) I was able to modify the JCR. This way each job (even in the same ppn) had the ability to change their subdirectory. Nope, it didn't work. I was then informed that the information within the JCR was for just that (info). While I did get a working version of SubDirectories running, I did have to go to the disk to do it. Do you think we can make it better? APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 316 0 replies Left by: BRUCE SULLIVAN On 06-Mar-89 At : 508-790-3200 Subject: SMA smartmailer does anyone have a copy OF SMARTMAILER on an rx50 floppy for a microvax 2000? In lieu of the rx50 floppy would anyone be willing to download it to our system or let me upload it from their system? I would appreciate any help with this, thanks. You can reach me toll from from outside MA at 800-548-9299. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 317 0 replies Left by: BRUCE SULLIVAN On 06-Mar-89 At : 508-790-3200 Subject: SMARTMAILER Would anyone have a copy of SMARTMAILER on rx50 floppy disk or be willing to upload/download SMARTMAILER to my VAX? DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 471 0 replies Left by: DORWIN BIRT On 06-Mar-89 At : 213-825-1310 Subject: DECNET_DOS I am having a problem in attempting to use DECNET_Dos to do backups of our IBM pc hard disks onto a virtual disk which is actually a file on one of our Microvax II disks. The problem is that a 32 Mbyte hard disk on the PC cannot be backed up onto a 32 MByte virtual disk because of lack of space. Apparently the Network Device Utility of Decnet-Dos allocates space on the virtual disk in increments of 8192 bytes. If a large number of small files are copied, and each one takes up 8192 bytes, then space is exhausted on the virtual disk. Does anyone know how to prevent this problem. The systems involved are VMS4.7, PC_DOS 3.2 and DECNET_DOS 1.2. Thanks. RSTS SIG Message # 348 0 replies Left by: BOB DUDLEY On 07-Mar-89 At : (314) 731-3444 Subject: COMM PROTOCOL Anyone know where I can find one of the following protocols for RSTS. Z-Modem, Y-Modem, 1K X-Modem, X-Modem CRC, X-Modem Preference 1st to last. It must use a KB port, not the default TTY port. (Note, Kermit won't work for this application, need to get some stuff off some BBS's that don't support Kermit). Bob Dudley DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 472 0 replies Reply to # 471 Left by: Phil Anthony On 07-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: BACKUP USING DECNET_DOS I don't know much about DECnet_DOS; there may be some nice, simple way to change the blocking factor on the VMS side that'll solve your problem. From DOS, though, ARC V6.xx from System Enhancement Associates permits archiving a root directory and all its subdirectories. This compresses the original files by 20 to 75 per cent, depending on the nature of the files, and con- catenates them into one single archive file that preserves the directory structure. There are a few drawbacks. When ARC saves subdirectory trees, restoration from subdirectories can be done only on a directory by directory basis - in- dividual files can be extracted only from the root directory. So restoring a single corrupted file, or one that the user inadvertently deleted, to a subdirectory wouldn't be as simple as just copying one file back to the user's disk. Also, creating a compressed archive takes three to four times as long as copying individual files. If speed is more important than size, you can override compression, and the directory structure will still be preserved. The resulting archive file will be a little bit smaller than the sum of the original files: ARC does no internal blocking, while MS-DOS allocates space on hard disk in 2,048-byte chunks. Speed of uncompressed archiving is com- parable to that of copying using the DOS XCOPY command. Obviously, this isn't ideal. But it provides a workaround that you might want to explore. Since ARC is shareware, you could test drive it without risking any money. UTILITIES SIG Message # 350 1 replies Left by: BOB ZISEK On 07-Mar-89 At : (203)798-5240 Subject: MAIL HELP FILES I am currently looking for a method by which I can define my mail help file to be something other than the default MAILHELP.OLB mail library located is SYS$HELP. I have modified some of the commands to suit my environment and would like to access my own mail help library, not the system-wide default. Any input would be appreciated. Bob Zisek Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. 90 East Ridge P.O. Box 368 Ridgefield, Ct. 06877 MICROVAX SIG Message # 192 1 replies Left by: RUSSELL C. YELEY On 07-Mar-89 At : (513)322-0645 OR ARIS Subject: TRANS DATA FROM MVAX TO IBM I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON TRANSFERING DATA FROM MY MICRO VAX TO IBM MAIN FRAMES. I AM DEALING WITH INSURANCE BILLING AND MOST OF THE BLUE CROSS COMPANIES HAVE IBM SYSTEMS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM TO USE KERMIT. I AM NOW LOOKING FOR SOFTWARE AND OR HARDWARE TO USE WIH A MODEM TO SEND THE DATA. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD LIKE ME TO EMULATE IBM 3780. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 281 0 replies Reply to # 268 Left by: KENT CEARLEY On 07-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: LAT PORT DOUBLE DUTY Russell, have you tried setting the port to ACCESS DYNAMIC. This works on DECserver200's for maintaining simultaneously a reverse-lat print queue and interactive terminal access. I don't see why it should be different on the 500's. Sorry this response is so late, I'm trying to catch up since January! -Kent MICROVAX SIG Message # 193 1 replies Reply to # 192 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 07-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: MICROVAX TO IBM I am not sure what '3780' emulation is. However, here at GF we have a MicroVAX 3600 which is running a third-party software package called ezSNA. This package allows us to emulate a model 3770 workstation. The package is connected to our corporate MVS network through a DPV11 communications board. With this package, it is possible to perform Remote Job Entry (RJE) functions. We use this software to transmit data from our DEC environment to System/38's running in several plants. In case your interested, the software vendor is Datanex, Inc. and their phone number is 503-687-2520. My only complaint is that the firm is overly paranoid and insists on non-disclosure agreements. A simple license with the copyright spelled out would suffice. This is not Pentagon software! Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 UTILITIES SIG Message # 351 1 replies Reply to # 350 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 07-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: MAIL HELP Unfortunately I can't get into my system at the moment. But a quick guess would be to define the logical name MAILHELP to point to your .HLB file. If DEC followed default conventions in writing the MAIL utility, it should work. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 UTILITIES SIG Message # 352 0 replies Reply to # 351 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 07-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: MAILHELP LOGICAL Well, I got back into my system and tried out the logical name. It does work! Simply enter the following command: $ DEFINE/SYSTEM MAILHELP ddcu:[directory]helpfile.HLB where ddcu is your device specification. If omitted, SYS$HELP is assumed. where directory is your directory specification. where helpfile is the name of you mail help file. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 376 0 replies Reply to # 375 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 07-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: OUTPUT FROM SUBMITTED PROC Mike, I don't think that you will be able to write a message from a batch job to the terminal of the submitting process without some pretty heavy privilege. If you had OPER privilege, you could use REPLY /USER=you "message" which would almost meet your requirements. The message would go to _all_ of your interactive terminals. If you were logged on at three terminals, the message would be broadcast to all three terminals. With SHARE privilege, you could assign a channel to the terminal even though it was already allocated to another process. What are you trying to accomplish? There may be an easier way to do it. MICROVAX SIG Message # 194 0 replies Reply to # 193 Left by: RUSSELL C. YELEY On 08-Mar-89 At : ARIS Subject: IBM Thanks for your help I will check it out. RSTS SIG Message # 349 0 replies Reply to # 348 Left by: Phil Anthony On 08-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: X-, Y-, AND ZMODEM Bob, I have XModem checksum code written in BASIC+ to get you started. I also have CRC calculation code in GW-BASIC that could be integrated into the XModem code with minimal difficulty. Finally, I have complete documentation on the YModem and ZModem protocols and on windowed XModem, if you want to extend the code. YModem would be easiest. It'd be a fairly simple matter of enlarging your buffers and adding three or four packet types. If you do modify the original code, I'd appreciate getting hold of it when you're done. I've wanted to add CRC and build in YModem capability for a while now, but it's been a fairly low priority and I haven't gotten around to it. Give me a call at (215) 884-9128 and we can arrange a time for you to down- load whatever appeals to you - using XModem CRC or checksum, XModem 1K, YModem, YModem 1K, ZModem, or Kermit. No, sorry, it's not a DEC machine. VMS SIG Message # 883 0 replies Left by: GALEN TACKETT On 08-Mar-89 At : (408)742-6448 Subject: V5.X DRIVERS FOR MISC. DEVICES Does anyone have any information on the availability of DEC's device drivers for the KCT32 and IEQ11 under VMS V5.x? Is there any chance the V4.7 drivers would work on a uniprocessor system? TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 282 0 replies Left by: GALEN TACKETT On 08-Mar-89 At : (408)742-6448 Subject: HOW TO TELL REAL VT FROM WINDOW I need a clever way to tell whether a user's terminal is a real VTxxx or a workstation window that emulates one. The difficult case is when a workstation user SETs HOST to another system -- there's no way to tell from the device name or $GETDVI whether his terminal is a workstation. Perhaps there is an escape sequence (or a series of them) to which a workstation will respond to the host in a way that's different from a VT? For example, I was thinking about sending an escape sequence to set the screen size to something too big for a real VT, then positioning to, say, the lower left corner and sending another escape sequence to read the cursor position back. A real VT would respond with its cursor on line 24, but not an emulator window. Does this sound workable? Is there a more straightforward method? MICROVAX SIG Message # 195 0 replies Reply to # 194 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 09-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: OOPS! Excuse the error the other day when I said I didn't know what '3780' emulation was. My brain was in neutral and my clutch slipped! 2780/3780 is good old BiSync communication. This is a much simpler, albeit less efficient, protocol than SNA. All you will need to do is purchase DEC's 2780/3780 Protocol Emulator package (and if you are on a BI machine, the WAN Device Drivers kit for the DMB32). We use this package to communicate with an IBM system in Chicago and have never had any problems. If you have any questions, please feel free to call. I have been involved in quite a bit of IBM to VAX communications (although I can't always remember the IBM model numbers!). Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 217 0 replies Left by: BOB ZISEK On 09-Mar-89 At : (203)798-5240 Subject: INTERRUPT STACK HIGH Can someone give a clue as to how I can effectively trace the source of High interrupt stack activity. The scenario is as follows: We are running MicroVMS 4.7 on a MicroVax II. The terminal interface is DHV11 with a terminal print queue set on one of the ports. Every now and then, I notice that the interrupt stack activity is excessive (25-50%). What seems to alleviate the problem, is stopping and then re-starting the print queue. The terminal characteristics are pretty much standard, with no special ones set. The printer that is served by the queue is an LN03. What, in relation to this queue, could be causing this problem? The communication does not go through any special or wierd connections, although the printer is physically located about 500 ft. away. To add more confusion to this, this problem just started happening about a month ago, with no changes to the system. Where should I concentrate my efforts? Thanks in advance... Bob Zisek Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. 90 East Ridge Ridgefield, Ct. 06877 DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 473 0 replies Reply to # 472 Left by: DORWIN BIRT On 09-Mar-89 At : ARIS MESSAGE SERVICE Subject: REPLY TO 472 Thanks, Phil for your suggestions. I haven'nt found any simply way to change the blocking factor at the VMS end. Apparently the blocking factor is determined by the Network Device Utility itself. I think your suggestion to use a backup routine which produces a single backup set rather than individual files is the way to go. After your suggestion about using ARC, I remembered something I had briefly glanced at in some documentation of MS_DOS 3.3 about the backup routines. When I checked further I found that Backup in 3.3 MS-Dos does in fact produce a single backup set whereas earlier versions produced individual files, which caused my original problem. I think I will put version 3.3 on my PCs and this will solve the problem. Thanks for your help. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 474 0 replies Left by: MARK RIEF On 09-Mar-89 At : 818-331-3361 Subject: SILICON GRAPHICS TAPE CARTRIDGE Does anybody have the ability to read a Silicon Graphics 1/4" tape cartridge? It will contain text files. We need to get them to a MicrovaxII via TK50 or KERMIT/modem. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 120 0 replies Reply to # 118 Left by: JUHA KANTOVAARA On 09-Mar-89 At : 705-267-1401 EXT. 52 Subject: LN03 AND WORDPERFECT We are running with WordPerfect on our 8250 and have LN03's working with font cartridges. First you need to know the font i.d. string of your font cartridge. You can obtain this by pressing the test button on the back of the LN03. This will print a list of all the font's available on your laser. You will see a line such as: DMDRGTH DMDRGTHH03WK00GG...... {--------------} The first 16 characters is known as the font i.d. string. This is need to activate the font. In WordPerfect you must run the Print Management Utility: $ WPCORP/PMU This will bring up the menu. You want to select option 3. You then move the the screen containing the Digital LN03 laser. (Use the up and down arrows). Enter the number beside the entry and the printer definition will come on the screen. What you want to do is to introduce another font to the system. Choose option A and now you can enter the escape sequence to change fonts. You can place the escape sequence into font 9, the first 8 are already assigned by WP. The sequence you enter will include the font i.d. string: <27>P1;19}DMDRGTHH03WK00GG<27>\<27>[19m What this does is assign the font i.d. string to SGR (Select Graphic Rendition) number "19" and then selects the font for use. This information can be found in the LN03 programmers reference manual on pages 59 and 60. Page x explains the 7 bit equivalents of the 8 bit codes. Finally when you are done this you will have to go back to the main menu and change the printer definition associated with you LN03 printer queue. The new printer will be the "+Digital LN03 Laser Printer". The "+" designates you have modified the original printer definition. OOps you must also add the character set when changing the font definition. This is done in option "C". Call if you have any problems. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 263 0 replies Left by: TOM CACHAT On 09-Mar-89 At : 714 837-5198 X354 Subject: WORTH OF NEW STYLE UPS We are considering buying a General Power Corp. V30-1 30 KVA UPS or a RTE Deltec 8256-1 25 KVA UPS. The Deltec unit only uses an inverter if the AC input source is deficient, which is not the standard UPS methodology. Any thoughts or exper- ience on which is best? Also, we'd like to gracefully shut down if there is a blackout. Any recommendations on software to use with the UPS supplied RS-232 signal? VMS SIG Message # 884 0 replies Reply to # 883 Left by: LANDIS D. RAGON On 11-Mar-89 At : 314-233-6869 Subject: VMS 5.X DRIVERS About the existing 4.x IEQ11 drivers working on a 5.X uniprocessor system, the answer is NO. There is a new driver for the IEEE488 board, but it must be purchased separately. This very fact is holding up my going to 5.1, just because I don't yet have a new driver for one of the boards in a system in my cluster. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 318 1 replies Reply to # 297 Left by: ERNEST ADAMS On 11-Mar-89 At : (914) 747-2900 Subject: RE: AFTER PRINT Jay: Any luck with the trailing after a print job? Everything we've tried here has been to no avail. If possible, I'd like to avoid writing any code to fix the problem. We have no compliers except MACRO (!Don't ask!!). The /NOTRail qualifier does zip. Pax, Ernest MICROVAX SIG Message # 196 1 replies Reply to # 118 Left by: ERNEST ADAMS On 11-Mar-89 At : (914) 747-2900 Subject: TK50 / TK70 Yup! DEC did it to us this time. As far as we have been able to find out, there is *N*O* way to use a TK50 tape w/o bulk erasing it. Personally, I'd rather take my chances with a bulk eraser hidden in my desk than throw out $$ in TK50s. Nor is there a way to read a TK70 tape on a TK50. Or even write a new tape on a 70 to be read on a 50. We've got a uVAX II and a VAXStation 3500. Guess which has what drive. At this time we haven't gotten DECNet up between 'em (uVAX II V4.7; VAXStation V5.0), so it is tape transfer or nothing. Trouble is, we can't go from 3500 to II.... This is one of the few examples of extreme stupidity from DEC I've seen, but it's a beaut! PC'S SIG Message # 209 0 replies Left by: VASOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS On 11-Mar-89 At : MCI 353 6867 Subject: DOS GENERIC TOPS20JSYS Does anyone know of a way to put Does anyone know how to get TOPS20 JSYS type filename recognition on an MSDOS generic PC like the 80186 AMPRO 2210. We use AMPROs because the site we used to use DEC20s gave us a good deal on HP teminals (261 DEC20s gave us a good deal on HP rterminals (2621A) and the AMPROs are pre-IBM PC compatible (no video or kybd ram calls, only bios) CIS 76530,1430 MCIMAIL 3535 MCIMAIL 353-6867 TELECX (23)650 353 6867 BIX vjp2 RSTS SIG Message # 350 0 replies Left by: Brett Bump On 11-Mar-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: VIRTUAL DISK BUG Yes I know I promised this message last week but I have a good excuse. I forgot! Prior to 9.4 there was a report of a problem with the ramdisk. If you change .sils, you must go through the default dialogue and reset the ramdisk. Just looking at the memory table won't do it, you must set the ramdisk size (even if it says it's there). If you do not, it will be disabled on START. This was fixed in 9.4 and later (to a point). Let's say that you run a working sil with a 128k ramdisk and then you receive a new disk drive (one whose driver isn't in the working .sil). You install the sysgen.sil to make sure that the drive works, and while you're at it, create a 2meg (or bigger!) ramdisk for doing the *fast* sysgen. If you then go back to the original .sil your memory table will tell you that you have a 128k ramdisk. As long as you don't dskint DV0: your system will work fine. As soon as you do... crashhh. Since XBUF usually lives above DV0: you can surmise just what's going on. Moral: ALWAYS RESET VI. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 377 0 replies Left by: JOSEPH T HECK On 12-Mar-89 At : 617-344-7638 Subject: ONE MORE TRY ON CONVERSION Malin, I have written a program in Basic for one of my clients that allows conversion from IBM EBCDIC AND PACKED DECIMAL fields to ASCII AND INTERNAL fields for the VAX. It is in basic, with two VERY short subroutines in assembler. I have not yet put in DECUS, but will do so soon. It allows conversions both ways, and is VERY flexible. It uses a script file to declare the files, the record lengths, the fields, and which output field equates with which input field. If you need something like this, just call me, leave a message, and i'll send it out. Joe Heck 617-344-7638. PC'S SIG Message # 210 0 replies Reply to # 201 Left by: VASOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS On 12-Mar-89 At : MCIMAIL3536867 Subject: QUMETERM ON PC You have to rewrite the BIOS drivers just for the terminal. nnecte an AMPRO computer that has a 80186 chip and I coo I have an AMPRO 2210 computer with HP2621A terminal I had to rwrite my BIOS based on that available from AMPRO I think they have a QUme driver already. Try calling 408 734 2800 rpt 408 734 2800 and ask them if you can geton their bulletin board and copy some MS DOS drivers ... It won't be easy (I don't have a monitor on my PC, only term, so Lotus won't work, but TurboBPascal, VEdit, MultiPlan, and other DOS Generic stuff does.) Am also on CIS 76530,1430 BIX vjp2 TELEX (23)650 353 6867 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 218 0 replies Reply to # 217 Left by: LEE K. GLEASON On 13-Mar-89 At : 713/528-1859 Subject: PRINT SYMBIOSIS Since you mention that it disappears if you stop and start the queue, I am suspicious of "bularimia" of the print symbiont. The VMS print symbiont contains three instances of $PURGWS. This means that after going to the trouble of growing to the working set size it needs, it frees most of those pages, and shrinks. In the old days, when VAXen didn't support much memory, this was a worthwhile effort to keep real memory free for other use. Now, this needless "binging" and "purging" merely "checkerboards" the address space of the process, and the free space in the page files. Patches exist to NOP out the PURGWS calls (written by John Osudar). Let me know if you want to give them a try. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 253 1 replies Left by: KEN LUEBBERT On 13-Mar-89 At : (217)-348-8181 Subject: 2780 COMMUNICATIONS We have the following: 1) VAX 8200 2) DMB32 3) VAX 2780/3780 Protocol Emulator software Can you tell me: 1) what modem you use and how is it configured 2) what type of cable to connect the modem to the DMB32 synch port 3) any hints pertaining to this software Thank you Ken Luebbert Trailmobile (217)348-8181 DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 475 0 replies Left by: KEITH L WALKER On 13-Mar-89 At : 403-297-5405 Subject: XMODEM CHECKSUM Kevin Barkes' article 'Understanding XMODEM' (VAX Pro Feb/89) contains some misinformation about checksumming. The checksum is the sum of *ALL* the bytes in the packet, not just the data bytes. Since the sum of the SOH, Block Number, and Ones-complement Block Number is zero, a checksum of only the data bytes should be equal to a checksum of all bytes, but they should all be included. Otherwise, there is no protection against errors in the first 3 bytes of the packet. VAX/ELN SIG Message # 16 1 replies Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 13-Mar-89 At : (201)670-0286 Subject: VAX I am currently in the process of switching systems from a VAX 8300 to a VAX 6310. I'd like to hear from anyone who has gotten one of the new Calypsos -how are they, problems to expect, etc, etc, etc.... The config will be with 64mb main memory, and I am losing 3 RA81's for 3 (possibly 4) RA82's - totalling 3 RA81's and 3 RA82's. Also, am looking into one of the tape drives for unattended backups. Who has what, and what do you use it for, and how do you like it, etc... Thanks in advance. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 264 0 replies Reply to # 263 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 13-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: WORTH OF NEW STYLE UPS Tom, I have an RTE-Deltec UPS. It is a 7500KVA unit and has proven quite satisfactory. Our local AC power from the power company is none too reliable. Add the sort of geniuses who plug 500 amp loads into 300 amp circuits and you can understand that our unit gets put to the test more often than some people's would be. It has been running for about eighteen months now. It just sits there quietly until the power goes off. When the power goes off, it takes over without a fumble. When power comes back on and is stable for about a minute it switches back to commercial power. We are also running a 2KVA unit from Best Power Technology which has also proven quite satisfactory. It has a few more bells and whistles than the RTE unit but has proven its equal in terms of reliability. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 254 0 replies Reply to # 253 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 14-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: 2780/3780 - What do you need You failed to mention the version of VMS that you are running on. However, you stated that your configuration consisted of: VAX 8200 DMB32 VAX 2780/3780 protocol emulator You will need a DMB32 synchronous port driver to start. Under V5.x, it is part of the WAN Device Drivers Kit. This provides you with SIDRIVER.EXE which is required to bring SIA0 online. Second, assuming you are using a standard RS-232 linkup to your DMB32, you will need a BC19D-02 cable for the DMB32. This plugs into the 50-pin connector on the DMB32 and provides you with a 25-pin V.24 jack. As for the modem, any synchronous modem 2400, 4800, 7200, or 9600 baud will suffice. Our configuration consists of a Motorola UDS 2400 baud modem. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VAX/ELN SIG Message # 17 0 replies Reply to # 16 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 14-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: THE VAX 6300 SERIES We just received a VAX 6330 and all I can say is: I WANT MY 8350 BACK! The 6330 is fast, but there is either a DWMBA timing problem or VMS V5.1 cannot handle the speed of the new processor. We have three BI channels with a KDB50 on each channel. One KDB50 (it has been replaced already) keeps sending SDI errors to all the disks connected to it. This results in fault lights going off, good disk blocks being revectored, and mount verifications every 10 minutes! Not that I want to complain but I don't think this is normal operating mode for a computer. We are basically the guinea pigs for everyone out there contemplating the purchase of one of these things. Also, an interesting note. The TBK70 tape controller on the 6300 series has a port called PBx0 (where x is the controller designation) that is part of PBDRIVER and is supposed to be similar to the PTA0 port for a TU-81. Well both SDA and SHOW CLUSTER believe this to be a CIBCI port. No word yet on what this might be but Digital is looking! Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 MICROVAX SIG Message # 197 0 replies Reply to # 188 Left by: JIM REFFELT On 14-Mar-89 At : 914-246-3461 Subject: VAXSTATION3200 We just completed installing a vaxstaion 3200. The display (vr290) comes standard with roughly 20 feet of cable. I did not install third party disks in this unit but installed the 2 RD53 drives from our BA123 box. A word of caution here. Dec service maintained continuously that a ba23 can not support two RD53 disk drives. The only trick is to find what jumper location to use on the drive. We have had excellent luck with third party devices in other systems. MICROVAX SIG Message # 198 0 replies Reply to # 196 Left by: JIM REFFELT On 14-Mar-89 At : 914-246-3461 Subject: TAPE COMPATIBILITIES We had a similar problem when we tried to upgrade a 3200 to V5.0 . We did not have a tape drive in the 3200, and our DECNET link to a Q5 was shutdown by the instalation proocedure. We were stranded. However, if you dont mind playing with hardware a little, and if you have similar disks on both systems, you can COPY tapes as well as backup to disk on the microvax, then move or switch disks. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 219 0 replies Reply to # 217 Left by: Phil Anthony On 15-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: HIGH INTERRUPT STACK ACTIVITY Bob, you didn't mention how long the print queue had been operating without any problems before you started noticing the high interrupt stack activity. If it had been a fairly long time, I'd look at possible hardware causes be- fore starting to patch the print spooler. One place I'd start deglitching is that your DHV may be having trouble (do terminals on the same DHV occa- sionally get bursts of line noise - garbage characters on the screen? espe- cially terminals plugged into adjacent slots?). You also didn't mention how you're running 500 feet to the LN03. Do you have shielded RS-232 lines wired as a null-modem, or are you running through twisted-pair off short-haul modems? If your RS-232 cables aren't shielded or you're using twisted-pair, I'd examine the cable path to find out if some piece of machinery with a high radio frequency emission level was placed a little too close - perhaps a photocopier. If the cable runs through the ceiling right next to fluorescent light fixtures, see if you have a flicker- ing bulb or a starter that needs replacing; you could be getting radio fre- quencies from that. An indication that you're having radio frequency trouble would be spurious login attempts on that line in your accounting log file: VMS interprets any control character coming down the line as a request to log in. You could check it out without running accounting (and potentially filling up your system disk with false login reports) by putting a breakout box on line and checking for line activity when the problem occurs. Then, if disconnecting the printer from the line makes the interrupt stack activity go away, you've got it. Speaking personally, I'd be a little hesitant to patch DEC system software, and void DEC support, before giving the hardware a close look. SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 220 0 replies Reply to # 219 Left by: Phil Anthony On 15-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: P.S. TO THE ABOVE Please scratch the reference to ACCOUNTNG in my previous message. My fin- gers got ahead of my brain. If the port is set up right for spooling, with NOALTYPEAHEAD and all those goodies, LOGINOUT and ACCOUNTNG would never see any line noise. But the DHV driver is still active to catch any characters on the line, even if it simply drops 'em on the floor. The breakout box will show you what's happening if you do have an RFE problem. Even though I didn't emphasize it, the possibility of the DHV going south is also pretty high on my probability list. This is especially true because reinitializing the queue (and thus resetting the DHV port) makes the problem go away. VMS SIG Message # 885 0 replies Left by: TERRENCE RIPINGILL On 15-Mar-89 At : 305 364 6452 Subject: APPLIC. IN DCL I am writing a word processing application in DCL using TPU editor, and would like to know what practical performance limits there are in using DCL. I am running VMS 4.7 on a VAX 785. My DCL procedure is about 350 lines, and provides users with a menu where they can edit/tpu/section=etc., mail files, print to queued printers, copy, rename, delete, directory, etc. I plan to have about 20 people accessing this at once. Is there any foreseeable performance problem with DCL code this size, or the user load? I am using 4 RA81s on a single controller. Thanks! VAX/ELN SIG Message # 18 0 replies Reply to # 16 Left by: GAVIN ADAMS On 17-Mar-89 At : 702-295-7643 Subject: 83XX TO 63XX Upgrading from the 83xx series to the 63xx posed very little problems at our site. The most notable difference is the decreased amount of time system startup takes, and the ease of using the new CCP. Going through the Owners Manual will really show how the 6300 is superior to the 8300 for console processes. On the software end, benchmarks showed a 2.5 to 5 times decrease in the amount of CPU consumed, except for some programs compiled under COBOL v4.0. Because of the new CPU architecture, COBOL programs with COMPUTES doubled both CPU and real-time used on the 6330 vs. 8350. Overall, I have been real impressed with the performance of the 6300 series, and I'm curious what increases the 6400 series will bring. The part of the 6330 that I'm disappointed in is the console media. Since we originally bought the machine as a 6230, it came with a TK50 tape drive. Hopefully next fiscal year will bring a TK70 to replace it. RSTS SIG Message # 351 0 replies Reply to # 349 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 17-Mar-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: AVAILABILITY OF X-MODEM X-MODEM for RSTS is also available on one of the RSTS SIG tapes for 1988. Since all files from those tapes are available on the RSTS SIG Newsletter system, you could also get it from there. The phone numbers are (201) 435-2546 for 2400-9600 baud, or (201) 915-9361 for 1200 baud and below. Just hit to autobaud and you'll get instructions on how to log in and find out where everything is. I'm not sure that the XMODEM available there has CRC; source code is provided. RSTS SIG Message # 352 0 replies Reply to # 350 Left by: KELVIN SMITH On 17-Mar-89 At : (203) 357-0504 Subject: VIRTUAL DISK BUGS Brett, I had to look way back through my pile of SPRs to find that one. Another manifestation of the problem cropped up with my system, where I have two CPUs with different amounts of memory. When I moved from the smaller system to the larger one, INIT claimed that it was adjusting the memory table, but immediately crashed when I tried to initialize the virtual disk. In this case, just going through DEFAULT was sufficient to reset the pointers properly. This problem was fixed a long time ago. Another problem with the virtual disk still exists, however. If you bring down the system, increase the size of the virtual disk, and then turn the system off, when you turn it back on and bring the system up the extra memory will be reported as locked out, not assigned to DV0:. There are two workarounds: 1) Change the DV0: size when starting, not when ending; 2) Don't turn off your machine. The problem with the last one is that our air conditioner is much less reliable than our computers, and I've gotten too many 3 AM calls from the temperature monitor, so I bring down my machines most nights. (It also reduces exposure to unwanted visitors....) VMS SIG Message # 886 0 replies Reply to # 885 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 17-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: APPLICATION IN DCL Terrence, The problem with DCL is that it was never intended as a programming language. It is interpreted. It is slow! If most of the user's time is spent in TPU, MAIL, etc. then you may be able to do it with no problem. If you do a great deal of processing in DCL you may be in trouble. You might want to check out a package called "VAX Professional Work Station" (No connection with "VAX Professional"). It is available on the DECUS VAXSIG Symposium tapes. It is billed as being what All-in-1 (A-to-Z?) should have been and free too. See your LUG Librarian for copies of the tapes. (You can also order them from the DECUS Library but that costs money). MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 486 0 replies Reply to # 483 Left by: URBAN C. WATROUS On 18-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: DIDDLY SQUAT Sure, Dr. G, DECwindoze is a nice way to relax after a tough day in the Evil Empire. But what inquiring users REALLY wanna know is where you got that necktie. You know, the one in the picture that runs over your column in Pravda. Because of strict KGB dress code, such flamboyance may bring about a one-way trip to Yakutsk. Sources close to Comrade Bargrafkin confirm this... APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 319 0 replies Left by: KEN JONGSMA On 18-Mar-89 At : 616 241-7702 Subject: COMPRESSING CMS LIBRARY I have a large CMS library that I would like to compress. That is, I would like to start a new library from a specific generation in my old library. The problem is that the old library has 1400+ elements with many elements having over 100 generations. This makes doing a manual fetch/create very undesireable. The Version 3 manual specifically states that deleting generations does not shrink the delta file, so making a copy of the library, then deleting prior to the current generation is not the answer. I realize this may be a common problem, but I'd appreciate any pointers. Thanks, Ken DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 476 0 replies Reply to # 474 Left by: Phil Anthony On 18-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: SILICON GRAPHICS DRIVE Mark, you might want to get in touch with Silicon Graphics. If they have a users' group, somebody in the group could probably read your tape and then upload it to you. I checked the ARIS Product Information section and couldn't find a number or address for Silicon Graphics, but that information is probably available in other computer mags. Good luck! VAX/ELN SIG Message # 19 0 replies Reply to # 18 Left by: KITTY GEORGE On 19-Mar-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: CONSOLE DEVICE SELECTION Gavin - The comments on the speed difference between the 83XX and the 63XX are much appreciated. Was the comparision for a 8300 or 8350 ?? Regarding the TK50 as console media - don't hold your breath waiting for a TK70 upgrade. Traditionally DEC has recycled old storage media devices as console devices for new systems. Off the top of my head ... . the RX01 floppy drive in the VAX 780 . the TU58 tape cartridge in the VAX 750 and VAX 730 . the RL02 in the VAX 8600 . the Pro 380 as the console terminal for the 8800 and, of course, the TK50 for your 6300 system. I'm sure there are other examples like the above. From DEC's viewpoint, It's a good way to clear out old inventory and media. Plus, the product development engineers don't have to worry about troubleshooting another unproven component when creating new systems. If there's one thing that you absolutely must depend on for getting a system up and running, it's the console device. Kitty :-) GRAPHICS SIG Message # 84 0 replies Left by: SAL CANGIALOSI On 19-Mar-89 At : 291-985-4391 Subject: DEC WINDOWS / SMG ROUTINES DIGITAL IS OBVIOUSLY WORKING HARD TO ENCOURAGE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS TO USE DECWINDOW FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. I HAVE IN THE PAST USED DEC'S SMG ROUTINES AND HAVE INCORPORATED THEM INTO OUR TERMINAL HANDLING SOFTWARE. I AM WONDERING IF ANY OF THE READERS OF ARIS HAVE ANY INSIGHT AS TO DEC'S PLANS, IF ANY, TO INCORPORATE THE SMG ROUTINES WITH DEC WINDOWS. SHOULD FURTHER DEVELOPMENT WITH SMG ROUTINES BE LIMITED OR NOT. ARE THERE ANY STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN CURRENTLY BEFORE USE OF DECWINDOWS TO MAKE THE MIGRATION EASIER. THANK YOU. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 477 0 replies Reply to # 476 Left by: ANNE SCHRAUGER On 20-Mar-89 At : 215-542-7008 OR HERE Subject: SILCON GRAPHICS ADDRESS The address for Silicon Graphics is: 2011 N. Shoreline Blvd. Mountain View, CA 94039-7311 (415) 960-1980 VMS SIG Message # 887 1 replies Left by: BOB MARCUS On 20-Mar-89 At : ALDEN PRESS 312-766-2800 X542 Subject: F$ENVIRONMENT LEXICAL -HELP WE HAVE A NEED TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT SEEMS TO BE AVAILABLE ONLY FROM WITHIN THE 'F$ENVIRONMENT LEXICAL, SPECIFICALLY THE 'F$ENVIRONMENT("PROCEDURE") ITEM, FROM WITHIN A LANGUAGE (BASIC). IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO SO ? SPECIFICALLY, WE WANT TO KONW THE NAME OF THE COMMAND PROCEDURE THAT IS PRESENTLY RUNNING THE PROGRAM WHEN IN BATCH, AND TO ENSURE THAT DEPTH=1 . PURPOSE IS TO BE ABLE TO ENABLE CERTAIN PRIVILEGES TO NON-PRIVED USERS BUT ONLY UNDER TIGHT CONTROL, I.E. WHEN SPECIFIC PROCEDURES (TIGHTLY CONTROLLED) ARE BEING RUN. ANYBODY KNOW HOW ? THE ANSWER FROM DEC IS THAT IT IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM DCL. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 47 0 replies Reply to # 6 Left by: LARRY WILLERT On 20-Mar-89 At : (416)730-5312 Subject: LN03 MAINTENANCE PROBLEM I have fond in the past that the maintenance and toner lights will not go off after service. What happened to me is that I added a second toner kit. The addition of the extra toner caused damage to the printer and I had to call service in to have the printer overhauled. This however was covered by D.E.C. because of the faulty light. VMS SIG Message # 888 0 replies Reply to # 887 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 20-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: F$ENVIRONMENT First point: Anything you can get in DCL, you can get from a program. Even if you have to do a LIB$SPAWN. In your particular case, I think the RTL routine LIB$GET_SYMBOL might do the trick. If you use the symbol "F$ENVIRONMENT("PROCEDURE")", that ought to return what you want. The RTL routines are documented in Vol 8B of the VMS V4.7 docset. LIB$GET_SYMBOL is on page RTL-164. Although there are often code segments for various languages to perform commands, there isn't one with this particular command. However, if you spend some time with this manual I think you will get enough to be able to perform your need. There are several BASIC code segments for some of the other routines and that ought to give you enough information to figure out what you need for your particular application. We use COBOL here and I have found this manual's examples sufficient to figure out most of the ones we have used. Don VAX/ELN SIG Message # 20 0 replies Reply to # 17 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 20-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: THE SAGA OF THE VAX 6330 UPGRADE Well, I can now take back my statement about wanting the VAX 8350 back. The problem was finally resolved after many hours. I don't think I got more than 10 hours sleep last week. The problem with the 6330 was... A loose screw!! After 4 KDB50 board swaps, and having the XMI backplane reconfigured the problem was a loose screw on the -15V power bus. It took a senior engineer to find the problem of which I am thankful. Needless to say, the factory that made the 6330 will have to study its assembly methods. VAX/ELN SIG Message # 21 0 replies Reply to # 19 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 20-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: TK70 DRIVE Our VAX 6330 has a TK70 tape drive hooked up to a TBK70 (module T1035) controller. If you have a VAX 6200 that was upgraded to a 6300, it does not include the TK70. The TK70 is available as an upgrade option for those who their 6200 machines to 6300's. It is not included. VMS SIG Message # 889 0 replies Left by: MIKE STRATOTI On 20-Mar-89 At : (215) 639-7274 Subject: "WEAK" BLOCKS ON DU DISKS. I have a problem with a 300 Mb Eagle disk w/ Emulex QD32 on one of my uVax. There are 5 "weak" blocks on the disk that will rack up aprox. 10 errors/day. These blocks are not yet bad because ANALYIZE/DISK/READ DUA0: and the normal day-to-day operations have not reported hard problems. The error log gives me the logical block number but also says that the ECC was bad and the logical sector is good. Is there a way to: 1) tell VMS/RMS/DUdriver or the controller card not to use the known "weak" blocks. 2) knowing a block number, how can I determine the file that contains that block (I could RENAME x.x to x.x_bad so that no program will access the file with offending blocks) 3) allocate a bad block? The bad utility stops with the revectored cache tables of RA/DU class devices. I don't want to reformat the disk if I can avoid it. This disk controller combo has work for the past 4 years, the waek spots are a recent development. Thanks in advance! VMS SIG Message # 890 0 replies Left by: MIKE STRATOTI On 20-Mar-89 At : (215) 639-7274 Subject: UVAX BOOT SEQUENCE INFO I have a uVax with 4 disks of which 2 drives are (were) bootable. One of the disk [DUA0] is no longer bootable. The "MicroVms..." banner prints after the "2..1..0" sequence. Then nothing. The SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM is not executed. Any Gurus out there enlightened with the arcane details of VMB.EXE, SYSBOOT.EXE, SYS.EXE or any other files or procedures that execute to boot a uVax? A "backup/compare [sys0...]" between the 2 disks reports no diffe~`rance other than log files. Thanks in advance! VMS SIG Message # 891 0 replies Left by: BOB MARCUS On 21-Mar-89 At : 312-766-2800 X542 Subject: SYS$CMKRNL FROM HI-LEVEL LANG anybody have experience with successfully calling another system service from within the SYS$CMKRNL system service from a higher level language? The params are never particularly clear from the manual and we have not had occasion to use this one before. The trial and error method is expensive, since each time we get the params wrong, it crashes the vax. Desired call is some variation on CALL_STATUS = SYS$CMKRNL( SYS$SETPRV, enable_flag by value, priv_mask by ref, permanence_flag by value, ) from VAX BASIC . Goal is to permanently increase privs on a very controlled VAX process beyond the execution of this image. Last attempt was LOC(SYS$SETPRV) BY REF, as first param. 1. is this doable ? 2. what's the calling sequence look like ? thanks much. VMS SIG Message # 892 1 replies Reply to # 888 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 21-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: F$ENVIRONMENT DATA I do not believe you can use F$ENVIRONMENT as a symbol with the LIB$GET_SYMBOL procedure. What you should do is, just before you execute your program in the command procedure, define symbols for all the information you want. For example: $ procedure = f$environment("procedure") $ captive = f$environment("captive") $ default = f$environment("default") $ define/user_mode sys$input sys$command ! if you are prompting for data $ run my_program . . within this program, use LIB$GET_SYMBOL to determine the values of PROCEDURE, CAPTIVE, and DEFAULT. . While there are more advanced ways of doing this from within a program, they require some internals knowledge and would not be recommended for general use. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 893 0 replies Reply to # 892 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 21-Mar-89 8:30 PST At : HERE Subject: F$ENVIRONMENT Are you sure about that Bob? Can't you use "'f$environment("PROCEDURE")'"? I don't see why it won't work. I think I will go back to my system and try it in COBOL. Let you know. Don VMS SIG Message # 894 0 replies Reply to # 890 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 21-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: MICROVAX BOOT PROBLEM I have seen the problem you have described. However, there is no pat answer to your problem. The various steps I would run through to diagnose the problem are too involved to list here. Suffice to say that '>>> B/1 DUA0' will give you a good platform to work from. VMS SIG Message # 895 0 replies Reply to # 891 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 21-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: SYS$CMKRNL from BASIC So you want to make my favorite VMS 'back door' program! First off, you do not need SYS$CMKRNL to set privileged. SYS$CMEXEC will suffice in this case and will not (most of the time) crash the system if you make a mistake. The code that you want, in BASIC, follows: option type = explicit external long function sys$cmexec external long constant sys$setprv declare long arglst(1% to 5%) & ,long prvmsk(1% to 2%) & ,long istat prvmsk(1%) = -1% ! enable all privileges prvmsk(2%) = -1% arglst(1%) = 4% ! four arguments in list arglst(2%) = 1% ! enable privileges arglst(3%) = loc(prvmsk(1%)) ! privilege mask arglst(4%) = 1% ! change privileges permanently arglst(5%) = loc(prvmsk(1%)) ! previous privileges istat = sys$cmexec(sys$setprv by value,arglst(1%)) exit program istat if (istat and 1%) = 0% end This program will work with either CMEXEC or CMKRNL privilege. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 896 0 replies Reply to # 890 Left by: MARTY CHAMBERLAIN On 21-Mar-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: BOOT PROBLEMS I think what you may want to do in a case like this is: - Initiate a conversational boot - If you get the SYSBOOT prompt, then the console subsystem is working. - Use SYSBOOT to set STARTUP_P1 to MIN to initiate a minimum boot, which bypasses SYSTARTUP.COM. - Continue - If a minimum boot correctly enables the console and system disk, there is most likely a problem with your SYSTARTUP.COM. - If the minimum boot fails, but there is no apparent problem with SYSTARTUP.COM you should do the following: - Initiate a conversational boot. - Use SYSBOOT to check the sizes of: ......MAXPROCESSCNT ......Pool-related parameters ......Pagefile - If necessary, use SYSBOOT to alter the appropriate parameters and pagefile - Attempt to reboot Another possibility for a hangup during boot is that DCLTABLES has been corrupted, possible because of an aborted SET COMMAND/TABLES operation. If this is the case, you will have to either boot from another disk, mount the corrupt disk on another drive, or copy DCLTABLES from a good disk or from a backup copy. If all else fails, you can always call field service. RSTS SIG Message # 353 0 replies Left by: ROY D. BOYETTE On 21-Mar-89 At : (801) 621-8960 Subject: LOGINS & PORT SETUPS CAN YOU ASSIST IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF CONNECTING A REMOTE TERMINAL TO THE PDP11/84 UTILIZING RSTS/E V9.5, A DHU11, AND A BLACK BOX MODEM 2400HC. A LOGIN CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN THE PORT IS DEFINED "NO-DIALUP", BUT NOT WHEN DEFINED AS "DIALUP". ALSO, WHAT IS REQUIRED TO SCREEN USERS ATTEMPTING TO LOGIN, SIMILAR TO ENTERING ARIS, WITHOUT ALWAYS GETTING A SYSTEM PROMPT FOR "USER:". TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 283 0 replies Left by: COLLEEN COSGROVE On 21-Mar-89 At : 201-503-4295 Subject: IBM TERMINALS HOOKED TO VAX COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 255 0 replies Reply to # 254 Left by: KEN LUEBBERT On 21-Mar-89 At : (217)348-8181 Subject: SYNCH COMMUNICATIONS We are running VMS version 4.7 and have the device driver for the synch port installed. Does a V.24/RS-232 interface mean the same thing to all manufacturers of modems? Does a Motorola UDS 2400 work out of the box or do you have to configure it first? Does the type of modem on the IBM end matter? What speed can we expect over dialup phone lines? Thank you for your help. UTILITIES SIG Message # 353 0 replies Left by: JEAN SANTIVASCI On 21-Mar-89 At : 804-490-5068 Subject: SQUEEZPAK PROBLEMS WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH SQUEEZPAK THAT LEAVES THE INDEXF.SYS FILE BADLY CORRUPTED NECESSITATING A BACKUP AND RESTORE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEMAC SAYS THEY DO NOT WRITE TO THE INDEXF.SYS FILE HOWEVER... THE FILE ENDS UP AS AN UNKNOWN FILETYPE, HAS MORE BLOCKS ALLOCATED TO IT THAN ARE AVAILABLE ON THE DISK, AND IT BELONGS TO A NON-EXISTENT UIC. WE ARE REALY INTERESTED IN LEARNING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. RSTS SIG Message # 354 0 replies Reply to # 353 Left by: Phil Anthony On 21-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: LOGINS AND MODEM/PORT SETUPS Unfortunately, I don't have any configuration information about the Black Box 2400HC modem. But it sounds to me as if the way you have the modem con- figured, it's ignoring DTR from the PDP. Try setting it (via DIP switches, software, or whatever the modem has available) to pay attention to DTR and see how it works. You may have to wait till the system boots before turning the modem on once you enable DTR monitoring, however, since RSTS plays games with DTR at boot time that confuse most modems (including genuine Hayes). Also, the message RSTS broadcasts when it boots will produce an error message from the modem that RSTS interprets as an attempt to log in, so it asks for "Username: ", which evokes another error message - it's a real mess that can end up with the modem line being disabled. So far as the second part of your question goes, the easiest way I can think of is to modify LOGIN.BAS and recompile. Test for the terminal number, and if it's the one the modem is attached to, don't print the login ID and "Username: " prompt. You'll probably also want to disable the "Password: " prompt on that line as well. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 256 0 replies Reply to # 255 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 22-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: THE RS-232/V.24 CONNECTIONS The RS-232/V.24 connections are standard. Connections should not be much of an issue for most modems. The Motorola UDS 2400 modem was taken out of the box and plugged right in. It is basically a dumb modem (no autodial or autoanswer) so there really isn't anything to configure. We are in the process of switching over to a Codex (also Motorola) 2264 modem which is a 9600 baud V.32 modem. That modem is intelligent and has quite a few options (auto answer, synchronous Autodial) to be set up. If you are just starting out and you have the luxury of being able to buy a more expensive modem later, I would start out with the simple UDS modem and once thoroughly comfortable with it and the Bisync communications, upgrade if necessary. In our case, the 2400 modem would be fine except our transmissions are over 1600 blocks long now and take over an hour to receive. If you are just receiving/transmitting small bits of data, the UDS 2400 would suffice and be the easiest to work with. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 898 0 replies Reply to # 893 Left by: DON ROBERTS On 22-Mar-89 8:10 pst At : HERE Subject: BLUSH Well, egg-in-face. I should learn to defer to experience. Nope, can't use a lexical as a symbol. I knew that. Really I did. Really. How do you delete a message from ARIS? I'm so embarrassed. See, I can't even spell anymore. Don DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 478 0 replies Reply to # 352 Left by: JON KREHBIEL On 22-Mar-89 At : (419)424-7300 Subject: BURCOM We have the product called BURCOM from Applied Information Sciences (AIS). It seems to work all right after we ironed out our own bugs. (They were not very responsive to our problems.) Future releases seemed to be going in the right direction (VT320 keyboard capability on the terminal emulator), but it sure did take a while to get the new release. I think this is not their best selling product. They are in the process of working with both Unisys and DEC on a more seamless version of the product for the future, possibly using TCP/IP. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 479 0 replies Left by: BOB CLIPPER On 22-Mar-89 At : (202)653-1391 Subject: KAYPRO 2 CPM VT100 EMULATION I AM SEARCHING FOR A SOFTWARE PACKAGE DESCRIBED ABOVE FOR USE ON MY HOME COMPUTER FOR DIALING INTO A VAX. KERMIT FILE TRANSFER WOULD BE A "NICE TO HAVE" FEATURE BUT NOT REQUIRED. IF ANYONE HAS HEARD OF SUCH AN "ANIMAL" OUT THERE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. BOB VMS SIG Message # 899 0 replies Reply to # 855 Left by: PAUL CROARKIN On 22-Mar-89 At : 202-342-4767 Subject: LOGGING KEYBOARD I/O Clyde Digital Systems has a program called CONTRL that automatically writes everything done in a terminal session to a log file. PC'S SIG Message # 211 0 replies Reply to # 201 Left by: BRUCE A. GREMBOWSKI On 22-Mar-89 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: QUME QVT-103 AS A MONITOR Phil, Thanks for your reply. Sorry this took so long. What I wanted to do was use my Qume terminal as both a VT-131 and a monitor on a small XT clone. Apparently, I'll have to settle for getting VT-131 emulation software to run on the clone. Does anybody make VT-131 emulation software? Thanks again, Bruce TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 284 0 replies Reply to # 274 Left by: BRUCE A. GREMBOWSKI On 22-Mar-89 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: TERM FOR XT Charles, Thanks for you input. Looks like I'm going to have to give up on this dream. Oh, well. Bruce TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 285 0 replies Reply to # 282 Left by: BRUCE A. GREMBOWSKI On 22-Mar-89 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: VT-XXX OR WORKSTATION? Galen, It may be possible to send an escape sequence to the terminal, asking it to identify itself. Perhaps the "Identify Terminal" code, ESC Z, will give you what you need. According to my documentation for VT-1xx, a VT-100 will respond ESC [?1;2c and a VT-131 will respond ESC [?7c. I have also ESC [c and ESC [0c listed as alternates for requesting the terminal type. Hope this helps! Bruce VAX/ELN SIG Message # 22 0 replies Reply to # 20 Left by: BRIAN DESANTIS On 22-Mar-89 At : (201)670-0286 Subject: bob Schaffrath - Thanks for the chat about the 63xx series.... I am glad to hear your problem was corrected. (Loose screw???? Really????!?!?!?) I am just getting over a disastrous day (telecommunications wise). I expect to be installing the RA82s and the DECRouter Memorial Day weekend, and the 6310 July 4th weekend (or as close to there as possible..) I look forward to the faster startups, faster response, faster EVERYTHING! RSTS SIG Message # 355 0 replies Reply to # 344 Left by: STEVEN P. DAVIS On 22-Mar-89 At : 714-956-9159 Subject: RE: DIRECTORY CACHING ON RSTS Regarding the "directory information caching" under RSTS... The in-memory tables for file information under RSTS are complete, in other words, not cached. There is a table entry for every open file and this is where the "marked for deletion" bit is kept. There is "directory information caching" and this may prevent a disk access to get the information into the memory table, however, this almost always requires a write-through to the disk (albeit the read is saved) to update information such as number of users for the file, etc. The two tables are called the FCB list and WCB list. The FCB (file control block) exists once for each file. The WCB (window control block) is pointed to by the FCB and there is an entry in this linked list for each open channel associated with the file. UTILITIES SIG Message # 354 0 replies Reply to # 353 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 22-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: SQUEEZEPAK PROBLEMS Jean, What hardware configuration are you running? In particular, what disk controller are you using? There have been reports of certain third party disk controllers that do a less than perfect emulation, causing problems with disk compression software. I believe that the problem had something to do with read after write data checking. The result was corrupted files on the disk. TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 288 1 replies Left by: CRAIG MCINTIRE On 23-Mar-89 At : (703) 620-7188 Subject: DATA GENERAL TERMINAL I have a Data General terminal, Dasher 461, that I am trying to connect to a VAX 780 running VAX/VMS 4.7. It is connected in such a way that I can logon and hold an interactive session, however, I cannot perform any full screen editing functions with EDT. Any suggestions on what needs to be done? Craig McIntire UNISYS Reston, Virginia DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 480 0 replies Left by: CRAIG MCINTIRE On 23-Mar-89 At : (703) 620-7188 Subject: DATA GENERAL TERMINAL I have a Data General terminal, a Dasher 461, that I am trying to connect to a VAX 11/780 running VAX/VMS 4.7. It is connected such that I can hold interactive terminal sessions, however I cannot do any full screen editing with EDT. Any suggestions on the correct method to set this terminal up? Craig McIntire UNISYS Reston, Virginia VMS SIG Message # 900 0 replies Reply to # 889 Left by: BERN FOX On 23-Mar-89 At : (313)-994-1200 Subject: RE-FORMAT IT! Mike: Re-name is at best a bandaid solution, IF you have all of the information. Since the Verify pass does not flag a problem, discovering the LBN/file corelation might become a long drawn-out process, and really not worth the effort. When was the last time the Format/Verify/RCT write was performed on this device? If it has truly been 4 years you are long overdue for this task, and in my past experience All hard disks of marginal performance greatly benifit from a re-format and bad block search. Run as many patterns on the Verify pass that time, and Emulex, will allow (it might take 20 - 30 minutes per pattern for 500K blocks) and note if any of the original "marginal" LBNs are flagged.If this does not clean things up, then the only other option is a HDA swap (true overkill). Good luck. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 48 0 replies TERMINALS/PLOTTERS/PRINTERS SIG Message # 289 0 replies Reply to # 288 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 23-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: DATA GENERAL TERMINAL Well it's been a while since I have worked with Data General equipment but lets see anyhow! If I recall, the Dasher 461 has two modes of operation, ANSI and Data General private. In Data General private, position cursor for example, would be Control-P followed by two ascii characters indicating the cursor position such as Control-C,Control-G which is move to row 3, column 7. In ANSI mode, the directive would be [3;7H. One note on EDT though, EDT uses many DEC private escape sequences that will not work on a DG terminal. If you use vanilla ANSI escape sequences, it will work. However, I don't think you will have much luck getting that terminal to work like a VT320. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 320 0 replies Left by: MIKE THORNTON On 23-Mar-89 At : 601-961-0747 Subject: FORMS CREATION SOFTWARE Can anyone suggest a software product that is capable of creating the forms-type documents allowed by the A1 two-dimensional-editor(TDE) which might offer a more user-friendly interface and editing features? Our users complain that the TDE editor is cumbersome in that you must, edit a page-size (8.5 x 11) document in three different sections, place start and end picture control blocks at appropriate places, and deal with limited font styles. We're running A1 ver.2.2 and plan to install 2.3 this year but I understand DEC didn't make any significant changes to the TDE in version 2.3. If such a product exists it would need to run on the VAX under VMS and be useful for logins working on 220's, 320's or 241 terminals (in our case). SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 265 0 replies Afraid of viruses, our Left by: DAVID RAICH On 23-Mar-89 At : (415) 895-1313 Subject: QUARANTINE STRATEGIES? SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 266 0 replies Left by: DAVID RAICH On 23-Mar-89 At : (415) 895-1313 Subject: QUARANTINE STRATEGIES (Sorry something messed up on previous message. Here goes again:) Concerned about viruses, our management has instituted a strict policy of running nothing on our VAX not written in-house or bought from trusted vendors. Unfortunately, they do not consider DECUS trustworthy, which makes a lot of programs and useful symposium tape stuff inaccessible. We would like to convince them of a plan for certifying DECUS things, perhaps by running them for a while on an isolated node, examining source code, waiting some period for reports from other users, etc. And perhaps there are useful "trusworthiness" distinctions to be made, such as between symposium tapes and other more explicit submissions. Does anyone have any procedures they would share with us along these lines? Any other thoughts or comments? Thanks. --- David Raich, Molecular Design RSTS SIG Message # 356 0 replies Reply to # 354 RSTS SIG Message # 357 0 replies Reply to # 354 Left by: ROY BOYETTE On 23-Mar-89 At : WORK Subject: Thanks Phil. I will give your suggestions a try. VMS SIG Message # 901 0 replies Reply to # 900 Left by: MICHAEL STRATOTI On 25-Mar-89 At : (215) 639-7274 Subject: WEAK DU BLOCKS. Bern, I agree with your ideas, and the disk drives on the other computers (single board Z80s to uVax LAVCs) under my authority are reformatted at least once a year. However, this particular uVax production run time schedule is not in sync with my schedule. So, some one is inconvinanced--Operations Dept. or me. I was hoping that it wasn't going to be me. Oh, well... I have patched out problems with the disk structures of other operating systems and just find it irratating that I have not found the details needed to perform this operation on ODS2/VMS structures. Rg, Mike VMS SIG Message # 902 0 replies Reply to # 896 Left by: MICHAEL STRATOTI On 25-Mar-89 At : (215) 639-7274 Subject: UVAX BOOT PROBLEMS Marty: I tried >>> B/1 DUA0 before I posted my orig. question. I also changed the beginning of SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP.COM to include $ SET VERIFY, so that I would know if the boot sequence went that far. The MIN boot didn't change the results. I tried DIFFing the CURRENT parameters between the two disks---they are the same. I have noticed that the uVax goes through 4 phases of intense disk activity when it boots properly. This disk hangs after 2 periods of activity. DCLTABLES is a very good suggestion. I have to wait 'till next week to try it. This is the same system with the "weak" block problem (msg #890,#889). I guess it is time to lose a weekend and low-level reformat the disk. But, I would still like to kkknow what the EXACT nature of the problem. Rg, Mike RSTS SIG Message # 358 0 replies Reply to # 353 Left by: BOB FIDELMAN On 25-Mar-89 At : 707-538-2820 Subject: Why not use the system password to screen dialup users? Type SET PASS/SYSTEM to set up the password and SET SYSTEM/PASSWORD_PROMPT=DIALUP This will work for all terminals set up as DIALUP. RAF RSTS SIG Message # 359 0 replies Reply to # 352 Left by: BRETT BUMP On 25-Mar-89 At : (308) 432 2828 Subject: MORE RAMDISK Kelvin, I believe that you have only seen half of the situation. Make a copy of your current sil. Set one sil for big DV0, the other for small. There are two sides to this coin. 1. Running the small disk sil will work fine. Installing the larger . will show your locked out memory. Now reset DV0 using the larger . sil. 2. Running the larger disk sil will now seem to work as expected and . will reflect your increase in disk size. Now install the smaller . sil. When you initialize your disk your system will crash. Now go one better. From there you can go through the defaults and even do a VI, but don't insert any value. Init shows what it should be. So start again. Crash. Now it has been some time since I tried this I do admit. But I am sure that 9.5 still acted this way. I'll have to recheck 9.6. I do think that our terminology is a bit off though, both yours and mine. I think that the term that we are using "fixed" should be changed to "mutates". It seems that the speed with which software changes are happening these days give no time to let you relax with what you have (Golly, my new version of OS2/386 is outdated, and it won't even be released until 1990! By then, my 80486 will be history). I tend to believe this is why a few of us still stick with "Old Reliable" (Maybe it's just you and me, Kelvin. Is there anybody out there? Hello!!). I think this also goes hand in hand with "long time ago". To me, a long time ago was when I gave up using EDIT-11 to assemble TECO-11 to run under DOS-11 (yes, I have source), not worry about if I was running the old version of yesterdays WPrfect. [Uploaded by pga.] SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 267 0 replies Reply to # 266 Left by: Phil Anthony On 26-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: ANTIVIRUS STRATEGIES In the PC field, careful users have always made a distinction between dis- tributions that contain executables only, executables plus documentation with the creator's name and address, and executables accompanied by both documentation and source code. Speaking personally, I wouldn't have any of the first category on any system I'm responsible for. It might be the best thing since sex on toast, but who can vouch for it? The second group is almost always trustworthy, but on systems like yours where there's concern, it'd be advisable to get in touch with the creator and verify the filesize and the checksum (or better yet, the CRC using some known, public formula) of the distributed executable. By itself the filesize tells you very little in a positive sense, since a clever person can almost always find some place in an existing file to stick his or her virus without changing its size. Checksums are also relatively easy to doc- tor by adding a few meaningless bytes in a safe place. I have source code for 16-bit CRC-CCITT written in C, if you're interested; you could plug it into your own in-house file checking program and ask the source of a DECUS executable to run the same program against his or her original as verifica- tion. (Maybe such a procedure should become a DECUS standard?) I've never heard of any software in the third class not being trustworthy, though in your situation you'd probably want to examine the source code carefully and compile or assemble it yourself (the safest way) or follow the same verification procedures you'd use for the second category. You might want to point out to your management that on DECUS tapes, the au- thor is always known and there's a verifiable audit trail from the person who submitted the software to the tape librarian to you. And it might be worthwhile in your situation to get your tapes directly from DECUS rather than from a LUG where the audit trail might be a little cloudy. Ultimately, a clear audit trail is the best protection against most security problems. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 481 0 replies Reply to # 479 Left by: PAUL WATERSTRAAT On 27-Mar-89 At : (916) 752-7421 Subject: KAYPRO 2 CPM VT52 KERMIT I believe I have a kermit that does what you want, except that it does a VT52 emulation instead of a VT100 emulation. If you are interrested, give me a call at the number above. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 481 0 replies Reply to # 479 Left by: PAUL WATERSTRAAT On 27-Mar-89 At : (916) 752-7421 Subject: KAYPRO 2 CPM VT52 KERMIT I believe I have a kermit that does what you want, except that it does a VT52 emulation instead of a VT100 emulation. If you are interrested, give me a call at the number above. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 321 0 replies Left by: CHARLES NEFF On 27-Mar-89 At : 216-324-2020 Subject: USING LIB$SPAWN WE HAVE A MICROVAX II RUNNING MICROVMS 4.5. OUR APPLICATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN DIBOL VERSION 3.0. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PERFORM SORTS USING THE LIB$SPAWN SUBROUTINE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FASTER VMS SORT WHILE REMAINING WITHIN MY APPLICATION PROGRAM. THE CODE LOOKS SOMETHING LIKE THIS: XCALL LIB$SPAWN('$SORT/KEY=(POS:1,SIZE:4) FILE.ONE FILE.TWO') WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS THAT IT WORKS IN SOME CASES AND IN OTHERS IT DOES NOT. I HAVE TRIED IT IN NONPRIVILEDGED ACCOUTS AS WELL AS IN PRIVILEDGED ACCOUNTS. THAT SEEMS TO MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. IN NO CASES DOES THE COMMAND LINE EXCEED 132 CHARACTERS. IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS GOTTEN THIS TO WORK, I WOULD MUCH APPRECIATE SOME HELP HERE. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 322 0 replies Reply to # 97 Left by: CHARLIE NEFF On 27-Mar-89 At : 216-324-2020 Subject: USING 20/20 WE HAVE BEEN USING 20/20 ON OUR MICROVAX II FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS NOW. I HAVE ANYWHERE UP TO 5 SIMULTANEOUS USERS AT A TIME. WE ALSO HAVE THE DATABASE CONNECTION OPTION WITH THE DATATRIEVE DRIVER. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN QUITE GOOD. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO DEGREDATION CAUSED BY THIS SOFTWARE AND IT HAS SAVED OUR USERS A GREAT DEAL OF TIME. THEY ARE ABLE TO RUN QUERIES AGAINST THEIR DATABASE AND LOAD THE DATA FIELDS SELECTED DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKSHEET. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THE SOFTWARE SUPPORT HELPFUL. I SUGGEST YOU GET A DEMO FROM ACCESS AND SEE FIRST HAND WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON YOUR SYSTEM. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 323 0 replies Reply to # 140 Left by: CHARLIE NEFF On 27-Mar-89 At : 216-324-2020 Subject: AMORTIZATION IN DIBOL I HAVE AN AMORTIZATION PROGRAM WRITTEN IN DIBOL I WILL BE GLAD TO SHARE. I ALSO HAVE A DEPRECIATION PACKAGE WRITTEN IN DIBOL AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE KERMIT ON YOUR SYSTEM, I CAN UPLOAD THE AMORTIZATION PROGRAM. IF YOU WANT THE DEPRECIATION PACKAGE, I SUGGEST YOU CONTACT ME AND WORK OUT A WAY TO GET THOSE PROGRAMS TO YOU ON SOME COMMON MEDIA. I FEEL KERMIT AT 2400 BAUD WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO TRANSFER THOSE PROGRAMS. VMS SIG Message # 903 0 replies Left by: STANLEY BLAND On 27-Mar-89 At : 205-985-6397 Subject: VMS SYSTEM SERVICES I have had problems calling the SYS$GETLKI system service from a COBOL program. I would like to use this system call to develop a program to trace locked records on a 6 node VAXCLUSTER. The reason for developing this program is that FINDLOCK.MAR does not seem to work on a cluster under VMS 5.0. The program was re-compiled and re-linked under 5.0. If anyone has any help about SYS$GETLKI or FINDLOCK.MAR, this info would deeply appreciated!!! Desperate in Alabama. MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 487 1 replies Left by: 19767 On 27-Mar-89 At : 22209 Subject: SUBSCRIPTION FULFILLMENT has anyone else not yet received a 1989 issue of vax pro? MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 488 0 replies Reply to # 487 Left by: Philip Gravel On 27-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX PRO I thought it was just me. I have only received the January issue. Phil DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 482 0 replies Reply to # 479 Left by: Phil Anthony On 28-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: CROSSTALK FOR KAYPRO Bob, I just ran across a reference to CrossTalk for Kaypro in a dealer's catalogue. I don't know if this is Kaypro running MS-DOS or CP/M, but you might want to make inquiries. CrossTalk is distributed to DCA/CrossTalk Communications (sorry, I don't have an address or phone number), and the list price is $195. Last I looked, CrossTalk supported VT10x emulation, and recent versions implement Kermit. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 378 2 replies From : Charles Neff At : 216-324-2020 Subject: DIBOL & LIB$SPAWN I am having some problems calling LIB$SPAWN from a DIBOL program. We are running MicroVMS on a MV II, using Dibol version 3.0. What I am trying to do is to execute a sort to take advantage of the faster VMS sort. The line of code I am using looks similar to: XCALL LIB$SPAWN('$SORT/KEY=(POS:1,SIZE:2) FILE.ONE FILE.TWO') What I have run into is that this works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. When it fails, the program just continues with no error, it just doesn't sort the file! If anyone out there has figured this out, I would really appreciate some help with this. Please leave me a message here or call me between 8 & 4:30 EST. VMS SIG Message # 904 0 replies Left by: BOB ZISEK On 28-Mar-89 At : (203)798-5240 Subject: FILE ACCESS TIMES Does anyone know of a method by which I can determine the last time a file was accessed, NOT modified, in DCL. I would like to be able to check certain files for any type of access (eg. $READ,$TYPE etc.) I know that the F$FILE_ATTRIBUTES lexical will return information on when the file was last revised, but not when last accessed. Thanks to all. Bob Zisek Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. 90 East Ridge Ridgefield, Ct. 06877 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 379 0 replies Reply to # 378 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 28-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: LIB$SPAWN Well, I can make two suggestions. First, LIB$SPAWN can be called as a function. I don't know DIBOL but the equivalent in BASIC would be: EXTERNAL LONG FUNCTION LIB$SPAWN ISTAT% = LIB$SPAWN("SHOW USERS") The variable ISTAT% will get the returned status from the subprocess. You could then use this status to determine the problem. Most likely a quota problem but if you don't have TMPMBX privilege, a privilege error. Secondly, since you are doing a sort, you could use the SOR$ routines. While it will require a little more programming on your part, you won't incur(sp?) the overhead of a process creation/termination. Check the VMS Utility Routines Reference Manual. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 905 0 replies Reply to # 901 Left by: PHILLIP A CREWS On 28-Mar-89 At : SAI 704-333-1276 Subject: SOFT DISK ERRORS It used to be (before MSCP disks) that you had much more control over disk errors. Whenever a disk error such as the ones you mentioned occured, VMS would log it to "BADLOG.SYS". Once the file containing this block was deleted, the block would be added to the "BADBLK.SYS" file. Also, you could add specific blocks to the BADBLK file when INITing a disk. However, with MSCP, the controller determines whether the error is severe or frequent enough to replace the block. You might want to try writing a program that reads the offending block over and over again and see if that causes to controller to revector it. Make sure that the same block(s) are being reported in the error log - if not, it may indicate a controller problem (or a non-surface-related disk drive problem). VMS SIG Message # 906 0 replies Reply to # 903 Left by: PHILLIP A CREWS On 28-Mar-89 At : SAI 704-333-1276 Subject: SYS$GETLKI I'm not too familiar with calling procedures from COBOL, but make sure that all parameters are passed properly (BY DESCRIPTOR, BY REFERENCE, or BY VALUE). Also, for the value list, be sure to use the proper declarations for the words (S9(4) COMP) and longwords (S9(9) COMP). CALL "SYS$GETLKI" USING . BY VALUE EFN . BY REFERENCE LKID . ITMLST . IOSB . ASTADR (or OMITTED) . ASTPRM (or OMITTED) . OMITTED Hope this helps. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 380 0 replies Reply to # 378 Left by: PHILLIP A CREWS On 28-Mar-89 At : SAI 704 333 1276 Subject: SPAWNED SORT FROM DIBOL 1) If FILE.ONE is in use by other users, SORT may not be willing to sort it, thereby returning an error. 2) I believe there is a DIBOL call (VMSSTATUS or something similar) which will return the status from the last XCALL. This status will indicate the error encountered by SORT/MERGE. SITE MANAGEMENT SIG Message # 268 0 replies Reply to # 264 Left by: TOM CACHAT On 28-Mar-89 At : 714 837-5198 Subject: THANKS FOR UPS REPLY DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 483 0 replies Left by: TOM CACHAT On 28-Mar-89 At : 714 837-5198 X354 OR HERE Subject: VAXNET WITH KERMIT FOR VMS 4.2 Anyone have VAXNET with KERMIT protocol that will run on VMS 4.2 willing to let me download to my VAX using KERMIT? Thanks. VMS SIG Message # 907 0 replies Reply to # 887 Left by: CURT SNYDER On 28-Mar-89 At : 714-752-4760 Subject: PROCESS INFO There are better ways than using spawn, etc., to get image info. Check out the SYS$GETJPI system service, function codes JPI$_IMAGNAME and JPI$_MASTER_PID. The first returns the executing images name and the second returns the master processes PID ( which then must be fed back into GETJPI to count levels, etc.) This is MUCH faster than spawn.... If you have questions, call me. I can supply examples in C, but can't help with DIBOL. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 324 0 replies Reply to # 321 Left by: CURT SNYDER On 28-Mar-89 At : 714-752-4760 Subject: SORT FROM PROGRAMS Use the $SOR run time library functions. This runs faster than using spawn and works well. VMS SIG Message # 908 0 replies Left by: RUTH MERMELSTEIN On 28-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: CONVERT/MERGE I have an indexed file with 96000 80-byte records and 6 keys. I know that that in and of itself is a monstrosity, but this file will not be used often and all those keys are very useful in a difficult matching process. I created the file by first generating a sequential file of 80-byte records and then using CONVERT/FDL to make it indexed. I knew that would be much faster than creating the indexed file directly from a program. By the same logic, I thought that I could add 2000 additional records efficiently by writing them to a sequential file and CONVERT/MERGE SEQ_FILE.DAT INDEXED_FILE.DAT It ran all night on an 8250 with I/O of 1687334 and CPU time of 1 hour, 36 minutes before I killed it in the morning. Our system is too busy during the day to allow that kind of job to run then, and I wasn't worried about corrupting the file because I had made a copy of it before starting the job. I have an 80% fill factor on everything in the file. Unfortunately, in some keys the new records are rather bunched together, so the 20% leftover is not sufficient in places. Nevertheless, I'm sure I could have added those records faster with a BASIC program! (I haven't tried that yet because I had other more pressing matters to handle.) Can anyone tell me why CONVERT/MERGE took so long? Is there something better I could have done? If I didn't give enough info in the above, long, message, ask me for more. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 381 0 replies Reply to # 366 Left by: RICHARD NEVEAU On 29-Mar-89 At : 214-931-9097 Subject: C++ we are using the oasys c++ "translator" (one guy is anyway) here. it "works" but is only for true converts from watching the guy (doug kaip - same number) that uses it. i personnally am waiting for someone to come out with a full compiler (not a translator) but i don't have a burning desire to use C++ so am probably biased. (by the way it works on VMS 5.1 here). i am hoping someone ports the GNU C++ (and debugger) package to VMS so it's affordable (!) but the oasys stuff is really very reasonable if you are using it for a product, etc. (and they support it). the oasys is the glokenspiel (sp?) translator i think and is pretty close track with at&t releases. about the only real trouble we had was "integrating" it with normal C functions and that was just all the "pain" of switching from oop to C style and back at the function calls to get at the other package (Sybase in this case). hope that helps some. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 49 1 replies Left by: RICHARD NEVEAU On 29-Mar-89 At : 214-931-9097 Subject: LN03+ i'm out of answers on this and am throwing it to the gurus. we ahve an ln03R (postscript - well decscript anyway) that works just fine but i have an LN03+ that always wants to print a blank page after each job. it is hooked directly to a uVAX II async port and i've tryed about all the set term / set que / define form combos i can think of and it won't go away. i have it prining elite and landscape and all kinds of stuff but can't get rid of that d*** blank page. i need to use the seperate=() option to insure it is back to "normal" after each job so this may be my problem. i guess i would like to know if it is possible to get any direct printer que type setup to NOT print the blank page. if so i will feel less like i'm wasting my time chasing this down. (next come the data line analyser !) i guess i could just shot the LN03+ (very tempting) (i could also learn to spell or get a real terminal emulator for this pc so i could fix up the errors above - oh well) DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 484 1 replies Reply to # 482 Left by: ANNE SCHRAUGER On 29-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: ADDRESS FOR CROSSTALK Crosstalk Communications 1000 Holcomb Woods Pky. Roswell, GA 30076 Sorry, I don't have a phone number. Try Information. VMS SIG Message # 909 0 replies Left by: BOB MARCUS On 29-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: PRINTER CONTROL S/W Does anyone know of vms software available to allow applications programs to do bar-codes & large block letter printing on low-end (e.g. EPSON, IBM-compat) printers ? We do a lot of same with printronix printers with printronix IGP or QMS controller boards, but often have need for slow-speed similar functions on lower cost printers. Dedicated thermal printers, etc will do the job, but for $1k+. I want to take a standard $300 Epson-type and put a piece of software on VMS so that I call a routine, pass in text and formatting info, and have it spit out proper control sequences for the Epson. Such software exists for PCs, but I haven't seen it for VMS. Anybody ? DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 485 0 replies Reply to # 484 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 29-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: PHONE # FOR XTALK That phone number is (404) 998-7798. VMS SIG Message # 910 0 replies Reply to # 904 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 29-Mar-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: FILE ACCESS TIMES VMS does not record a file access time. The date-times recorded are: file creation, backup, and last modification. You might put a security alarm ACL on the file, specifying all access. That would cause a message to be written to the system console and to SYS$MANAGER:OPERATOR.LOG every time the file was accessed. This may be considerably more than you want to do. I believe that there is also some kludge possible with expiration dates but I have never used it and I'm not sure how it works. You can set it up so that each access to the file updates the expiration date. Sorry I can't tell you how. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 50 0 replies Reply to # 49 Left by: ROBERT G. SCHAFFRATH On 30-Mar-89 At : 914-335-9792 Subject: LN03 BLANK PAGE PROBLEM Your LN03/LN03+ blank page problem is well known. The problem is that an 'c' (device reset) string is being sent to the printer with the /SEPERATE option. The LN03R does not exhibit the problem because it does not respond to flat text, just PostScript(R). One option you might want to consider is to use a setup string for your particular form instead of /SEPERATE. However, /SEPERATE works between print jobs whereas setup works between files. Therefore, if you send an initialization file (such as changing the font and switching to landscape) followed by the file itself, it will not work. That can be circumvented with some creative queue management. Robert G. Schaffrath System Manager General Foods Corporation White Plains, NY 10625 VMS SIG Message # 911 0 replies Left by: BOB MARCUS On 30-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: VMS PRIVS FROM RTL ? We wish to enable certain privileges for non-privileged users/images via a tightly controlled routine. The question - can we have a routine in a run-time-library that is installed with some set of privs (SETPRV or whatever) that can be called from non-priv / non-installed images and that will elevate the process' privs on a temporary basis until end of calling image's execution ? E.g. call routine. Routine looks at image name / user name / whatever and decides if it is a valid elevation of priv, then it does it. The routine was written, the RTL built and installed with various privs, but we keep coming back to the fact that unless the calling process already has the priv to execute the sys-serv being executed in the rtl routine, it fails for lack of privileges. Is this do-able or is it a "you can't get there from here" item ? And, thanks all for responses to prior questions. This is an impressive service. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 51 0 replies Reply to # 49 Left by: Phil Anthony On 30-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: TERMINAL EMULATION Richard, I can't help you with your LN03+ problem, and teaching spelling is beyond my competency. But if your PC is an IBM-compatible or even reason- ably close, I can supply you with a version of Kermit that does a darned good job of emulating VT100. One version I have will even give you XModem as well. If you're interested, give me a call at (215) 884 9128. RSX SIG Message # 257 0 replies Left by: DAN LITKE On 30-Mar-89 At : ARIS Subject: RSX RANDOM NO. GEN. I have written a diagnostic program using Fortran-77 under RSX-11M Ver 4.3 to do continuous seeks for testing WORM optical disks. My problem is I would like to use a random number generator to determine the logical blocks to address. I have looked through RSX and F77 manuals and cannot find any reference to a random number generator of any kind. Does anyone know of one that exists? Maybe DECUS library, or a home brew of your own? Thanks in advance! MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 46 0 replies Left by: 22209 On 30-Mar-89 At : 22209 Subject: VAX PRO MIGRATION has anyone gotten a vax pro in 1989? my issues have migrated COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 257 0 replies Left by: MICHAEL HODGES On 30-Mar-89 At : 808-948-8614 Subject: KERMIT FATAL ERROR I am a new user of bulletin boards and will try not to do anything embarassing. We are running kermit 3.2.076 on a uVAX2, VMS 4.7 and communicate via dirty line from Hawaii to California to an identical uVAX2. Occasionally, when sending files more than a few blocks, the receiving uVAX2 (which is in server mode) locks up. Noone on the VAX can get any CPU time and they have to power down to regain control. I would be very grateful for any comments that might help us work around (or at least explain) the problem. thanks SYSTEM PERFORMANCE SIG Message # 221 0 replies Left by: ESTIE BRYK On 30-Mar-89 At : (212)676-2240 Subject: PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKING VMS SIG Message # 912 0 replies Reply to # 908 Left by: PHILLIP A. CREWS On 30-Mar-89 At : SAI 704 333 1276 Subject: CONVERT/MERGE I'm not sure why CONVERT/MERGE is taking so long in your case, but I've seen it slow down (and do lots of I/O) because of insufficient working set quota during the sort phase of the input files. You might try CONVERT/FDL=fdl_file SEQ_FILE.DAT,IND_FILE.DAT NEW_IND_FILE.DAT This will read both input files sequentially, sort them, and create a new indexed file. VMS SIG Message # 913 0 replies Reply to # 911 Left by: PHILLIP A. CREWS On 30-Mar-89 At : SAI 704 333 1276 Subject: PRIVILEGE GRANTING ROUTINE I think that you need to implement your privilege-granting-routine as a user-written system service (USS). Then link and install /PROTECTED. When the calling program calls this routine (which will execute in kernel mode), it has implicit access to just about anything. If the routine decides that privileges are to be granted, it can directly modify the user's temporary (image) privileges in the PCB. There is more information on user-written system services in (SYS$EXAMPLES:USSDISP.MAR and a few other files). LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 52 0 replies Reply to # 49 Left by: KITTY GEORGE On 30-Mar-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: LN03 RESET Richard - Your problem with the blank page printing at the end of each print job brought back mem'ries of days gone by when I had the identical problem here. You are on track about using the SEPARATE option. I presume you are familiar with the use of device control libraries, since you mention using the different fonts available on the LN03+ , and the use of such libraries make font control easy to implement. Here goes ... 1. On the queue, you want /SEPARATE=(RESET=RESET) 2. In the device control library, you want to define RESET as the device control string c0;1;0y where is the ASCII code for a form feed, 0C hex or 12 decimal .. is the ASCII code for escape, 1B hex or 27 decimal .. is 90 hex or 144 decimal .. is 9C hex or 156 decimal Believe it or not, the leading disables the blank page. The c is the printer reset. I forget what the 0;1;0y does, my manual is back at the office. I'd think it does some other cleanup operation on the printer. Let me know if this works. Kitty :-) MIGRATION ISSUES SIG Message # 47 0 replies Reply to # 46 Left by: Don Roberts 8:40 PST On 31-Mar-89 At : HERE Subject: VAX PRO I got Dec 88 and Feb 89, so they seem to be on track. Apr issue should be out shortly. What does this have to do with migration? RSX SIG Message # 258 0 replies Reply to # 257 Left by: Phil Anthony On 31-Mar-89 At : Here Subject: RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR Dan, I have a C random number generator that produces pseudo random doubles in the range 0.0 <= x < 1.0 that you'd be welcome to translate. The algo- rithm is No. 266 from CACM dating to 1965. Give me a call at (215) 884-9128 if you're interested. EDITORS SIG Message # 202 0 replies Left by: LEE HARPER On 31-Mar-89 At : (303) 221-6705 Subject: WORDPERFECT EMULATOR IN TPU? Does anyone know/have a TPU-written WordPerfect lookalike? I am about to embark on writing one (it must use PC keys only), and wanted to see if anyone knew of one already around or i developmentt. WORD PROCESSING SIG Message # 121 0 replies Left by: PAUL A. LUCERO On 31-Mar-89 At : 805-388-5700 EXT 446 Subject: HPLASERJET AND WORDPERFECT We are trying to adsd w UTILITIES SIG Message # 355 3 replies Left by: STUART MASCH On 01-Apr-89 At : (516) 378 8500 Subject: EBCDIC -> ASCII CONVERSION HELP! HELP! WE PERIODICALLY GET EBCDIC TAPES FROM OTHER DATA CENTERS. WE'RE DESPERATE FOR SUGGESTIONS HOW TO CONVERT TO ASCII AND LOAD ONTO AN 8250 / RA81 CONFIGURATION. ANY REAL QUICK ADVICE REGARDING METHODOLOGY OR UTILITIES AVAILABLE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 486 0 replies Left by: STUART MASCH On 01-Apr-89 At : (516) 378 8500 Subject: EBCDIC -> ASCII CONVERSION NEED HELP REAL FAST! CAN SOMEONE TELL US HOW OR WITH WHAT UTILITY WE CAN CONVERT/LOAD AN EBCDIC TAPE ONTO AN 8250 W/ RA81? WE EXPECT TO BE GETTING THEM REGULARLY AND SHIPPING THEM OUT TO A SERVICE IS NOT AN OPTION. THANKS FOR A FAST SOLUTION LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 53 0 replies Reply to # 52 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 01-Apr-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: LN03 FORM FEEDS. Kitty, Thanks for the info on killing that trailing blank page. I'm sure that there are hundreds of people out there who have the same problem. I know I do. I mean I used to (if your fix works) :-). UTILITIES SIG Message # 356 0 replies Reply to # 355 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 01-Apr-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: EBCDIC TO ASCII There are routines in the run time library to translate from EBCDIC to ASCII and from ASCII to EBCDIC. There are also BCDIC to ASCII and vice versa. I believe the one you want is LIB$TRA_EBC_ASC. This function takes two arguments: an input string, passed by descriptor and an output string, also passed by descriptor. If you would rather have a whole program, I have one that reads unlabled tapes with fixed length blocked records "DCB=(RECFM=FB, ...), deblocks the records, translates them to ASCII and writes them to a VMS text file. It is written in Fortran. If you would like a copy, give me a call and we will figure out how to get one to you.There is more... to continue? There is another program called MTEXCH, written by Gary Grebus, which will handle some of the more complicated IBM tape formats plus some of the stranger DEC formats: RT-11, TOPS-20, DOS-11, etc. I believe that MTEXCH is available on some recent DECUS VAXSIG Symposium tapes. RSX SIG Message # 259 0 replies Reply to # 257 Left by: Brett Bump On 01-Apr-89 At : (308) 432-2828 Subject: INCREASING THE ENTROPY Dan. Here are two methods for creating random numbers. The first formula is for generating "Normally distributed random numbers" and goes like this: . 1/2 .x = (-2 ln u ) Cos 2pi u . 1 2 For your specific application however it may be easier to use the formula for "Uniformly distributed random numbers" using the linear congruential method. This would be equivalent to using a RND() function from BASIC. The formula is: . .X = (a X + C) mod m . n+1 n where X is the seed. Here is a quick example using a BASIC function call: . 0 .10 SEED = TIME(0%) * 2.3 & . \ MULT = 1. !You Pick a Multiplier & . .20 RAN = FNRND(SEED) & . \ SEED = RAN * 199017. & . \ PRINT RAN * MULT & . \ GOTO 20 & . .20000 DEF FNRND(SEED) = (((24298. * SEED + 99991.)/ 199017.) & . - INT((24298. * SEED + 99991.)/ 199017.)) & . .32767 END & Since there are 86400 seconds in a day, I like to use the TIME(0%) call multiplied by 2.3 for the seed. This yields a seed value between 0 and 199017. I hope this helps. PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 382 0 replies Reply to # 378 Left by: BOB FIDELMAN On 03-Apr-89 At : 415-454-9055 Subject: USING SORT Make sure that MAXDETACH>1, MAXJOBS>1 and the user has DETACH privilege. RAF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 383 0 replies Reply to # 379 Output off CHARLIE NEFF On 03-Apr-89 At : 216-324-2020 Subject: LIB$SPAWN Thanks for the help! I will check out using the other subroutine. I have found that I must close the channel on which the terminal was opened prior to issuing the call to lib$spawn. I have no idea why, but it works if I do. Charlie Neff System Manager Lorain County Board of Mental Health Elyria, Ohio PC'S SIG Message # 212 1 replies Reply to # 203 Left by: STEVEN G. BERMAN On 04-Apr-89 At : (800) 832-4362 Subject: VMS SERVICES FOR MSDOS Mr. Donohue, I will attempt to address your questions in order: 1) DECnet-DOS allows you to use any DECnet device as a server (including a PC), while PCSA supports only VAXes as servers. The reason is that DECnet-DOS does not depend upon the RMS file format for its network services. It simply creates and uses a container file on any device which has a listener program running. The listener program is supplied with the PC version of DECnet-DOS. PCSA, however, depends upon the VAX for its "services", and cannot use any other device as a server. 2) You ABSOLUTELY CAN use other third-party DECnet drivers and hardware in IBM PCs and compatibles. Datamedia wrote the Data Link Layer (DLL.EXE) for Western Digital's WD8003E board, and supplies its own for DMC's Ethernet Adaptor for PCs. DMC also makes PC-compatible workstations which are capable of diskless boot and full PCSA functionality without using DEPCA. Please call me at the above number if you need further information. Steve Berman Datamedia Customer Support PC'S SIG Message # 213 0 replies Reply to # 204 Left by: STEVEN G. BERMAN On 04-Apr-89 At : (800) 832-4362 Subject: PCSA MEMORY HOG Unfortunately, PCSA is a tremendous memory hog. Its layered structure makes it an "A+" in the OSI school, but the shell interface to DOS is serpentine at best. If you boot diskless from a DEPCA card, you may be able to reclaim some of your memory, because the Data Link Layer and Session layers load into the DEPCA card's memory, then use it as a buffer once the connection is made. With other cards, such as 3COM's 3C501 card, it only gets worse, with about 400K being left for the DOS user. As for EMS, there is no way for DOS 3.x to use EMS directly. It must be recognized by the individual program to be used at all. And if you get a message "Not Enough Memory" when you try to load the program, that's all she wrote. One light at the end of the tunnel (maybe a locomotive) is Novell's NetWare for VMS, whose PC shell takes a paltry 52K or so (depending on your Ethernet Adaptor), but it won't work with a DEPCA card. If you want to discuss this further, give me a call at the above number. Steve Berman Datamedia Customer Support CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 379 0 replies Reply to # 228 Left by: STEVE BERMAN On 04-Apr-89 At : (800) 832-4362 Subject: PCSA INSTALLATION Gary, Datamedia has sold your company some workstations which are compatible with PCSA. I have worked with your associate Joe Konopka (at the same plant). Please give me a call at the (800) number if you need tips on PCSA installation. I have experience with DMC products as well as all manner of PC's. Steve Berman Datamedia Customer Support PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES/AI SIG Message # 384 0 replies Left by: RAJAGOPAL N. NAIR On 04-Apr-89 At : OHIO DEPT OF EDUC Subject: DATATRIEVE I have a matrix in each record of a file as shown below: SAMPLE_FILE. 01 SAMPLE_RECORD. 03 SAMPLE_DATA OCCURS 50 TIMES. 05 DATA_1 OCCURS 20 TIMES. 07 DATA_2 PIC 9(5) OCCURS 12 TIMES. I want to use, for example, DATA_2 (15, 10, 5) for a calculation. Can anyone send me a procedure via ARISTALK to accomplish this in Datatrieve, without redefining the matrix for each occurance of the element? Thanks. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 487 0 replies Reply to # 481 Left by: BOB CLIPPER On 04-Apr-89 At : (202)653-1391 Subject: THANKS FOR THE REPLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY, I HAVE THE VT52 KERMIT FOR THE KAYPRO THAT WE WE FOUND ON A KERMIT TAPE FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. BOB DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 488 0 replies Reply to # 485 Left by: BOB CLIPPER On 04-Apr-89 At : (202)653-1391 Subject: THANKS FOR THE NUMBER THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. BOB DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 490 1 replies Left by: JOHN THOMASON On 04-Apr-89 At : (303) 277-2468 Subject: NETBIOS FOR VMS? We are looking for a NETBIOS emulator that will run on VAX/VMS with Ethernet. It needs to be able to run with Decnet. Does anyone know of such a thing? Here is what we're trying to do: We have several PC AT's gathering data via FactoryLink which is a product that runs under DESQVIEW, a multitasking environment (sort of) for DOS. FactoryLink has a NETBIOS interface that we are using to talk between the PC's but we would also like to communicate with our uVAX II as a peer to store long term data. We've tried using Decnet-DOS, but it won't cohabitate with DESQVIEW on the PC (everything just hangs). I've spoken with DEC Customer Support in Atlanta and their response was that Decnet-DOS has its own multitasking which won't work with any other multitasker. We're currently using a file transfer method using Novell's Netware for VMS. This works, but it's a kludge and doesn't provide the task-to-task communications that we really need. Also if the file server (mVAX II) goes away (down or disconnected from the Ethernet) the PC's hang. This is completely undesirable since the PC's are unattended. Please let me know if you know of anyone that has a NETBIOS for VMS via Ethernet or if you have a different solution. Thanks, JT COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 258 0 replies Left by: ERIC STRASSMAN On 05-Apr-89 At : 301-584-2232 Subject: TWISTED PAIR ETHERNET I HAVE JUST REVIEWED THE DEC SPEC FOR TWISTED PAIR ETHERNET WHICH CALLS FOR A SIX WIRE SYSTEM. PINS 2 AND 3 ARE E-NET "+" AND "-", THE OTHERS ARE CALLED "GRND REFERENCE MAINTAINS DEFFERENTIAL BALANCE". QUESTION: CAN WE USE THE 4 WIRE, IBM TYPE 2 CABLING SYSTEM, AND JUMPER THE COMMON GRND REFERENCE PINS OR MUST ALL SIGNALS BE USED IN THE FIRST PLACE? DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 491 0 replies Reply to # 490 Left by: Phil Anthony On 05-Apr-89 At : Here Subject: PC/VAX NETWORKING John, when I started reading your message, I thought immediately of Novell - but you say that doesn't fit your needs. Unless somebody else knows of a "nonstandard" solution (has anybody written a VMS NETBIOS emulator for DECUS yet? Hint, hint), I think you may be plumb out of luck. One thing about your message concerns me. You speak of the PCs hanging un- der Novell "if the file server goes away (down or disconnected from the Ethernet)". Any non-multitasking workstation in a heirarchical network like Novell's will hang when it tries to access a server for required data or program files, and the server has disappeared. Handling of search paths in both Novell and MS-DOS is implemented at the operating system level rather than in the application. If a search path (map) isn't available, the driver considers it a critical error and turns control over to DOS. Maybe what you're really saying is that IBM-compatible PCs running MS-DOS aren't suitable for your application. DESQview is lovely stuff, but in the final analysis it's only a kludge to make up for the deficiencies of MS-DOS. Some of those deficiencies in fact require a good deal of making up for, such as MS-DOS' non-reentrant system calls. You might want to consider switching to a genuine multitasking system, such as SCO's XENIX or Microport's UNIX. Both of those have DOS shell software available that might be able to fit your application. Or you might look at a PC and operating system designed for multitasking, such as an Amiga or an MC68K system such as the GMX running Microware's OS/9 - probably the former, since I know that work is being done to put DECnet up on the Amiga. With UNIX or XENIX, you'd still probably have to kludge process-to-process communication over your network, though, since nobody but DEC and DEC-specific third-party vendors (mostly application oriented) really sup- ports VMS system services. This is complicated by the fact that the charts I've seen illustrate that DECnet is incompatible with every other major net- work implementation until you get down to the transport level. DECnet on the Amiga might ultimately make more sense. Finally, if the Ethernet or the VAX goes away at all frequently, I'd want to look for serious problems with either the software you're running on the VAX or your network itself. And if the application is critical, you might also want to give thought to installing a hot backup VAX with a mirrored disk. CLUSTERING/NETWORKING SIG Message # 380 0 replies Left by: JIM GOYETTE On 05-Apr-89 At : BANK ONE MILWAUKEE Subject: CLUSTER CONFIG WE CURRENTY HAVE A CI CLUSTER OF TWO 8250'S AND ONE 6210, WITH A MICROVAX 2000 AND VAXSTATION 2000 AS ETHERNET CLUSTER SATELLITES. OUR PRIMARY SOFTWARE IS ALLIN1 WITH DESK TOP PUBLISHING ON THE VAXSTATION AND 20 PC'S UNDER PCSA. WE ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING TRADING ONE 8250 ON A 6310 PURCHASE. AFTER READING CLUSTER CHRONICLES IN THE JANUARY '89 ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE OPINION OF OTHERS ON MY PLANNED CONFIGURATION. THE ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT DECREASED PERFORMANCE WHEN SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVING DISKS AND SUPPORTING INTERACTIVE USERS. ALTHOUGH THE PROFESSIONAL PRESS CLUSTER IS AN LAVC, I AM THINKING OF USING MY 8250 AS A PCSA AND MSCP DISK SERVER WHILE USING THE 6XXX MACHINES SOLELY FOR INTERACTIVE JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT IT COULD SAVE ME PERFORMANCE-WISE. ANY THOUGHTS? UTILITIES SIG Message # 358 0 replies Reply to # 355 Left by: BOB CLIPPER On 05-Apr-89 At : (202)653-1391 Subject: TAPE-COPY I have a public domain utility (Tape-copy) that may help. Call and I'll be happy to discuss. Bob DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 492 0 replies Left by: GREG CROASDILL On 05-Apr-89 At : SHARP MICROELECTONICS Subject: USING TRAILBLAZER MODEMS WITH DDCMP Has anyone out ther used Telebit Trailblazer modems for Async Decnet?? (DDCMP) Right now we are using standard hayes modems at 2400 baud. We need more bandwidth and so want to kick the speed up to 9600-19.2 K baud. Can I do this with a trailblazer?? Thanks, Greg MICROVAX SIG Message # 199 0 replies Reply to # 174 Left by: D.J. CURRAN On 05-Apr-89 At : RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE Subject: DQ132 We have experienced the same problem you describe with the Dilog DQ132. We will probably have to switch to a different controller, but meanwhile, I have one comment. Are you using /verify with Backup? As long as the firmware on the DQ132 is at least REV H, you should be able to do multiple-tape backups if you don't use /verify. Of course, leaving out the verify is not a good long term solution, but it might allow the backups to complete in the short run. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 54 1 replies Reply to # 52 Left by: RICHARD B. GILBERT On 05-Apr-89 At : (609) 452-5130 Subject: LN03 BLANK PAGE The trailing escape sequence in Kitty's RESET module deletes all downloaded fonts. This may be a good thing to do, but it is not essential to suppressing the final blank page. UTILITIES SIG Message # 360 0 replies Reply to # 355 Left by: GREG SMITH On 05-Apr-89 At : 61-62-435012 Subject: EBCDIS CONVERSION Digital Have and internal product called TXRCOPY which they let youhave for a token fee (about US$80 2 years ago). It d tape/disk, disk/tape and disk/disk conversions to/from ASCII/EBCDIC. It runs very fast and works under VMS 5. We have used it for about 2 years and are very happy with it. Sorry about all the typos, lots of noise today. Greg SMith Australian Institute of Health Canberra VMS SIG Message # 914 0 replies Left by: MERMELSTEIN On 06-Apr-89 At : HERE Subject: SECURITY LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 55 0 replies Reply to # 54 Left by: KITTY GEORGE On 06-Apr-89 At : HERE (ARIS) Subject: LN03+ RESET REDUX Richard - you are correct about the down-loaded fonts being deleted. Not having the downloadable fonts, I haven't seen this occur. I checked the LN03+ manual, and it mentions that the 0;1;0y sequence is used for font control. The first "0" says that any downloaded fonts are in Digital font format, the "1" says "please don't print a summary page which shows the currently loaded fonts", and the secondThere is more... to continue? "0" says "delete all font files" . I reckon that second "0" is your culprit. The manual also explains that the c reset sequence will not delete any currently loaded fonts. So I suggest you or someone else try: c and see what happens to the extra blank page. Kitty :-) VAX/ELN SIG Message # 23 0 replies Reply to # 16 Left by: LARRY HERRING On 06-Apr-89 At : Subject: VAX TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON THE NEW 6310, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY RELIABLE SINCE THEY WERE INSTALLED. ONLY PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE TK50. BUT THE SYSTEM ITSELF HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING. WHAT ABOUT GETTING RA90'S INSTAED OF RA81,RA82. I HAD THE SA600 TESTED BEFORE GENERAL RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC & HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. PLUS YOU GET TWICE THE CAPACITY IN HALF THE FOOTPRINT OF THE RA82'S. AS FAR AS UNATTENDED BACK UP GOES, IF YOU DONT WANT TO SPEND THE DOLLARS FOR AN HSC & A TA90, WHICH WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE, TTI (TRANSITIONAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.) MAKES A VERY GOOD 8mm TAPE BACKUP SUBSYSTEM. CHECK INTO IT...................AND BETTER COMPUTING TO YOU!!!! VAX/ELN SIG Message # 24 0 replies Reply to # 17 Left by: LARRY HERRING On 06-Apr-89 At : Subject: VAX 6330 REGARDING YOUR PROBLEM ON YOUR 6330, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BI CONTROLLERS ARE UP TO REV. THERE IS A MAJOR FCO FOR KDB50'S. CHECK IT OUT. AND..........................BETTER COMPUTING TO YOU!!!!!!!! VAX/ELN SIG Message # 25 0 replies Left by: LARRY HERRING On 06-Apr-89 At : Subject: CLUSTERS TO ALL USERS THAT HAVE A BI MACHINE OR A NEW 6xxx MACHINE ON A CLUSTER... YOU PROBABLY HAVE A CIBCA CONTROLLER TO BOOT OVER YOUR CI. WELL FOR A CHARGE DEC WILL REPLACE THE CIBCA FOR A CIBCA-BA. WHAT THIS WILL DO IS YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO USE THE TK50 TO LOAD TH CI MICRCODE. THE CIBCA-BA HAS THE MICROCODE RESIDENT ON ROM. IT ALSO HAS MORE THROUGHPUT THAN TH CIBCA. CHECK INTO IT IT WILL INHANCE YOUR SYSTEM GREATLY..... BETTER COMPUTING TO YOU ALL!!!!! VMS SIG Message # 915 0 replies Reply to # 911 Left by: JIM MCRAE On 06-Apr-89 At : HERE Subject: PRIVS A solution that I used that may help is to install the original program with privileges and then turn them off first thing in the program. When I need the privileges again, I can turn them on. I haven't experienced any problems with it. (But then we don't have any hackers on staff) VMS SIG Message # 916 0 replies Left by: TIM MANVILLE On 07-Apr-89 At : (202)653-0164 Subject: VMS MAIL I have a DECUS tape with a utility that allows users to find out if other users have recieved mail sent to them. It is called SHOW_THE_MAIL.EXE and READ_THE_MAIL.EXE. They do not seem to work with V5. Does anyone know something about these programs. I have inherited a system where the users have become quite dependent on them. In addition if someone out there is aware of a DEC or other commercial utility that does this, I would appreciate a word or two. DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 493 0 replies Left by: PATRICK MAHAN On 10-Apr-89 At : (714) 720-7868 Subject: PARITY ERRORS ON DMF32 I have a serial communications package that was developed on a Micro- Vax 2000 using a TTxx: (DZ11) device to an external device. The external device is hardwired for 19.2K baud, 7 bit ASCII, even parity, 1 stop bit. The software works stupendeously on the 2000, however, when I moved the code to our 8650 using a TXxx: (DMF32) device, I began to recieve parity errors on the TXxx: port. Is there some inconsistance between the DZ11 and the DMF32? I've looked through the I/O user's guide, part I on terminal communications but can find no mention of a possible problem? Please Help ASAP! Patrick Mahan PS. Please DO NOT publish this in DEC PROFESSIONAL, thank you MASS STORAGE SIG Message # 252 0 replies Reply to # 248 Left by: MARTY KUHRT On 10-Apr-89 At : HERE Subject: TTI 8MM This isn't a comment about SI 8mm tapes, but a comment about the drive put out by TTI. I have been using a TTI 8mm drive on my system for about 1 year now and have only had ONE problem with it. When that problem happened, they had a new drive on my desk by 10:30 the next morning. I can back up every disk on my system every night, and usually restore any file in less than 5 minutes, no matter where it went on the tape. I have had problems once in a while with tapes going bad, but that only happens about once a month, and with the new features I've read about for the TTI drives with the error rate indicator, I'd say that problem would probably be lessened. It certainly beats doing incrementals, or swapping TK50's. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 259 0 replies Reply to # 257 Left by: BRUCE A. GREMBOWSKI On 10-Apr-89 At : 408/291-3364 Subject: KERMIT HANGUP Michael, I can't help you with your problem, but I can offer one suggestion: Have the Kermit job run at a lower priority so that the VAX isn't hung up when you do encounter a problem. Anyway, good luck solving the problem! VMS SIG Message # 917 0 replies Reply to # 865 Left by: MARTY KUHRT On 10-Apr-89 At : EXECUTIVE SOFTWARE (818) 249-4707 Subject: $SNDJBCW REPLY I have a simple BASIC program that calls SNDJBCW to route print jobs (or batch jobs). I have an in-house database program that creates many different forms that have to go to certain LN03's due to differences in font carts. This program is passed the filename, form name, copies, and other parameters, and passes that on to the job controller. It would be a simple matter to rewrite it to intercept certain users. Since writing it a while back, I have found plenty of uses for it. If you would like a copy of the source, send me a reply, or drop a card to... Marty Kuhrt VAX Mgr. Executive Software 2219 Broadview Glendale, CA 91208 LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 56 0 replies Left by: JEFFREY THOMAS On 10-Apr-89 At : 212-536-5470 Subject: TI2108/2115 PRINTERS We have one of each from Texas Instruments, the 2108 and 2115. They're real workhorses, but their OPC belts get easily scratched. The Print quality is fine, though not as good or as consistent as our Apple Laserwriter2's. I had a devil of a time getting them to software-switch between PostscriptBatch and Diablo630 modes... after several conversations with both T.I. and DEC's software support, I finally developed a couple of command files and administrative procedures that work real well for us -- if anyone's interested, I'm glad to share it. Two problems remain: 1- figuring the settings to print DP style in landscape mode, 132columns across (TI folks said to use their landscape setting, at 127coluns!); and, more seriously, 2- a knowledgeable service company -- our 2108 is out of whack now, and G.E. service techs do not appear to know the machine at all. Does anyone know a good service company for Texas Instrument laser printers? thanks much. LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 57 0 replies Left by: BERN FOX On 11-Apr-89 At : 313-994-1200 X2498 Subject: LASERTECNICS 300D I would very much like to hear from other users of the Lasertechnics Model 300D digital image printer (host for this device is not of concern). Has anyone else out theretaken delivery of one of these units? Any problems and/or pitfalls? Comments, positive or otherwise. Thanks. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 260 1 replies Reply to # 145 Left by: On 11-Apr-89 At : JEFF SILVERMAN Subject: USING HAYES COMPATIBLE MODEMS I have some Hayes compatible modems connected to a DMF32 port 0 or port 1 or to a DECserver 200 and I have a problem when the modems change baud rates. Is there some trick to get the modems to stick to a certain baud rate? Jeff Silverman Boeing Aerospace (206) 657-2816 APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 325 0 replies Left by: PETER RAND On 11-Apr-89 At : 404-449-9111 Subject: GERBER PANELIZATION S/W We're looking for software running under VMS that will perform Printed Circuit Board Panelization, i.e. will take Gerber Photoplot data and allow manipulation of the boards onto the manufacturing panel. Any ideas? I know that this type of software runs on a SUN system, so I know that someone out there has it for the VAX. Please Help! -PFR RSX SIG Message # 260 0 replies Reply to # 259 Left by: DAN LITKE On 11-Apr-89 At : ARIS Subject: RANDOM # GEN. REPLY Brett, Thanks for the pointer. I have uncovered an algorithm book and found the "Linear Congruential Method" of generating random numbers. I will implement this! Thanks again. Best Regards, Dan Litke COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 261 0 replies Reply to # 260 Left by: MARK KUEHN On 11-Apr-89 At : (612)646-4501 X446 Subject: DEPENDS ON THE MODEM It really depends on the modem. You will have to look in the modem documentation to see if it supports a modem baud rate and a serial port baud rate. It is also possible to have the modem NOT baud rate adjust. I am using MultiTech's MultiModems and just love them. They have hundreds of features the standard Hayes 2400 hasn't even though of. RSX SIG Message # 262 0 replies Left by: JERRY KILGORE On 12-Apr-89 At : 512-331-0508 Subject: I/O DRIVER PROBLEM I am writing a driver for a DHV11 for RSX 4.5. I need a UCB/SCB for each line, but when I specify the same vector for each line, the LOA function complains that the vector is already in use, apparently objecting to the same vector oppearing in several SCBs. I have devised a workaround that will work for only one DHV in the system. I need to be able to operate up to three DHV boards. Is there some way to specify several UCB/SCB combinations using the same CSR/Vector. If you have a solution, either reply here or call me collect at 512-331-0508. Thanks, Jerry. APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 326 0 replies Reply to # 282 Left by: JOE SEWELL On 12-Apr-89 At : 407-729-6004 Subject: $CREPRC & DCL APPLICATIONS SIG Message # 327 0 replies Reply to # 282 Left by: JOE SEWELL On 12-Apr-89 At : 407-729-6004 Subject: $CREPRC & DCL (sorry about the other reply ... goofed up) All you have to do is have $CREPRC run SYS$SYSTEM:LOGINOUT.EXE, and have SYS$INPUT be connected to a command file. That way, no matter which account it uses, it'll still work. The problem with it running during startup is that SYSTEM's LOGIN.COM is never executed; the system boots with SYSTEM pre-logged in. As for the username, Mr. Schaffrath's code takes care of that. Joe VMS SIG Message # 918 0 replies Left by: HUNTER GOATLEY On 12-Apr-89 At : 801-224-5306 OR HERE Subject: VAXSTATION 3100 CONSOLE This message probably doesn't belong in this SIG, but... Does anyone know if it is possible to boot the VAXstation 3100 with some terminal other than the Monitor That Ate New York? We have been using our regular old VT200-compatibles as consoles for the VAXstation 2000, but DEC says the 3100 has to to have the Big Monitor. We were told the same thing when we started looking into the 2000, so I suspect that it is possible. If anyone can supply the information (pin configuration, port to use, etc), it will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Hunter Goatley Clyde Digital Systems 371 East 800 South Orem, Utah 84058 801-224-5306 VMS SIG Message # 919 0 replies Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 12-Apr-89 At : 805-388-5700 Subject: LAB INSTRUMENT TO LAT FGFGHFGFHGFGH DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 494 0 replies Reply to # 486 Left by: DAVID KAPLAN On 12-Apr-89 At : (919) 878-0204 Subject: EBCDIC/ASCII CONVERSION You haven't made it clear if the EBCDIC to ASCII conversion is your only problem, or if loading the tape onto disk is also. Also, since it's now April 12th, you've probably found a solution. At any rate... Assuming you have the option of writing a program on your VAX, there are system library services available for character code conversion. For example, in VAX BASIC you could: Declare String EBCDIC.STRING, ASCII.STRING ...program code which moves appropriate data from disk or tape ...into EBCDIC.STRING Call LIB$TRA_EBC_ASC( EBCDIC.STRING, ASCII.STRING ) ! Result is ASCII - I might have the service name spelled wrong ! check the VMS documentation - this is from memory We have our own BASIC program that does the conversion while transferring data from tape to disk, but you could also use DCL to transfer tape to disk, then run a program directly on the disk file. One additional thought. If your tape data is all text, then the above is all you need, HOWEVER, if there is packed (usually numeric or date) data, you will want to decode this part of the record BEFORE using the LIB$TRA... service on the text portion of your data. Good luck! DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 495 0 replies Left by: DAVID KAPLAN On 12-Apr-89 At : (919) 878-0204 Subject: KERMIT/MICROCOM SOLUTION! I'm just using ARIS for the first, and have been browsing through KERMIT- related messages. On problem which I've seen several times has been where folks are unable to get KERMIT transfers to work when using MICROCOM modems. This is a simple problem, simply fixed! (I'm addressing the AX/2400 and AX/2400C modems, with which we have experience) By default, these modems look for a "break" character which tells the modem to drop back into modem command mode. This is the same function which is handled on Hayes modems by a "3-second-pause, then +++, then 3-second-pause". The default "break" character is ASCII "1". When you start a KERMIT file transfer, sooner or later one of these gets sent down the line and thats..all...folks! To fix this, just type the command "SE0" when at the modem's "!" prompt. This disables the break character altogether. VMS SIG Message # 920 0 replies Left by: DAVE MAUSNER On 13-Apr-89 At : 312-266-4444 Subject: SPAWN MAIL In my login.com, I have the following DCL: $ mp = "mail"+f$getj("","pid") $ def/key/term f20 "at ''mp'" $ spawn /wait/proc='mp' mail The idea, of course, is to keep a mail process alive, and get to it with a hot key (f20). This works just fine and is much faster than recreating a mail process every time i get a message. However, mail's diagnostic messages disappear in this mode. perhaps he is writing then to SYS$ERROR which is equivalenced to NL:? Is there another method which avoids this problem, yet allows me to attach to mail (and back)? MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 490 1 replies Left by: JOHN RIEWE On 13-Apr-89 At : 414-433-1287 Subject: SCRIPT Where is the SCRIPT program (available for download???) from the April 1989 VAX Professional????? MISCELLANEOUS SIG Message # 491 0 replies Reply to # 490 Left by: ANDREW DUGGAN On 13-Apr-89 At : Subject: SCRIPT John, The SCRIPT program is in the programs for download under the VAX PRO section. It does not appear (at least not right now), but if you type in SCRIPT.DOC as the file you want, it is available. I just did it. COMMUNICATIONS SIG Message # 262 0 replies Left by: LINDA FEENEY On 14-Apr-89 At : (609)896-5310 Subject: COMMUN. W/ IBM SYS. VIA MODEM ON DECSERVER At our site we have a 1200 baud Hayes modem running off of a DECServer port. I have used this with no difficulty to dial out to VAX systems, but when I try to connect with IBM ASKINFO, I run into problems. I have my comm. software correctly setup (7E, 1 stop bit) and have called out to this service using a modem connected directly to a terminal or PC w/ terminal emulation and had no problem. As soon as the DECserver is in the middle, trouble arises. I can connect to their system and identify my terminal type. After that the screen clears and my terminal is hung. IBM is mystified. Does anybody have any suggestions ?? Linda Feeney Senior Academic Analyst Rider College Computer Center 2083 Lawrenceville Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 GRAPHICS SIG Message # 85 0 replies Left by: DORWIN BIRT On 14-Apr-89 At : ARIS MESSAGE CENTER Subject: VWS FONTS I am using VAX Workstation Graphics version 3.2 and am wondering if there is any method for obtaining high resolution labels on my graphs. They don't look too bad when plotted on the Vaxstation, but when I use HCUIS to print them on a LN03PLUS the lettering is very low resolution. I am using the fonts which are provided with VWS032. I know there is a font utility which lets one compile user supplied fonts, but I haven't found any information about how to produce the font files. Any help? Thanks DATA/FILE TRANSFER SIG Message # 496 0 replies Left by: JOHN DAVID GALT On 14-Apr-89 At : 408 735-2851 Subject: VMS MAIL/PROFS GATEWAY? Your January article on Networking mentioned a gateway, or bridge, between VMS MAIL and the IBM PROFS mail utility. Our company has both and could really use this product. Unfortunately, DEC says they've never heard of it, and your article did not say who makes it. Would someone please fill me in? VMS SIG Message # 921 0 replies Left by: PAUL LUCERO On 14-Apr-89 At : 805-388-5700 Subject: LAT QIO INTERFACE Is it possible to read data from a remote application port of the DEC server 200 (DS200)? What I want to do is to connect an instrument to the DS200 that will send data (ASCII) to the VAX 3600 then capture this data within VMS using FORTRAN 77. I've played with the LAT QIO interface and has never been successful yet. The manual (LAT VMS V4.7) seems to indicate that this is possible but the example it provides is only about how to write to an application port which is what we're all familiar to do. Anyone out there who knows how to read from an LTAn application port. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Paul Lucero, System Manager Combustion Engineering Environmental, Inc. Camarillo, CA LASER PRINTERS SIG Message # 58 0 replies Reply to # 55 Left by: DORWIN BIRT On 14-Apr-89 At : ARIS MESSAGE CENTER Subject: LN03 BLANK PAGES I tried the method you suggested for suppressing the extra formfeed which occurs at the end of each print job on the LN03 and it works fine. However, for some setup files, such as the one I use for producing landscape mode, i.e. /SETUP=LN03LAND, it did not work. I found a note by JAY BELLER in the APPLICATIONS SIG, message # 298 which will make any control string from a device control library work. Basically, the technique Jay Beller described is to cause the symbiont to treat the control sequence as a private ansi sequene by preceding the sequence with P and following it with \. As an example the code I used for setting landscape mode is as follows: Pc[?21 J[15m[1;66r\ where is the code for form feed, 12 decimal is the code for escape, 27 decimal This only seems to work if it is in a device control library. If this code is inserted directly into a file, an extra form feed still occurs.