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3-128. :COMMAND

3-129. Purpose.

The : command is used to enter system commands from within EDIT/3000.

3-130. Form.

The form of the : command is

          :MPE command

For example,

          :PURGE AFILE

3-131. Description.

The : command allows the user to enter certain MPE commands without using the BREAK key. The colon indicates to EDIT/3000 that it should pass the rest of the record to the MPE operating system,

A : command may appear in a USE file or a WHILE block. In addition, Z:: may be used in any : command as a substitute for a parameter.

Any errors or warnings are reported as follows:



   **** COMMAND ERROR xx,yy





   ** COMMAND WARNING xx,yy

where xx indicates the message number and yy the parameter in error. In addition, the MPE messages are displayed. The following example illustrates an error message:

      /: LISTF FILE1

      **** COMMAND ERROR 907, 0

      NON-EXISTENT FILE, (CIERR 907)

      /

where 907 indicates the message number and 0 the parameter in error.

An exception to this format occurs in Series I machines, in which case the MPE message is not displayed.

3-132. Limitations.

Using the BREAK key during the execution of a : command causes a break in EDIT/3000. When RESUME is typed, execution of the command continues.

Valid commands are those which can be executed programmatically (see the MPE Intrinsics Manual, Section IV, the subsection entitled "Executing MPE Commands Programmatically," for a list of such commands). Commands which are valid MPE commands but which cannot be executed programmatically (such as the MPE :RUN command) cause error #12. Commands which are not valid MPE commands cause error #975 (except on Series I machines), as do any User Defined Commands. Note, however, that User Defined Commands are valid during a BREAK.

If used in a multiple command sequence, the : command must appear last (and only once). For example:

   *         /T AFILE;L ALL;:SHOWTIME

If the : command appears earlier in the sequence of commands, only the commands up to and including the : command will be executed.

3-133. Examples.

The following example illustrates the use of the : command. The MPE :FILE command is used to equate EDTLIST to a line printer other than the standard list device and the LIST ALL, OFFLINE command is used from within EDIT/3000 to obtain an offline listing of the WORK file. The MPE :TELL command is used to send a message to all users logged on in the STUDENT account. A BREAK from EDIT/3000 was not necessary.

   /TEXT EDIT3

   /LIST 1/6

       1     1-2. WHAT IS FDTT/3000?

       2

       3     EDIT/3000 IS A SUBSYSTEM OF THE HP 3000

       4     MULTIPROGRAMMING EXECUTIVE OPERATING SYSTEM

       5     (MPE/3000) THAT IS USED TO CREATE AND

       6     MANIPULATE ASCII FILES.

   /:FILE EDTLIST;DEV=FASTLP

   /LIST ALL,OFFLINE

   *** OFF LINE LISTING BEGUN. **

   /:TELL @.STUDENTS;CLASS RESUMES IN 20 MINUTES.

Table 3-2 Summary of Parameter Descriptions

`colnum`	an integer specifying the column number in a line.
`filename`	the MPE/3000 file name.
`increment`	the value by which line numbers are incremented.
`integer`	an integer in the range from 1 through 99999 when SET FORMAT = DEFAULT or from 1 through 999 when SET FORMAT = COBOL.
`limit`	an integer from 1 through 9999.
`linenumber`	the value assigned to line numbers.
`newstring`	a character string that replaces `oldstring`.
`oldstring`	a character string to be replaced in the WORK file.
`position`	a specific location in the WORK file
`range`	one or more positions in the WORK file.
`rangelist`	one or more ranges.
`recnum`	a logical record number in a file.
`startcolumn`	the starting column number of a portion of a record.
`startline`	the first line of a group of lines.
`stopcolumn`	the ending column number of a portion of a record.
`stopline`	the last line of a group of lines.
`string`	a group of characters.

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