MPE/iX commands tell the computer to perform a specific function.
The parameters you enter for each command tell the computer to perform
the function in a specific way. MPE/iX uses four classifications
of parameters:
These four classifications of parameters are briefly defined
below. To understand the command syntax diagrams, refer to the Conventions
pages in the front of this manual.
Required Parameters |
 |
If a command has any required parameters, they must be entered
or MPE/iX displays an error message. In the syntax diagrams for
each command in this chapter, required parameters are either surrounded
by no other marks or by braces { }.
In the following example, since myfile
is not surrounded by any marks, it is a required parameter:
In some cases, you must select one parameter from a list of
two or more parameters. In the following example, you must provide
either a job number or a session number since these parameters are
surrounded by braces:
Optional Parameters |
|
If a command has any optional parameters, you can either specify
or ignore them, depending upon how you want the command to execute.
In the syntax diagrams for each command in this chapter, optional
parameters are surrounded by brackets [ ].
If you ignore optional parameters, MPE/iX uses the system-defined
default values for each parameter. In the following example, [;PASS]
is an optional parameter since it is surrounded by brackets:
NEWGROUP groupname [;PASS=[password]] |
Positional Parameters |
|
The meaning of a positional parameter depends upon its position
(location) in the parameter list. In the syntax diagrams for each
command in this chapter, positional parameters are separated from
each other by a comma (,).
If you omit a positional parameter from the list, you must provide
the comma placeholder that would normally precede that parameter.
In the following example, the subparameters of the REC
parameter of the BUILD
command can be treated as positional parameters:
BUILD filename;REC=128,1,F,ASCII |
If you choose to use the system-defined default value F,
you need not specify it, but you must hold the position with a comma:
BUILD filename;REC=128,1,,ASCII |
Keyword Parameters |
|
A keyword parameter denotes the meaning or value of a given
parameter. In the syntax diagrams for each command in this chapter,
keyword parameters appear in uppercase (CAPITAL)
letters (although you may enter them in either uppercase or lowercase)
and are preceded by a semicolon (;).
In the following example, REC
is a keyword parameter:
BUILD filename;REC=128,1,F,ASCII |
Refer to the section "Combining Positional/Keyword Parameters,"
below, for additional information.
