Lesson 3 Entering Commands

• how to execute commands

• commands to get information:

  • get the current time and date: SHOWTIME

  • get information about your session: SHOWME

  • get information about sessions and jobs: SHOWJOB

Understanding commands

Commands are the instructions that you give the computer. They may be simple and consist of a single word (SHOWME), or they may be complicated and require that you enter many words or numbers.

Executing a command

Executing a simple command takes only two steps:

With a few exceptions, commands either execute successfully or give you a warning or an error message. In either case, the prompt returns, and the computer waits for your next instruction.

The SHOWTIME command

Start a session with your MPE/iX system by logging on now.

   HELLO your logon identityReturn

Type SHOWTIME at the prompt, and press Return.

   SHOWTIMEReturn

On the screen, you should see something like this:

   :SHOWTIME

   FRI, JUN  30, 1989,  3:58 PM

   :_

You may find this online:clock clock and calendar very useful.

The SHOWME command

The SHOWME command displays information about your session and any special logon message from your system operator or system manager.

Enter:

   SHOWMEReturn

On the screen you should see something like this:

  :SHOWME

   USER:  #S118,JOHN.SMITHERS,MYGROUP      (NOT IN BREAK)

   RELEASE: A.21.13 MPE/iX HP31900 A.43.11 USER VERSION A.21.31

   CURRENT : FRI, JUN  29, 1990,  3:58 PM

   LOGON :   FRI, JUN  29, 1990,  3:57 PM

   CPU SECONDS: 0        CONNECT MINUTES: 1

   $STDIN  LDEV: 107          $STDLIST  LDEV: 107



****************************************************************

**                     WELCOME TO SYSONE                      **

****************************************************************

**              LOG OFF BY 7 PM TONIGHT, PLEASE               **

**                                                            **

** NIGHT SHIFT OPERATOR WILL TAKE SYSONE OFFLINE TONIGHT TO   **

** STORE ALL FILES ON THE SYSTEM TO A BACKUP TAPE.            **

**                                                            **

** ALL SESSIONS AND JOBS WILL BE ABORTED AT 7:01 PM — NO     **

** EXCEPTIONS.                                                **

****************************************************************

**  Call ext. 5555  if you have any problems or questions     **

****************************************************************

:_

Did the display scroll by too quickly to see? If it did, press the Prev key once or twice to go "backward." Press the Next key the same number of times to return to where you started. The terminal has some memory of its own, and you can use these two keys to review whatever the screen "remembers."

The SHOWME display provides valuable information. Locate each of the following:

Your LDEV number, session number, and logon identity are important. Knowing what version is on your system helps your system operator or system manager to help you with any difficulties.

Basic keyboard use

Some commands may require that you know a few basic techniques for controlling your terminal.

Another solution

CTRLS

If your terminal does not have the STOP key, press CTRL and hold it down. While holding it down, press S. This will stop the scrolling.

CTRLQ

If your terminal does not have the STOP key, press CTRL and hold it down. While holding it down, press Q. This resumes the scrolling.

	NOTE: If you stop the scrolling with CTRLS or with STOP, you can examine the text on the screen, but you cannot issue any other commands until you start the screen again with CTRLQ or another STOP. Advanced Users The STOP key may or may not work on some PC emulator terminals.

The SHOWJOB command

The SHOWJOB command displays the identities of sessions and jobs currently logged on to the computer.

Enter:

   SHOWJOBReturn

Your screen will display something like this:

   JOBNUM  STATE IPRI JIN  JLIST    INTRODUCED  JOB NAME



   #S116   EXEC       101  101      FRI  9:57A  DONNA.HOLLAND

   #S118   EXEC       107  107      FRI  3:57P  JOHN.SMITHERS

   #S119   EXEC QUIET 109  109      FRI  4:02P  LEDGER.ACCNTNG

   #J13    EXEC       10S  LP       FRI  3:00P  DONNA.HOLLAND



   4 JOBS:

       0 INTRO

       0 WAIT; INCL 0 DEFERRED

       4 EXEC; INCL 3 SESSIONS

       0 SUSP

   JOBFENCE= 7; JLIMIT= 60; SLIMIT= 60

SHOWJOB may produce much more information than this; but, for the moment, a small example is enough.

Notice that in the example of a SHOWJOB screen, the computer counts jobs and sessions together as JOBS when it totals this information. Notice that Donna Holland is using an interactive session and a job simultaneously. She is working on some project using Session 116 (#S116). She is also letting the computer execute a job file identified as Job 13 (#J13).

Notice, too, that someone has logged on using the identity LEDGER.ACCNTNG. A logon identity does not have to be the name of a person.

User-defined commands and\command files

You can create other files besides jobs that contain commands and data for immediate execution. One kind of file is called a user-defined command (UDC for short). The other kind is called a command file. Together they are referred to as user commands. They can be used during sessions.

Jobs and user-defined commands are topics for the Advanced Skills Tutorial course. Module 6 introduces command files.