Beginning and Ending a Computer Work Session

Before You Start

Before you start this tutorial, you will need

Getting Started

If you are the system administrator, you have probably set up a PRACTICE account Use this account to log on and perform the tasks that follow.

To log on to your MPE/iX system, follow these steps:

Next to the prompt is a cursor that can be a small line (_) or a small square of light.

The cursor shows you where the next letter or number that you enter is going to appear on the terminal screen.

   :_

To log off

The log off command is BYE. You can practice logging off and ending your session with the system if the terminal that you are using is not also the console. Enter:

   :BYE Return

A goodbye message appears when you log off. For example:

   CPU=1. CONNECT=1. TUE, JAN 15, 1993,  3:38 PM.

The words in the message mean this:

The current date and logoff time are also provided.

To use passwords

When you log on to your system, the computer may prompt you to enter passwords:

You may be prompted to provide only one of these, two of them, or all three.

In each case where a password is required, your system gives you three chances to enter the right password. After a third incorrect entry, you see an error message. When this happens, enter the HELLO command again.

An incorrect entry of a password would look like this on the screen:

      MPE/IX: HELLO LARRY.SMITH

      ENTER ACCOUNT PASSWORD:



      ENTER ACCOUNT PASSWORD:



      ENTER ACCOUNT PASSWORD:



      INCORRECT PASSWORD.  (CIERR 1441)



      MPE/iX:

The message itself, INCORRECT PASSWORD, describes the problem. The error message number (CIERR 1441) follows the description. You will see other messages as you perform tasks.

To enter commands

Commands let you communicate with the system in a similar way that words and language let you communicate with other people. To use the commands, you must be logged on to the system. Once again, log on to the PRACTICE account.

Executing an MPE/iX command requires only two steps:

In the following exercise, you will enter commands that give you information from the computer.

Using the Help Facility

You will find the HELP command to be a very useful command. The HELP command provides a list of categories that you can get help on. Enter the following command now:

   :HELP Return

The screen displays:

           This is the MPE/iX Help Facility

   --------------------------------------------------

   Enter SUMMARY, CLASS, a command name, or HELPSTUDY  *

   --------------------------------------------------

   SUMMARY....     A summary MPE/iX commands & HELP"

   

   CLASS......     Classes of Commands

                   SESSIONS, JOBS, FILES, SUBSYSTEMS, ETC.

   

   < command name >. . . . . . COMMAND entries, by name

   

   < command name >< keyword > COMMAND entry with keyword

   PARMS, OPERATION, EXAMPLE

   

   HELPSTUDY . . . . . . . . . A beginner's introduction to

   Help

   

   EXIT. . . . . . . . . . . . To leave the Help facility.

   

   You can use UPPERCASE or lowercase.

   

   >>>>>>>>  The name of this screen is HELPMENU  <<<<<<<<

   >

The Help Facility has its own prompt, the "greater than" symbol:

   >

To exit HELP

When you are using the Help Facility, you will see the Help prompt when the scrolling has stopped.

To get out of Help, enter EXIT:

   >EXIT Return

The standard prompt (:) should now appear.

If you would like to learn more about the Help Facility, use the HELPSTUDY command.

To get the current time and date

The SHOWTIME command allows you to see the time and date on your terminal screen.

At the system prompt, type SHOWTIME:

   :SHOWTIME Return

On the screen, you should see something like this:

   FRI, JAN 30, 1993,  3:58 PM

   :_

If you encounter an error message, retype the command, or refer to "Using the Help Facility" in the above section.

To change the current time and date

The SETCLOCK command is used to change the system time or to change the system's time zone. The following example illustrates setting the system time by providing a date and time:

   :SETCLOCK DATE=07/04/1993; TIME=15.00 Return

The following example illustrates a time correction that advances the system time by one hour (3600 seconds):

   :SETCLOCK CORRECTION= +3600  Return

or

   :SETCLOCK CORRECTION= 3600  Return

For more information about the :SETCLOCK command, refer to the Commands Reference (B3818-90011).

To get information about your session

The SHOWME command displays information about your session. It also displays any special logon messages, such as a Welcome message.

To see the group and account that you are in, use the SHOWME command. Enter:

The screen displays information about your session:

   USER: #S41,USER1.PRACTICE,PUB      (NOT IN BREAK)

   RELEASE: B.31.00   MPE/IX HP31900 B.09.70   USER VERSION: B.31.00

   CURRENT: MON, APR 28, 1993,  9:59 AM

   LOGON:   MON, APR 28, 1993,  9:59 AM

   CPU SECONDS: 1         CONNECT MINUTES: 1

   $STDIN LDEV: 104         $STDLIST LDEV: 104

   :_

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

The (NOT IN BREAK) message (on the top line) means that you are not in the middle of running a program. You have temporarily halted its execution.

Your session number, logon identity, and LDEV number are important. Be sure to record this information.

To get information about jobs and sessions

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

To see information about jobs and sessions, enter the following command now:

   :SHOWJOB Return

Your screen will display a list of columns like the following, although your screen will be unique to your system:

   JOBNUM   STATE INPRI  JIN  JLIST   INTRODUCED  JOB NAME



   #S110      EXEC  QUIET  101  101   TUES  9:00A USER1.PRACTICE

   #S114      EXEC         103  103   TUES  2:05P LARRY.SMITH

   #S115      EXEC         105  105   TUES  2:45P IRENE.JONES

   #J15       EXEC         109  LP    TUES  4:00P PAY.ACCNTNG



   4 JOBS

       0 INTRO

       0 WAIT; INCL 0 DEFERRED

       4 EXEC; INCL 3 SESSIONS

       0 SUSP

   JOBFENCE=7;  JLIMIT=6;  SLIMIT=60

   :

In the left column of the above example, all but one job number begins with an #S. The S indicates session. A session begins the moment that you log on (HELLO) and ends when you log off (BYE). When you work in a session, you will see the results of your instructions as they execute.

The remaining job number begins with a #J (J15). You use a job when you want the computer to carry out your instructions on its own. You do not have to be logged on when the job starts, or when it ends. The job prints out a report for you, telling you what it did and whether it succeeded in doing what you wanted it to do. Running a job is often called batch processing or a batch job.

To correct an error

What if you make a mistake while entering a command? There are various methods of correcting these mistakes. Choose the method that is most convenient. You can correct your mistake by

Try one of the above methods. Make a mistake. Enter:

   :SHOWHOB Return

Your screen should look like this:

   SHOWHOB

   UNKNOWN COMMAND NAME.  (CIERR 975)

   :_

The computer does not recognize the command, so it displays an error message. The parenthetical phrase (CIERR 975) identifies this error message.

Try retyping the SHOWJOB command now. Enter:

   :SHOWJOB Return

You now see the SHOWJOB display:

   JOBNUM   STATE INPRI  JIN  JLIST   INTRODUCED  JOB NAME



   #S110      EXEC  QUIET  101  101   TUES  9:00A USER1.PRACTICE

   #S114      EXEC         103  103   TUES  2:05P LARRY.SMITH

   #S115      EXEC         105  105   TUES  2:45P  IRENE.JONES

   #J15       EXEC         109  LP    TUES  4:00P  PAY.ACCNTNG