Working on the Computer

Once you have identified yourself as a valid user on the computer, you can begin working. This may include activating or using programs or interacting with the computer through commands. Some programs may have been installed on your system at the factory before it was delivered to you. Other programs require setup steps before they will run, which should be in the documentation that accompanies those programs.

To use a program

To start using a program on your system, use the RUN command:

At the system prompt, type in the RUN command followed by a qualified name of the program.
Press Return.

   :RUN program Return

For example, to access the HP Easytime/iX program, type the following:

   :RUN EASYTIME.PUB.SYS Return

This example is specific to the HP Easytime/iX program. Other programs respond differently.

To exit HP Easytime/iX, do the following:

Press F4 (To/From Menu Bar) and then E to display the Exit menu.
Move the cursor to Exit HP Easytime/iX and press Return.
A window appears on the screen, asking if you really want to exit the program.
Press F5 (OK) to close the window and return to the system prompt for direct command entry.

It is possible to use the implied run method of your system to simplify typing in the RUN command line. This method abbreviates the command line by allowing you to type just the qualified program name at the system prompt.

At the system prompt, enter the program name.
Press Return.

   :program.group.account Return

For example, to access the EASYTIME.PUB.SYS program using the implied run method, type the following at the system prompt:

   :EASYTIME.PUB.SYS Return

Note that the implied run method has limitations in its use. If a program does not execute properly using implied run, include the RUN command in your command line.

To stop a program in an emergency




	CAUTION: All programs have a specific way of stopping or ending your interaction with it. The `ABORT` command allows you to terminate a program without using the program specific stop command. This method of exiting a program should only be used for emergency program exits.

To perform an emergency stop on a program, do the following:

Press the Break key.
At the ":" prompt, type ABORT.

   Break

   :ABORT Return

To enter commands

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

Entering simple commands takes only two steps:

Type the name of the command at the system prompt.
Press the Return key.

The following is an example of entering the SHOWTIME command, and the result.

   :SHOWTIME Return

   FRI, FEB 22, 1991,   3:58 PM

   :_

To execute a command file

To execute a command file, do the following:

At the system prompt, type the command file name.
Press Return.

To execute a command file called ST, type ST at the system prompt and press Return. In the following example, the command file ST executes the SHOWTIME command.

   :ST Return

   TUE, MAR 26, 1991, 11:52AM

   :_

To communicate with other system users

You can send messages to the terminal screen of other users of the system and receive messages from them.

Sending a message to another user

To send a message to another user on your system, use the TELL command.

Locate the session number or the logon identity of the person to whom you want to send the message by using the SHOWJOB command.

   :SHOWJOB



   JOBNUM  STATE IPRI JIN   JLIST    INTRODUCED  JOB NAME



   #S16    EXEC       101   101      FRI  9:57A  BOB.LINDER

   #S19    EXEC       107   107      FRI  3:57P  SUSAN.KINU

   #S20    EXEC       109   109      FRI  4:02P  PAYROLL.ACCNTNG

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



   4 JOBS:

       0 INTRO

       0 WAIT; INCL 0 DEFERRED

       4 EXEC; INCL 3 SESSIONS

       0 SUSP

   JOBFENCE= 7; JLIMIT= 60; SLIMIT= 60

For example, the user BOB.LINDER is logged on as session number 16 (#S16). Use either of these two identities to send a message.

Use the TELL command and provide either a logon identity or a session number, followed by your message. Press Return to send your message.
To send a message using a session number, place #Snn after TELL.
TELL #S16 CAN YOU GIVE ME THE FEB FORECAST? Return
To send a message using the logon identity, place USERNAME.ACCOUNTNAME after TELL.
TELL BOB.LINDER CAN YOU GIVE ME THE FEB FORECAST? Return
In either case, the person receiving the message sees something like this on the screen:
FROM/S19 SUSAN.KINU/CAN YOU GIVE ME THE FEB FORECAST?
Notice that the sender's session number (in this example S19) and the logon identity (SUSAN.KINU) appears before the message text.

Sending a message to the system administrator

There may come a time when you need to send a message to the person managing the system. The TELLOP command sends a message to the system console, the terminal used specifically for system operations.

To send a message to the system console, type TELLOP followed by a brief message. End your message by pressing Return.
TELLOP PLEASE PUT A CASSETTE IN THE TAPE DRIVE Return

If you are the system administrator and you want to send messages to all users, refer also to the WARN and WELCOME commands.

Any problems?

Did you get the following error message on your screen?
UNKNOWN COMMAND NAME. (CIERR 975)
Look for any spelling errors. Carefully retype the command. Use the online Help Facility to verify that you are using the command correctly.
If a command file does not execute exactly as you anticipated, there may be a file-naming conflict on the system. There are two solutions to this problem:
- Rename the command file.
- Use the XEQ command to execute the command file.
XEQ commandfilename Return

Working on the Computer

Technical documentation

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