Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- vax_vms_user [2026/06/22 00:14] – admin
+++ vax_vms_user [2026/08/02 21:26] (current) – admin
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-**# Show current DIR like PWD:**
+====== VMS User Guide ======
+===== Getting Around =====
+**# Show current directory (like PWD):**
 <code>SHOW DEFAULT</code>
-**# Change DIR [000000] is the root of system**
+**# Change directory. [000000] is the root of the disk:**
 <code>SET DEFAULT DKA0:[directory]</code>
-**# Create directory**
+**# Go up one directory level:**
-<code>CREATE/DIRECTORY DUA0:[MYDIR]</code>
+<code>SET DEFAULT [-]</code>
-DIR & SUB \\
+**# Go back to your home directory:**
+<code>SET DEFAULT SYS$LOGIN</code>
+**# List directory contents:**
+<code>DIR</code>
+With file sizes and dates:
+<code>DIR /SIZE /DATE</code>
+**# Get help on any command:**
+<code>HELP DIRECTORY</code>
+General help menu:
+<code>HELP</code>
+**# See who else is logged in:**
+<code>SHOW USERS</code>
+**# Log out:**
+<code>LOGOUT</code>
+===== File Management =====
+**# Create a directory**
+<code>CREATE/DIRECTORY DUA0:[MYDIR]</code>
+Directory & subdirectory: \\
 <code>CREATE/DIRECTORY DUA0:[MYDIR.SUBDIR]</code>
+**# View a file's contents:**
+<code>TYPE filename.txt</code>
+Page through a long file:
+<code>TYPE /PAGE filename.txt</code>
-**# List directory**
+**# Copy a file:**
+<code>COPY oldfile.txt newfile.txt</code>
-<code>DIR</code>
+**# Rename/move a file:**
+<code>RENAME oldname.txt newname.txt</code>
-**# Run Basic:**
+**# Delete a file:**
+<code>DELETE filename.txt;1</code>
+Delete every version of it (VMS keeps old versions by default):
+<code>DELETE filename.txt;*</code>
+**# Clean up old versions of your files:**
+<code>PURGE</code>
+Keep only the 2 most recent versions of everything:
+<code>PURGE /KEEP=2 *.*</code>
+**# Search inside a file for text:**
+<code>SEARCH filename.txt "text to find"</code>
+**# Print a file:**
+<code>PRINT filename.txt</code>
+**# Check your disk usage/quota:**
+<code>SHOW QUOTA</code>
+===== Editors =====
+**# EDT (classic line/screen editor):**
+<code>EDIT /EDT filename.txt</code>
+**# EVE (friendlier full-screen editor, part of TPU):**
+<code>EDIT /TPU filename.txt</code>
+or simply:
+<code>EDIT filename.txt</code>
+===== Mail & Messaging =====
+**# Read/send mail:**
+<code>MAIL</code>
+From inside MAIL, send a message:
+<code>SEND</code>
+Read your inbox:
+<code>READ</code>
+Exit mail:
+<code>EXIT</code>
+**# Send a quick real-time message to another logged-in user:**
+<code>PHONE username</code>
+or
+<code>REPLY "message text" username</code>
+===== DCL Basics =====
+**# Set a symbol (like a variable):**
+<code>MYVAR = "hello"</code>
+<code>SHOW SYMBOL MYVAR</code>
+**# Write a simple command procedure (script):**
+<code>CREATE MYPROC.COM</code>
+<code>
+$ WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "Hello, VAX!"
+$ EXIT
+</code>
+Run it:
+<code>@MYPROC.COM</code>
+===== Programming =====
+**# Run Basic:**
 <code>BASIC</code>
 <code>CTRL-Z to exit</code>
+To save a program (from within the BASIC interpreter):
-To save a program (Do this from within the basic interpreter)
 <code>SAVE PROGRAM.BAS</code>
+To load a program (from within the BASIC interpreter):
-To load a program (Do this from within the basic interpreter)
 <code>OLD PROGRAM.BAS</code>
-**# Programming**
+**# C programming**
-Fix a file copied in from a modern computer \\
+Fix a file copied in from a modern computer (line-ending issue): \\
 <code>$ SET FILE /ATTRIBUTES=(RFM:STMLF) filename</code>
 <code>EDIT /EDT filename.c</code>
@@ Line 37: / Line 127: @@
 <code>RUN FILENAME.EXE</code>
-Enter a simple helloworld:
+Enter a simple hello world:
 <code>
 CREATE HELLO.C
 #include <stdio.h>
 int main() {
     printf("Hello, VAX!\n");
@@ Line 49: / Line 137: @@
 </code>
-For fortran
+**# Fortran**
 <code>FORTRAN FORTRANFILE.FOR</code>
+Link and run same as C above.
+**# Pascal**
+<code>PASCAL FILENAME.PAS</code>
+Link and run same as C above.
-Link and run same as c
+**# Check for compile errors in the listing file:**
+<code>TYPE FILENAME.LIS</code>
-**# Games**
+===== Games =====
 <code>ADVENTURE</code>
 <code>NETHACK</code>
+<code>CHESS</code>
+<code>STARTREK</code>
+<code>HUNT</code>
 More to come....