This help library is created from the standard Open Group DCE documentation. It includes descriptions of additions that HP has made to the standard DCE; however, most interface issues specific to OpenVMS are not addressed. For information about using the universal interface and any information specific to the OpenVMS version of DCE, see the HP DCE for OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS I64 Product Guide. Note: Because HP DCE is a subset of the Open Group DCE, some of the information provided in this help library can mislead you into thinking a feature is available when it is not. This DCE help library lets you choose seven major help topics listed under DCE : DCE_CDS DCE_DTS DCE_IDL DCE_INTRO DCE_RPC DCE_SECURITY DCE_THREADS For example, to get help on RPC, enter the following: $ HELP DCE DCE_RPC User-level and system administration DCE commands are available at the top levels of the help files. This is the information that is stored in the man 1 and man 8 sections of other DCE systems. These commands have extensions such as (1rpc), (1dts), and (8cds) in the DCE reference manuals. Other reference material, including DCE routines and error messages, is available under the sections that correspond to pages in the reference manuals. For example, find the RPC application routines under RPC_Application_Routines and the DTS application routines under DTS_Application_Routines. A NOTE ABOUT UNDERSCORE CHARACTERS (_): To improve the searching capabilities of this OpenVMS help library, many topics contain underscore (_) characters between words. Note that some DCE commands also include underscore characters as part of their command syntax. Do not assume that the help topic name is the same as the command syntax to be entered as a command. Always check to see the actual command syntax.
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USING WILDCARD CHARACTERS: Wildcard characters (* and %) are useful at the DCL ($) prompt or the "DCE Subtopic?" prompt. For example, to see the RPC application routines, enter the following command: $ HELP DCE DCE_RPC Application_R* To see all the DCE threads application routines, enter the following command: $ HELP DCE DCE_THREADS App* To directly access information about a routine, for example the routine rpc_binding_free, enter the following command: $ HELP DCE DCE_RPC Application_Routines rpc_binding_free You can shorten the syntax of the previous command to either of the following formats: $ HELP DCE DCE_RPC Appl* rpc_binding_free or $ HELP DCE DCE_RPC * rpc_binding_free However, you will get quicker response to direct routine queries if you use the full syntax of the command. Note that the user and administrative information such as rpccp is available at the top level as follows: $ help dce dce_rpc rpccp ACCESSING MESSAGES: To access message information enter a command with underscore (_) characters connecting key words, as shown in the following example: $ help dce dce_idl idl_m *interface_cannot_import* DCE IDL_Messages(rpc7) A_nonlocal_interface_cannot_import_a_local_interface Explanation: The [local] interface attribute implies that the interface is not part of an RPC application, but is used only to generate header files. This causes IDL to suppress any errors specific to RPC that the interface uses as part of an RPC application. User Action: Remove the [local] attribute from the imported interface definition. The imported interface does not need a UUID unless the interface defines an operation and you compile it independently. ACCESSING HELP SUBTOPICS FROM LONG LISTS: You can access subsections of help topics that contain long lists of additional information even while the "press RETURN to continue..." prompt is displayed. For example, when you enter the following command the system displays a long list of the message topics available: $ help dce dce_idl idl_message You may need to press RETURN several times before the system displays the message that you want. When the exact message topic is displayed you can access it quickly, however. Enter the correct message text at the "press RETURN to continue..." prompt, as shown in the following example: . . . A_maybe_operation_cannot_have_out_parameters_or_a_function_result A_min_is_parameter_must_have_the_in_attribute A_min_is_variable_must_be_a_small,_short,_or_long_integer A_nonlocal_interface_cannot_import_a_local_interface A_parameter_must_have_either_or_both_the_in_and_out_attributes . . . press RETURN to continue... *interface_cannot_import* Workstation users may find it easier to use the window cut-and-paste feature to enter long strings containing underscore (_) characters.