You interact with the Edit/FDL utility by answering questions
that control the execution of the editor and determine the values
of variables. These variables may be used in calculating various
file parameters or indirectly setting FDL attribute values. You
terminate your answers by pressing the Return key. Additionally,
there are a number of special characters which are significant to
the Edit/FDL utility.
1 – Files
The Edit/FDL utility produces a new version of the input FDL file
as its output file unless you explicitly specify a different
output file using the /OUTPUT=file-spec qualifier with the
EDIT/FDL command. Unlike the input FDL file, which may or may
not be found, any Analysis file which is specified (with the
/ANALYSIS=file-spec qualifier) must be found or the Edit/FDL
utility terminates.
2 – Prompt-level
The prompt-level of the Edit/FDL utility depends upon whether an
OpenVMS-supported video terminal is being used or not. If your
terminal is, in fact, a terminal which is supported by OpenVMS
systems, verify that the terminal driver supports it using the
DCL command SET TERMINAL/INQUIRE.
On foreign, slow baud rate, or hardcopy terminals, the default
mode of the Edit/FDL utility is BRIEF. On terminals running at a
speed of 2400 baud or greater which are classified as "Video" by
the SHOW TERMINAL DCL command, the default mode is FULL.
Refer to the OpenVMS DCL Dictionary for complete information
about SHOW TERMINAL and SET TERMINAL.
The special character "?" can be used to retrieve more
information (or possibly display a Menu) about any particular
question.
The prompt-level of an editing session can be set with the
/PROMPT qualifier on the DCL EDIT/FDL command.
3 – Question-format
Every question that the Edit/FDL utility asks has the same
structure. (The exception to this rule is the Help-topic prompt
you see while in the Help Function. The structure is:
Question-text (answer-range)[default-answer] : your-answer
Some questions require you to choose among several keyword
options. These options are listed either in the accompanying
menu (if present) or in an option list, which is enclosed by
parentheses, such as below:
(Option1 Option2 Option3 ...)
Question-text (Keyword)[default-answer] : your-answer
The (:) may be placed on the next line to allow for long-string
answers. A "2Giga" in an (answer-range) stands for the maximum
allowable signed 32-bit integer. An "Abs" in an (answer-range)
means Absolute value. A [default-answer] of [-] means that there
is no default.
4 – Control Characters
Ctrl/Z may be used to exit the Edit/FDL utility if you are
currently at the main level. At lower levels, Ctrl/Z returns
you to the main level.
You can use Ctrl/C to exit from the Edit/FDL utility at any
time. Avoid using Ctrl/Y to abort the Edit/FDL utility because
that may leave the scrolling region of a DEC_CRT terminal in an
undetermined state. If this happens, use the DCL EXIT command
to restore the terminal to its original state. This action is
unnecessary if the next DCL command issued invokes a new image.
To get more information about any particular question, type "?"
and press the Return key. When an invalid response is made to one
of the FDL Editor's questions, the action taken is equivalent to
the ? command.