TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual

REFUSE

Notifies the system that you are not willing to accept communication links, advice, user messages, and system messages.

Format

@REFUSE argument

where:

argument

is a keyword, chosen from the list below, naming the kind of communication you are not willing to accept.

REFUSE Command Arguments

ADVICE	prevents assistance initiated by another user's ADVISE command.
LINKS	prevents both assistance and communication links from being established by another user's ADVICE or TALK command.
SYSTEM-MESSAGES	prevents notices of new mail and messages of general interest sent to all users by the monitor or by the operator or other privileged users.
USER-MESSAGES	prevents messages sent by another user's SEND command. Default - ADVICE and LINKS

Hints

Refusing All Communication

Users with Wheel or Operator capabilities enabled can ADVISE, SEND, and TALK to terminals that have refused advice, user-messages, and links. To refuse messages and links from privileged users, use the TERMINAL INHIBIT command.

Typing RECEIVE During Attempted TALK

If your terminal has been set to refuse links and another user tries to talk to you by using the TALK command, both terminals will give a series of CTRL/G signals (ringing bells or beeps) indicating the refused attempt. If you give the RECEIVE LINKS command before these signals are finished, the TALK command will succeed.

Safeguarding Terminal Output

If you want your terminal to print a long file, without interference, use the TERMINAL INHIBIT command to prevent all classes of message from being received. Be sure to use the TERMINAL NO INHIBIT command afterwards to restore the previous condition of your terminal.

Special Cases

Implicit Refusal of Advice

If you give the REFUSE LINKS command, your terminal will be set to refuse advice also. However, the INFORMATION TERMINAL-MODE command may not display this setting unless you give an explicit REFUSE ADVICE command as well.

Privileged Disregard of REFUSE

A user with enabled Wheel or Operator capabilities can give the TALK or ADVISE command for any job.

Related Commands

ADVISE	for sending commands to another user's job
INFORMATION TERMINAL-MODE	for examining your current terminal settings
RECEIVE	for receiving communication links, advice, and system and user messages
SEND	for sending a message to another user's terminal
TALK	for linking your terminal to another user's terminal
TERMINAL INHIBIT	for refusing all types of terminal communication including links, advice, system messages, user messages, and notices of new mail.

Examples

Use the REFUSE command to prevent other users from advising your job.
```
@REFUSE ADVICE
```

Receive a communication link formed by another user's TALK command. Confer with him briefly, then set your terminal to refuse all classes of message over which you have control.

LINK FROM RENQUIST, TTY 127
@!HELLO DAVID. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH EDIT?
@!SORRY, PLEASE BREAK.  I'M EXPECTING PRINTOUT AND THIS
@!WILL INTERFERE.  WILL GET IN TOUCH LATER.
@!OKAY
@BREAK
@REFUSE LINKS
@REFUSE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
@REFUSE USER-MESSAGES

As an alternative to giving three REFUSE commands as in the previous example, give the TERMINAL INHIBIT command. This command refuses all types of messages.
```
@TERMINAL INHIBIT
```

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