TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual

SEND

Sends a message immediately to another user's terminal.

Format

@SEND (TO) /switch argument message-text

where:

argument is one of the following:
  • a user name
  • a terminal line number
  • an asterisk (*) [for all terminals]

(The asterisk argument requires WHEEL or OPERATOR privileges.)

message is a message of up to six lines of text followed by a carriage return.
switch is /NODE:node-name
which specifies a node in the TOPS-20 cluster to send the message to.

Note that the privileged ^ESEND command can also send a message to all terminals on all nodes of the argument (see the TOPS-20 Operator's Command Language Reference Manual).

Characteristics

Multiple-line Messages

SEND allows you to send multiple-line messages with up to six 80-character lines of text. Type the message past the end of the first line and onto the next line without typing RETURN. SEND will reorganize your message on the receiver's terminal so that words broken across two lines appear on the same line.

Refused SEND

You cannot contact a user with SEND if his terminal is set to refuse messages with the REFUSE USER-MESSAGES command or the TERMINAL INHIBIT command. Normally, if you attempt to SEND to a user who has refused user messages, the system prints the message ?User is refusing messages and/or links.

However, a user with Wheel or Operator capabilities enabled, can SEND messages to users who have given a REFUSE USER-MESSAGES command, but not the TERMINAL INHIBIT command.

Hints

Finding the Receiver's Line Number

To find the terminal line number for the receiver of a SEND message, give the SYSTAT command with the receiver's user name as an argument.

Sending Terminal Bells

To get the attention of the user at the receiving terminal, type a few CTRL/Gs in your message. This will ring the terminal bell on the receiving terminal.

SEND in a Batch Job

You can place SEND commands in a batch control file to send messages to your terminal on the condition of a running batch job. Since your username is associated with your batch job and your timesharing job, use the line number argument.

SEND as an Alternative to Mail

The SEND command can be used as an alternative to sending a message with one of the mail programs. For short messages, SEND can be more convenient and faster to use than a mail program. For urgent messages, a SEND message is read immediately by the receiver, unlike a mail message, which can be read at the user's leisure.

Special Cases

User Has More Than One Job

If you attempt to SEND a message to a user who is logged-in on more than one terminal, the system responds with a list of the user's terminal line numbers and the programs being run at each terminal. Type your choice of terminal line number (if available, one running the EXEC) after the TTY: prompt.

Related Commands

ADVISE for sending commands to another user's job
RECEIVE USER-MESSAGES for receiving another user's SEND message
REFUSE USER-MESSAGES for refusing another user's SEND message
REMARK for telling the system to regard your terminal input as comment only
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, alerts, and mail notices

Examples

  1. Send a message with the SEND command. 
    @SEND 141 PAUL, DO YOU HAVE THE TCO TAPE?
  2. Send a multiple-line message. Type the message past the end of the line and onto the next. Press RETURN only at the end of the message. 
    @SEND ASMITH AL, I CAN'T MAKE THE NORTH PROJECT MEETING;
HERMAN JUST CALLED A STAFF MEETING. I'LL WRITE MY ENGINE
ERING STATUS AND SEND IT TO YOU BEFORE LUNCH. - BILL
  3. Enable your Wheel or Operator privileges and send a message to all users. 
    @ENABLE
$SEND * THE LETTER QUALITY PRINTER IS UP
From NELSON on line 127:
[THE LETTER QUALITY PRINTER IS UP]
$DISABLE
@
  4. Place SEND commands in your batch control file to monitor the progress of your batch job. 
    @IF (ERROR) @SEND 122 Error in PROJEC batch run
     .
     .
     .
14015 @SEND 122 PROJEC batch job almost done
  5. Send a message to a user who has two jobs on two different terminals. Send the message to the terminal that is running the EXEC. 
    @SEND JOHNSON Ready for lunch?
 TTY20, running EXEC
 TTY4, running PASCAL
TTY: 20
  6. Send a message to a user on remote node VENUS. 
    @SEND /NODE:VENUS ANDERSON Don't forget the meeting!