TOPS-20 User's Guide
Chapter 3 Communicating with other users
This chapter describes:
- Getting a list of users on the system
- Linking with other terminals
- Reading mail
- Sending mail
- Sending quick messages
- Communicating with the operator
- Controlling messages and terminal links
To get a list of users currently on the system, type the
command SYSTAT, and press the RETURN key. The SYSTAT
command reports on the status of the system:
The first line of output gives the day of the week, date,
time, and the length of time since the system was last
started. In the above example, the date is Monday, May 26,
1988 at 3:25:55 PM. The system has been up just over six
hours.
The second line gives the number of user jobs plus the
number of operator jobs. There are 12 timesharing jobs,
plus the operator of the system who is running 5 programs.
The last three numbers on this line indicate the load
average on the system over a one, five, and fifteen minute
period. The load average is a measure of system demand.
The third line contains the column headings for the job
number, the line number, the program, the user, and the
user's originating system. The number of the job attached
to your own terminal (in this case you are job 50) appears
with an asterisk (*) next to it in the job column.
To display information about the jobs on a specified node
in the TOPS-20 cluster, include the NODE keyword and node
name argument.
If you specify an asterisk as the node name, the SYSTAT
command displays information on all nodes in the TOPS-20
cluster.
One way to communicate with a user that is logged-in to
the system is by linking terminals. This allows you to
conduct a two-way conversation. To link terminals, give the
TALK command followed by the name of the user you want to
talk to. The system prints a message informing you that the
terminals are linked, and prints the @ sign on the following
line. Now, everything you type, or the system prints on
your terminal is also printed on the terminal you are linked
with.
After you see the @ sign, you can conduct your
conversation using one of the following options: an
exclamation mark, the REMARK command, or a combination of
both options.
Begin each line you type with an exclamation point (!).
After you press RETURN, the system prints an @ sign on the
following line and you can continue typing, beginning each
line with an exclamation point. If you do not begin the
line you type with an !, after you press RETURN, the system
prints the message ?UNRECOGNIZED COMMAND.
To avoid typing the exclamation point on each line when
you have several lines of text, give the REMARK command.
After you give the REMARK command, the system prints a
message advising you to type the remark, and end it with
CTRL/Z. The system does not print an @ sign when you use
REMARK. After you type the message and end with CTRL/Z, the
system prints the @ sign on the next line.
You can use a combination of the exclamation point and
the REMARK command when you TALK with another user. Use
REMARK for a several line comment and the ! for a shorter
comment. To end the link with another user's terminal, give
the BREAK command. The other user can also give the BREAK
command to end the link with your terminal.
When you are linked to another user's terminal, the other
user's job is not affected by what you type. For example,
if another user is running a program that is waiting for a
command, and you TALK to that user, the system does not
interpret what you type as a command to that user's program.
Anything output to one terminal is output to the other as
well. Thus you can show another user the output from a
program by running it, or the contents of a file by typing
it.
If the user you want to TALK to does not want to receive
links from another terminal, the system rings the bells on
both terminals five times, then prints the following message
on your terminal:
Refer to Section 3.7, Controlling
Messages And Terminal Links, for information on refusing and
receiving links.
If the user you want to TALK to is not logged in, the
system prints the following message:
There are two types of mail that you can receive at your
terminal: mail from the system and mail from other users.
You can receive system and user mail when you are logged in
or logged off the system.
System mail is sent to all users on the system by the
operator or a privileged user. This type of mail
automatically prints on your terminal when you log in.
When system mail is sent while you are logged in, you are
notified with the message:
To read the new message of the day, use the INFORMATION
MAIL SYSTEM command:
User mail is mail sent to you by another user on your
system or a system in your network. When you log in, you
are notified of new mail with a message similar to:
When user mail arrives while you are logged in, you are
notified with a message similar to:
The program that you can use to read messages sent to you by
another user is DECmail/MS. (For complete information on
the DECmail/MS program, refer to the TOPS-10/TOPS-20
DECmail/MS Manual).
To start the DECmail/MS program, type MS and press RETURN.
The system prints:
The lines that appear between the MS command and the MS>
prompt give you the status of your mail file.
To read any unread messages in the current message file, use
the READ NEW command:
This command displays all messages in the current message
file that you have not read. After the READ command
displays a message, it leaves your terminal at read-command
level, as indicated by the "MS read>>" prompt. Press
the RETURN key to read the next new message (or to return to
the MS> prompt if there are no other new messages).
To read any of the messages again, use the READ command at
the MS> prompt or at read-command level.
Mail you receive from other users is contained in a file
called MAIL.TXT. Although the mail program locates this
file automatically, you should be aware of its location.
This is described in Section 4.6.2, The Device
POBOX:.
Another way to communicate with a user is to send mail with
the DECmail/MS program. DECmail/MS handles local and
network mail, which goes to users of different (remote)
computers. DECmail/MS also provides facilities for filing,
retrieving, editing and deleting mail messages.
You can send mail to a user currently on the system, or to a
user who is not logged in. The DECmail/MS program can also
send mail to a group of users. To start the DECmail/MS
program, type MS and press RETURN; the system prints MS>.
Type the SEND command. After you give the SEND command, the
DECmail/MS system prompts you for the "To". Type the user
name or names (if you type a group of user names, separate
them with commas); the system prints cc:. Type the name(s)
of the user or users you want to receive a copy of the mail;
the system prints Subject:. Type a one-line heading for the
message.
Now, the DECmail/MS system types the following help message
on your terminal:
After the DECmail/MS system types the help message, anything
you type (other than ESC and the control characters) is
assumed to be the text of your message.
Type a line of text and issue CTRL/Z to send the message:
The DECmail/MS system types information similar to the
following, letting you know that the message was
successfully sent:
If you send mail frequently to a group of users, store
the list of names in a file. Then, when you run the
DECmail/MS program, instead of typing the entire list of
names after the To:, you can type the name of the file,
preceded by an @ sign. (Refer to Chapter 4 for information
on specifying files and to Chapter 5 for information on
creating files.)
For a complete description of the DECmail/MS program,
refer to the TOPS-10/TOPS-20 DECmail/MS Manual.
Another way to communicate with a user who is logged in
to the system is to send a message with the SEND command.
To send a message, give the SEND command followed by the
user name and a message with up to six 80-character lines of
text. The system prints your user name, terminal line
number and message on the receiving terminal.
SEND does not detect the status of the receiving
terminal. So, if the receiving terminal is turned off or
the user is not logged in, the message cannot be received.
Before you SEND a message, use the SYSTAT command to verify
that the receiver is logged in to the system.
The following example illustrates the SYSTAT command and
the SEND command:
To type a multiple line message, just keep typing past
the end of the line and onto the next line without typing
RETURN. SEND reorganizes your message so that words split
between two lines appear correctly formatted on the
receiver's terminal.
The message appears on the receiver's terminal as:
To send a message to a user on a remote node in the TOPS-20
cluster, specify the /NODE: switch:
To communicate with the operator on your system, use the
PLEASE program. This program allows you to conduct a
two-way conversation with the operator or send the operator
a one-way message.
To use the PLEASE program, type PLEASE and press RETURN.
PLEASE then prints a message instructing you to type your
message and end it with CTRL/Z or ESC. Now, type your
message. If you need a response from the operator, end your
message by typing CTRL/Z. If you just want to send a
one-way message to the operator and do not need a response,
end your message by pressing ESC.
In the following example, you need a response from the
operator, so you end your message with CTRL/Z. Then, when
your dialog with the operator is finished, press ESC.
In this example you don't need a response from the
operator so you press ESC after your message:
If your PLEASE message exceeds one line, press RETURN at
the end of the line and continue typing on the next line.
If no operator is in attendance, PLEASE warns you before
you can type your message. Your message is still sent and
can be answered by the operator when he returns. However
you should end your message with ESC, since it may be a long
wait before it is answered. To find out if the operator is
in attendance before you use the PLEASE program, give the
INFORMATION SYSTEM-STATUS command.
For a complete description of the PLEASE program, refer
to the TOPS-20 User Utilities Guide.
System messages are messages of general interest to all
users. These messages are sent by the system, by the
operator, or by a privileged user. Some examples of system
messages are:
You can specify if you want to receive or refuse system
messages on your terminal with the RECEIVE or REFUSE
SYSTEM-MESSAGES commands. Note that these commands also
control the notice of new mail.
To see if your terminal is set to RECEIVE or REFUSE
SYSTEM-MESSAGES, give the INFORMATION TERMINAL command.
Then give the REFUSE SYSTEM-MESSAGES command to suppress
system messages.
Since some system messages report important events, you
should use the REFUSE SYSTEM-MESSAGES command only when you
need to produce uninterrupted output (such as on a hard-copy
terminal). Remember to set your terminal back to RECEIVE
SYSTEM-MESSAGES after the output is complete.
User messages occur when another user issues a SEND
command to send a message to your terminal:
You can specify if you want to receive or refuse user
messages on your terminal with the RECEIVE or REFUSE
USER-MESSAGES commands. In the following example, check to
see if your terminal is set to RECEIVE or REFUSE
USER-MESSAGES with the INFORMATION TERMINAL command. Then
give the RECEIVE USER-MESSAGES command to accept user
messages.
Terminal links occur when another user gives a TALK or
ADVISE command to link his terminal to yours:
You can stop another user from linking his terminal to
yours with the REFUSE LINKS command. In the following
example, check to see if your terminal is set to RECEIVE or
REFUSE LINKS with the INFORMATION TERMINAL command. Then
give the REFUSE LINKS command.
Note that if you set your terminal to REFUSE LINKS and
another user attempts to TALK to you, the system signals you
by ringing bells on your terminal five times.
The TERMINAL INHIBIT command stops your terminal from
accepting links, system-messages and user-messages; in other
words, all output that does not originate from your own job.
Use this command when you need to protect your terminal from
unwanted output, for example, when printing a file on a hard
copy terminal.
TERMINAL INHIBIT essentially has the same function as
REFUSE LINKS, SYSTEM-MESSAGES and USER-MESSAGES. However,
TERMINAL INHIBIT blocks all links and messages before they
can be rejected or accepted by your REFUSE and RECEIVE
settings. Therefore, when TERMINAL INHIBIT is in effect,
your REFUSE and RECEIVE settings are disabled. Note that in
the INFORMATION TERMINAL-MODE display below, a "IS DISABLED"
comment follows each REFUSE and RECEIVE setting.
To block all terminal output that does not originate with
your job, give the TERMINAL INHIBIT command. Then, check
the result with the INFORMATION TERMINAL command.
Use the TERMINAL NO INHIBIT command to restore your
REFUSE and RECEIVE settings.
Mail messages appear on your terminal when another user
sends you mail or when you have unread mail. These messages
come from two different sources. The first type of mail
message is a notice of new mail. This message comes from
the mail program and is printed whenever new mail arrives:
You can specify if you want to receive notice of new mail
on your terminal with the RECEIVE or REFUSE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
commands.
The second type of mail message results from your giving
the SET MAIL-WATCH command.
SET MAIL-WATCH causes the system to check your MAIL file
for unread mail every five minutes. If the system finds
unread mail it prints a message when your terminal is at
TOPS-20 command level. This means that if, for example, you
are using an editor, the notice of unread mail is not
printed until you exit the editor and return to TOPS-20
command level.
You can control the notice of unread mail with the SET
MAIL-WATCH and SET NO MAIL-WATCH commands. SET NO
MAIL-WATCH is the default.
The SET AUTOMATIC command allows the SET MAIL-WATCH
command to send you a message any time, no matter what you
are doing at your terminal. The SET NO AUTOMATIC command is
the default.
If you want to be reminded of unread mail no matter what
you are doing at your terminal, give the SET MAIL-WATCH and
SET AUTOMATIC commands.
To see if you have any new mail, give the INFORMATION
MAIL command. The system lists the name of the sender and
the time received for the last unread message in your MAIL
file.
3.1 Getting a list of users on the system
@SYSTAT
Mon 26-May-88 15:25:55 Up 6:09:39
12+5 Jobs Load av 0.13 0.10 0.06
Job Line Program User
9 120 EMACS TAMBUR
11 251 MACRO GUNN
12 131 FILDDT MARTIN
13 176 EXEC GREEN
14 140 MS SULLIVAN
26 63 SYSDPY DEUFEL
27 173 EXEC BERRY
33 DET EXEC MORIL
34 65 EMACS WORLEY
45 142 EXEC HARAMUND
50* 210 SYSTAT MORIL
51 105 EXEC BRANNON
1 232 PTYCON OPERATOR
2 233 JNPGPD OPERATOR
3 234 EXEC OPERATOR
4 235 NMLT20 OPERATOR
5 236 MCBNRT OPERATOR
@SYSTAT NODE KL2102
Thu 13-Aug-88 13:08:12
THEP Up 0:10:33 17+6 Jobs Load av 0.11 0.12
Job Line Program Node User Origin
231 DET DTRSRV KL2102 Not logged in
232 DET RMSFAL KL2102 Not logged in
233 DET RMSFAL KL2102 Not logged in
234 434 EXEC KL2102 LOMARTIRE LAT1(LAT)
.
.
.
228 235 MAILS KL2102 OPERATOR
229 236 WATCH KL2102 OPERATOR
230 237 EXEC KL2102 OPERATOR
@SYSTAT SYSTEM NODE *
Thu 13-Aug-88 13:02:00
DISNEY Up 223:12:12 17+6 Jobs Load av 0.3 0.27 0.14
THUP Up 0:10:33 11+5 Jobs Load av 10.36 10.27 10.14
CLYDE Up 26:34:31 6+8 Jobs Load av 1.33 1.21 0.99
CONRO UP 12:13:14 2+5 Jobs Load av 5.01 4.95 4.99
3.2 Linking with other terminals
@TALK (TO) MAYO
LINK FROM SARTINI, TTY26
@TALK (TO) MAYO
LINK FROM SARTINI, TTY26
@! This is a test.
@TALK (TO) MAYO
LINK FROM SARTINI, TTY26
@REMARK
Type remark. End with CTRL/Z
PER YOUR REQUEST, A NEW COPY OF THE
UPDATED LIST OF MANUALS IS AVAILABLE
IN THE DIRECTORY <NEW-MANUALS>. ^Z
@TALK (TO) MAYO
LINK FROM SARTINI, TTY26
@REMARK
Type remark. End with CTRL/Z.
PER YOUR REQUEST, A NEW COPY OF THE
UPDATED LIST OF MANUALS IS AVAILABLE
IN THE DIRECTORY <NEW-MANUALS>. ^Z
@!THANKS, I HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS TO ADD TO THE LIST.
@!SEND MAIL TO HOLLAND WITH THE INFO.
@BREAK (LINKS)
?Refused, Send mail to user instead
?User is not logged in
Send mail to the user instead
3.3 Reading mail
3.3.1 System Mail
TOSCA, Computer Engineering, TOPS-20 Monitor 7.0(7)
@LOGIN (USER) SARTINI (PASSWORD)___ (ACCOUNT) 341
Job 57 on TTY127 16-MAR-88 09:49:24
Date: 16-MAR-1988 0842-EST
From: OPERATOR at TOSCA
To: SYSTEM
Subject: SYSTEM SHUTDOWN
The system will not be available tomorrow from noon to 2:00 p.m.
due to scheduled maintenance.
[New message-of-the day available]
@INFORMATION MAIL SYSTEM
Sender: OPERATOR
Date: 23 Jul 88, 1033-EST
From: OPERATOR
To: SYSTEM at KL2102
Subject: Lineprinter paper
A new shipment of lineprinter paper is now available for anyone
who needs to replenish paper.
3.3.2 User Mail
You have mail from COMBS at 08:18:13
[You have netmail from COMBS@GIDNEY at 14:40:56]
@MS
Last read:23-Apr-88 13:00. 24 messages, 5 pages.
Message 19 flagged.
MS>
MS>READ (MESSAGE SEQUENCE) NEW
Message 24 (261 chars), received 23-Apr-88 22:46:35
Date: 23 Apr 1988 2248-EDT
From: MORRILL at KL2102
To: RANDERSON at KL2102
Subject: Project Meeting
Message-ID: <"MS10(2055)+GLXLIB1(1056)" 11818792562.11.542.18243
at KL2102)
There will be a project meeting today at 4 p.m. in the
Engineering Conference Room.
========
MS read>>
MS>READ (MESSAGE SEQUENCE) message sequence
or
MS READ>>READ
where: message sequence specifies the messages you want to read.
At read-command level, it is assumed that you want to
reread the current message.
3.4 Sending mail
MS>SEND
To: PORADA, MORRILL, MCELMOYLE
cc: BROPHY
Subject: SYSTEM CHANGES
Message (ESC to enter Send level, ctrl/Z to send, ctrl/K to
redisplay, ctrl/B to insert file, ctrl/E to enter editor):
THERE IS A LIST OF THE NEW SYSTEM
CHANGES AVAILABLE IN THE PROJECT
ROOM.
^Z
Processing mail...
Mail queued for delivery by MX
MS>
MS>SEND
To: @USERS.LST
CC:
Subject:
3.5 Sending quick messages
@SYSTAT KISTLER
10 11 EXEC KISTLER
@SEND KISTLER Are you on the North project interest list?
@SEND KISTLER The North project team meets every Friday at 9 in
the Lunar Conference Room.
From LEOPOLD on line 11:
[The North project team meets every Friday at 9 in the Lunar
Conference Room.]
@SEND /NODE:THUP ANDERSON Don't forget the meeting!
3.6 Communicating with the operator
@PLEASE
Enter text, terminate with CTRL/Z to wait for response,
or ESCape to send message and exit
What happened to the RP07?<CTRL/Z>
[PLSOPN Operator at GIDNEY has been notified at 11:18:32]
11:36:04 From Operator at terminal 2
=> Just aligning the heads - back up in 10 minutes
Enter new text (Same terminators)
Thanks<ESC>
@PLEASE
Enter text, terminate with CTRL/Z to wait for response,
or ESCape to send message and exit
The laser printer is out of paper<ESC>
[PLSOPN Operator at GIDNEY has been notified at 11:18:32]
@
3.7 Controlling messages and terminal links
Several types of messages can appear on your terminal
while you are running a program or executing a TOPS-20
command. In addition, another user can link his terminal to
yours with an ADVISE or TALK command. You can allow or
suppress types of messages and terminal links. This lets
you work without interruption or print a clean copy of a
file on a hard copy terminal.
3.7.1 System Messages
[Caution -- disk space is low]
[System going down in 1 minute!]
[Deleted files will be expunged in 30 seconds]
[System expunge completed]
@INFORMATION (ABOUT) TERMINAL-MODE
.
.
REFUSE LINKS
REFUSE ADVICE
RECEIVE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
RECEIVE USER-MESSAGES
.
.
@REFUSE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
3.7.2 User Messages
From SMITTY on line 24:
[Going to lunch?]
@INFORMATION (ABOUT) TERMINAL-MODE
TERMINAL VT100
.
.
.
RECEIVE LINKS
REFUSE ADVICE
RECEIVE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
REFUSE USER-MESSAGES
.
.
.
TERMINAL FULLDUPLEX
@RECEIVE USER-MESSAGES
3.7.3 Terminal Links
LINK FROM PRATT, TTY 123
!Do you still have my pack?
@INFORMATION (ABOUT) TERMINAL-MODE
TERMINAL VT100
.
.
.
RECEIVE LINKS
REFUSE ADVICE
RECEIVE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
REFUSE USER-MESSAGES
.
.
.
TERMINAL FULLDUPLEX
@REFUSE LINKS
3.7.4 Inhibiting All Non-Job Output
@TERMINAL INHIBIT
@INFORMATION (ABOUT) TERMINAL-MODE
TERMINAL VT100
.
.
.
TERMINAL INHIBIT (NON-JOB OUTPUT)
REFUSE LINKS IS DISABLED
REFUSE ADVICE IS DISABLED
RECEIVE SYSTEM-MESSAGES IS DISABLED
RECEIVE USER-MESSAGES IS DISABLED
.
.
.
TERMINAL FULLDUPLEX
3.7.5 Mail Messages
[You have a message from PRATT]
[You have mail from PRATT at 16:07:05]
@SET MAIL-WATCH
@SET AUTOMATIC
@INFORMATION MAIL
Mail from PRATT at 16:07:05