1 INFORM INFORM is a utility that allows a user to send a message of up to 128 characters to another user on the system or network. The 'target' field may contain a Node specification. Format: INFORM target message 2 Parameters The INFORM command takes one or two parameters. In most cases, the format is INFORM [/qualifiers] target message The exception to this format concerns the use of the /ALL qualifier. The format for INFORM with /ALL is: INFORM /ALL [/NODE=node] message The target may be either a username or a process-name (see the /PROCESS and /USER qualifier descriptions). If the target name contains embedded blanks or lowercase letters, it must be quoted. This restriction applies to the message-text as well. The maximum message size is 128 characters. 2 Examples $INFORM /ALL "System going down in ten minutes." Sends the message to every user signed onto the current system. $INFORM /USER SKIP "All SKIP terminals will receive this message." Self-explanatory. $INFORM "MAX::" "Message from GUS::..." Strips the MAX:: from the target name, and uses it as the destination node to find the indicated process on. ** NOTE: The destination node MUST be running VMS V3.0 or higher, and must have INFORM entered in the network database as a known object. $INFORM /NODE=GUS /ALL "MAX going down shortly." Sends the message to all users signed onto node GUS::. $INFORM /NODE=GUS /USER MAX::SKIP "Override demonstration." Two node-specs are given here. The /NODE value takes precedence. 2 Qualifiers /ALL /ALL Sends the message to all users on the system. This does NOT send the message to all TERMINALS, only those currently in use. Since the message is being sent to all users, no target processname is permitted. Format: $INFORM /ALL "message" The privilege OPER is required to use the /ALL qualifier. /BELL /BELL (D) /NOBELL Indicates whether the message should ring the bell on the target terminal. /NODE /NODE The node qualifier allows specification of an alternate node to which the message should be sent. Format: $INFORM /NODE=nodespec target "message" This may be used in conjunction with any other qualifiers. /RECEIVE /RECEIVE /NORECEIVE Indicates whether you wish to receive message from other people. The default, when you log on, is /RECEIVE. Note: Setting your process /NORECEIVE will only block messages sent by INFORM; it will not interfere with normal broadcast messages (such as PHONE or MAIL). /PROCESS /PROCESS Forces the target-name to be interpreted as a PROCESS NAME, rather than a USERNAME. This is the default case. Format: $INFORM /PROCESS prcnam "message" The /PROCESS and /USER qualifiers are mutually exclusive. /USER /USER Sends a message based on USERNAME rather than PROCESSNAME. A copy of the message will be sent to all terminals that the target user is signed onto. This is the default from batch origin. Format: $INFORM /USER username "Message" The /PROCESS and /USER qualifiers are mutually exclusive. ! ! Help for the SPICE circuit analyser. !