CHAPTER VAX PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Editor's Workfile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VAX-3 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator . . . . VAX-4 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests . . . VAX-18 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot . VAX-39 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS . . . . . . . . . VAX-44 VAX System SIG Committee List . . . . . . . . VAX-57 INPUT/OUTPUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VAX-60 Forms at the End INPUT/OUTPUT Submission Form . . . . . . . . . VAX-62 System Improvement Request Submission Form . . VAX-64 VAX Systems SIG Spring 1986 SIR Ballot . . . . VAX-66 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 General material for publication in the Pageswapper should be sent (US mail only -- no "express" services please) to: Larry Kilgallen, PAGESWAPPER Editor Box 81, MIT Station Cambridge, MA 02139-0901 USA Preference is given to material submitted as machine-readable text (best is Runoff source). Line length should not exceed 64 characters. Please do not submit program source, as that is better distributed on the VAX SIG tape. Change of address, reports of non-receipt, and other circulation correspondence should be sent to: DECUS U.S. Chapter Attention: Publications Department 249 Northboro Road (BPO2) Marlborough, MA 01752 USA Only if discrepancies of the mailing system are reported can they be analyzed and corrected. VAX-2 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Editor's Workfile Editor's Workfile by Larry Kilgallen, Pageswapper Editor DOD Security Rating for VMS - Product Evaluation Bulletin number CSC-PB-01-85 dated October 28, 1985 states that the US government security evaluation of VAX/VMS Version 4.2 for the C2 class is scheduled for completion "by the end of the second quarter of FY1986". I think that means the end of March, but I am sure those to whom this matters already have good information as to how US government fiscal years run. DEC Electronic Store update - On December 6, to my great surprise, I received something I had ordered from the Electronic Store (I had been invoiced for it in August). With that as a model, I am hoping to receive my July order of Pascal (invoiced in November) sometime in the next three months. VAX-3 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator by Michael L. Penix and Richard D. Piccard Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, Michigan December 1, 1985 Abstract We report the development of customizations to the VAXTPU EDT Keypad emulator that closely parallel those reported in the past for EDT itself: word processing enhancements, multi-buffer operations, etc. In addition, the reported customizations include dual-window operation and overstrike mode text entry. We discuss the choices made in coding, some basic techniques for debugging with TPU, and several portions of the code itself. This article, the code, and a companion article describing the customized environment are being submitted for inclusion in the VAX SIG Symposium tape for the December, 1985 DECUS Symposium. Introduction VMS Version 4.2 includes the new VAXTPU Text Processing Utility, together with two user interfaces, EVE (the Extensible VAX Editor) and the EDT Keypad Emulator. For those users who have been working with "plain-vanilla" EDT, the latter is likely to prove quite adequate, requires very little re-learning, and will therefore be chosen on the basis of its far superior performance: in one benchmark it finished in half the elapsed time while consuming CPU time at one quarter the rate that "real EDT" consumed it. For those of us, however, who have customized EDT with extensive EDTINI.EDT files, and especially for managers who have provided standard EDTINI.EDT files to new users, the choice is not immediately obvious. Our experience at Kalamazoo College should prove quite encouraging to others, since we made the transition in about a week, for over 95% of our usage, and we had extensive EDTINI.EDT files in place for all of our users. This paper discusses the choices made in coding the enhancement VAX-4 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator files, the techniques that proved effective for us in making the transition, and several portions of the TPU code itself. Listing 1 is the EDTINI.EDT file we started with. As can be seen, we have a variety of commands, one making EDT even more pleasant to work with for programmers by selecting alternate delimiters for "WORD" motion and deletion commands, and many enhancing EDT for word processing (defining keys for sentence and paragraph motions, for example). This file had evolved from ___ ___ ____________ one presented several years ago in The DEC Professional. Choices TPU provides two layers of enhancement, "section" and "command" files. Section files are pre-compiled, and therefore should be chosen for the stable bulk of the enhancements. The DIGITAL-supplied section file for the EDT Keypad Emulator is SYS$LIBRARY:EDTSECINI. (The filename extension is .TPU for the source code and .GBL for the binary code; the default when used by TPU as a section file is .GBL and when used as a command file is .TPU.) TPU looks for a section file in SYS$LIBRARY: named TPUSECINI.GBL unless the command line includes a /NOSECTION or a /SECTION=filename option. Command files are read-in and compiled at edit session startup, and should therefore be kept short and used for the volatile portion of the enhancements. TPU looks for a command file named TPUINI.TPU in the current default directory, unless the command line includes a /COMMAND=filename option, or a /NOCOMMAND option. (If you specify /NOSECTION/NOCOMMAND, then the only action possible is to exit by CTRL/Y.) A simple method to put a section file to work is to define a DCL symbol by a line such as the following at some point in a login command file: $ ED*IT :== EDIT/TPU/SECTION=filename Since no /COMMAND option is specified, it will search the current default directory, as mentioned above, for TPUINI.TPU. Although our ultimate goal was of course the creation of a custom section file, we worked for quite a while with a (rapidly growing!) command file. The time to turn the nascent section file into a real one is when the start-up delay becomes irritating, or when you are far enough along that you want others to start trying to use the product of your efforts. We will discuss below the modifications needed to change a working command file into a working section file. The most reasonable items to leave in the command file are the two items most likely to be modified by individuals: the word wrap margin and the first tab size. These should be initialized in the section file, also, so that new converts need not have a copy of TPUINI.TPU in their directories. In order to assist ambitious VAX-5 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator users by providing examples, a few stable routines and key definitions should also be placed in the version of TPUINI.TPU that is made available for users to copy. Techniques Probably the key technique to rapid implementation is the prompt switching over to the partly customized editor as soon as possible. As you work with it to implement further changes or to refine those already in place, the lack of a customization you are used to in real EDT will act as a goad to keep working. It will also ensure that you implement the most important (i.e., heavily used) features first. We have followed the method ______ _____ _____ discribed in the VAXTPU Users Guide for creating new section files layered on top of existing ones. In particular, our file "KAZSECINI" is layered on their "EDTSECINI". During the early development phase, then, we dealt with our code as a command file and used theirs as the section file. Later on, the "old" portion of our code, together with their code, served as section file and the "new" portion of our code served as command file or was the file being edited. The advantages of layering deserve some discussion: we can use their code when it serves our purpose and replace it if we want to. The design of TPU as a programming language includes named procedures as well as local and global variables, and DIGITAL's code in EDTSECINI.TPU is careful to start the names of all procedures and global variables with "edt$", so by observing reasonable naming conventions we can keep track of which portions of our code are vulnerable to changes in theirs. We chose to name all of our procedures and global variables with names starting "KAZ$". During the first development phase, when all customizations are in the form of a command file, the structure is as shown in Fig. 1: procedure declarations and code, followed by key definitions to implement those procedures, and finally assignment statements initializing the global variables. During this phase the file is used as the command file, either by naming it TPUINI.TPU or by defining a symbol for DCL that includes specific designation of the command file. In the later phase, when the initial customizations are in the form of a section file, the structure is as shown in Fig. 2: first, a procedure named TPU$LOCAL_INIT (see below), second, all the other procedure declarations and code, third, a procedure (in our case named KAZ$DEFINE_KEYS) that, as you might suspect from its name, includes all of the key definitions, and finally, the commands to SAVE the current context in a named file and to QUIT. The filename given should be different, either in directory or extension or both, from the current production section file. The DIGITAL file EDTSECINI ends with a call to TPU$LOCAL_INIT, as well as including an empty definition of that procedure. By including a procedure VAX-6 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator with that name in our file, we replace their empty one. This procedure includes initialization of our global variables, re-initialization of some of the EDT$ global variables (changing the default first tab size and word wrapping margin, for example), and a call to our procedure KAZ$DEFINE_KEYS. Although the following sequence may seem cumbersome in writing, it works well in practice. The main problem is the obscurity of the error messages that TPU provides, a traditional problem with the first release of any compiler which is compounded here by the limited size of the message buffer and the consequent default terseness of those messages. It is therefore essential to ___________ maintain efficiency by incremental enhancements, checking each new procedure and key definition as you go along. As few changes as possible should be made at one time! For the sake of discussion, assume that these logical names have been defined: WORK: for the device and directory containing the evolving section file, and GOOD: for the device and directory containing the section file and standard command file most recently released for public use. Several DCL symbols are useful, as well; the following lines were included in the author's LOGIN.COM: $ NEWTPU :== EDIT/TPU/SECTION=SYS$LIBRARY:EDTSECINI- /COMMAND=WORK:KAZSECINI $! $ NED :== EDIT/TPU/SECTION=SYS$LOGIN:KAZSECINI.NEW- /COMMAND=GOOD:TPUINI $! $ WED :== EDIT/TPU/SECTION=SYS$LOGIN:KAZSECINI.GOOD- /COMMAND=GOOD:TPUINI These definitions were used with a SAVE command that specified the new binary file as SYS$LOGIN:KAZSECINI.NEW. Thus, each time we thought the code was correct, we gave the command NEWTPU and watched to see if any error messages were displayed. If all seemed well, then we used the command NED to use the new editor and tried out the modified or newly introduced routines. If all was well, we RENAMED the .NEW file to .GOOD, thereby setting aside a working enhancement. At the same time a copy of the source code was set aside with a suitably distinctive name in WORK:. From then on routine editing was done with the command WED, using those working enhancements. As each round of enhancement is completed, WORK:KAZSECINI.TPU is copied to GOOD:* and SYSLOGIN:KAZSECINI.GOOD is copied to GOOD:*.NEW. Then the protection of GOOD:KAZSECINI.NEW is set correctly and finally GOOD:KAZSECINI.NEW is RENAMED to *.GBL, thereby replacing the one in use. If there is a mistake in the code (even as simple as a missing ";" termination for a statement), the only message usually visible is "compilation aborted at line 1." In order to debug at all efficiently, we took the advice offered us by the Customer Support Center and used the following command sequence from the "TPU Command: " prompt elicited by + : VAX-9 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator SET (INFORMATIONAL,ON) COMPILE(CURRENT__BUFFER) and then, if errors are reported, type CTRL/Z and at the "*" prompt, "= message", to inspect the message buffer (our code includes a less clumsy way to switch buffers, + B). If the buffer being compiled includes routines with names the same as any already in place (from DIGITAL's EDTSECINI, or the local customizations, or previous compilations during the same edit session), an informational message that the old procedure was replaced will be generated. Since the message buffer is limited in size, the unit being compiled should ordinarily be limited to as few procedures as possible. For enhancements, our routine is to write the new procedure and the key-binding command in a separate file, compiling and re-compiling as we go. When it seems logically complete and generates no compiler errors, we cut it out of that buffer and paste it into the growing section in the main buffer, placing it at the end of the regular procedure declarations and finally cutting and pasting the key-binding statement into the procedure KAZ$DEFINE_KEYS. In the case of a flawed procedure that we seek to correct, once the full file is in place, we create a separate file with the suspect procedure as its only contents. Then we edit that file. After modifying it we give the TPU command "COMPILE(MAIN_BUFFER)", and then (if no compiler errors were generated) select an alternate buffer and include text from a file known to elicit the misbehavior whose correction we seek. Because the revised procedure has the standard name, the compilation of the main buffer re-defined the procedure that will be executed upon typing of the standard key sequence bound to that procedure. Code Search Patterns A search pattern may be as simple as the string being sought ________ itself, or it may include TPU builtins and operators to describe that string. In search patterns the symbol '&' is the CONCATENATION operator. Thus the pattern defined by 'a' _& 'b' _& 'c' is identical to that defined by 'abc'. The symbol '|' is the OR or ALTERNATION operator. Thus the pattern defined by 'a' | 'A' VAX-10 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator will be matched by any a, regardless of the case. These two symbols may be used to form more complex search patterns. The pattern ('a'|'A') _& ('b'|'B') will match any sequence 'ab' regardless of the case of either letter. The VAXTPU Reference Manual, section 2.8.4, "Modes of ___________ ____ Searching", discusses incremental and seek searching. The latter is the default because it is more efficient if it will produce the desired result. They differ on the handling of alternate parts of the pattern. This will matter only if there may be more than one location in the buffer that matches the pattern. Seek searching essentially "multiplies out" the pattern, like the distributive law of algebra, producing a set of pure concatenation possibilities. A search is then performed, through to the end of the buffer for each of those possibilities in turn. The overall search terminates successfully upon encountering of the first instance of any of these possibilities. Thus, an earlier instance of a later possibility will be skipped over by a seek mode search if there is any instance of the earlier possibility. Incremental mode searching, on the other hand, will terminate with a successful ___ match at the first instance of a string matching any of the possiblities. Any alternation that is enclosed in parentheses and preceded by a concatenation will be searched using the ___________ incremental mode. This is why we have on occasion started our patterns with the string ''&. Bug Work-arounds With help from William White of the Colorado Customer Support Center, we have implemented a work-around for a bug in the FILL command. The problem manifests itself whenever the beginning of the SELECTED region is at the start of or within a word that ____ ends beyond the margin for wrapping. The result of executing the FILL command under these circumstances is that a line break is inserted at the start of the select region, whether it is beyond the margin for wrapping or not, and whether it is in the middle of a word or not! The concept of the work-around is simply to ensure that the beginning of the SELECT region is moved to the start of the line before executing the FILL command. The work-around is implemented by copying DIGITAL's procedure EDT$PRESERVE_BLANKS(flag), creating a procedure named KAZ$FIND_BEG_OF_LINE(b_mark), and then modifying EDT$PRESERVE_BLANKS, by adding a call to KAZ$FIND_BEG_OF_LINE, at the third line of the main sequence of the code, just prior to the call to EDT$SKIP_LEADING_SPACES(b_mark). KAZ$FIND_BEG_OF_LINE moves b_mark from its original location to VAX-11 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator the beginning of the line that it had been in. Replacement Customizations The following procedures are among those that implemented equivalent functions to those that we already had in place through EDTINI.EDT. Word Delimiter Changes PROCEDURE KAZ$SWAP_DELIM The procedure KAZ$SWAP_DELIM allows the user to toggle back and forth between two sets of characters to be taken as the delimiters between words. The two sets are optimized for word processing and for programming. The word delimiters in word processing are a space, a tab, a form-feed, a line-feed, a carriage return, and a vertical tab. The word delimiters for programming include all the above as well as the characters "/<>[]{},.:*&!;+-=()\|'" which constitute most of the "algebraic punctuation" that is used in FORTRAN, DCL, and PASCAL programs. DIGITAL's code includes a global variable EDT$X_WORD that is the set of characters used to identify word breaks. We maintain a variable called KAZ$WORD_DELIM with the value of either 'text' or 'program' to indicate the current editing context: word processing or programming. Procedure KAZ$SWAP_DELIM uses an if-then-else statement to determine the current editing context from the variable KAZ$WORD_DELIM and then toggles the two variables, EDT$X_WORD and KAZ$WORD_DELIM. For instance, if upon entering this procedure KAZ$WORD_DELIM has the value 'text', then the old context is word processing. The programming delimiters are assigned to EDT$X_WORD and the value 'program' is assigned to KAZ$WORD_DELIM, indicating the new editing context. Word Processing Conveniences DEFINE__KEY ('READ__FILE (''STANDARD.RNO'')', KEY__NAME('R',SHIFT__KEY), "Insert a copy of the file STANDARD.RNO."); VAX-12 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator This defines + R to include a file named 'STANDARD.RNO' on the lines preceding the line containing the current position of the cursor. This filename results from the routine usage of this command to include a user's standard RUNOFF initializations. Obviously, any sort of contents could be maintained in that file. This definition can be easily modified to include any frequently used file into the current editing buffer by substituting the appropriate name for STANDARD.RNO. Logical name assignments would provide yet another mechanism for generalizing the use of this command. PROCEDURE KAZ$GET_OUT This procedure eliminates the following command sequence: "CTRL/Z + EXIT + ". This command sequence does a normal exit out of TPU, saves the current buffer under the filename that was used at the starting of the editing session and deletes the journal file. We have chosen + CTRL/Z to cause the execution of this procedure. The first line, "write_file(main_buffer)", writes out the main buffer. The second line, "set(no_write,main_buffer,on)", indicates that upon the termination of the editing session the main_buffer is not to be written out, since we just performed that function in the previous line. The last line, "exit", simply tells TPU that the editing session is to be terminated and the journal file is to be deleted. The TPU command "quit" would have worked equally well here because we took care of writing out the buffer ourselves. KAZ$FILL_PARAG This permits an entire paragraph to be re-filled at once. We take real EDT's default definition of a paragraph: a block of text bounded by a line containing no characters, or by the beginning or end of the buffer. The right margin used is the same as the current EDT "wrap" emulation. The cursor is returned to the original location in the buffer. The entire operation is performed without ongoing screen updating. Our procedure to move to the beginning of the current paragraph is used to establish the start of the range to be filled. Then a search is conducted forwards for the end of the paragraph. If it fails, the paragraph ends at the end of the buffer. If it succeeds, we move back one character to avoid swallowing the blank line between paragraphs. The word separators used for the fill operation are the current word delimiters, EDT$X_WORD. KAZ$END_SENT First a short discussion on the search command is warranted. Search uses three parameters: the first parameter is the search pattern. The second parameter is the direction of the search. The third parameter is a qualifier on the search. In this proceedure the direction is always FORWARD and the qualifier is always EXACT. The search command, as used in this procedure, returns the range of the first exact pattern match that is forward of the cursor position. The returned range will be 0 if the pattern was not found. In KAZ$END_SENT, the search command is used three times. The first search looks for the end-of-sentence delimiters that are defined by the search pattern KAZ$SENT_DELIM. One character string that will match that pattern is ". ", a period followed by a space character. The initialization of KAZ$END_SENT will be described later. In this procedure, if the pattern is not VAX-13 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator found, i.e., the search range returned to end_sent_range was 0, then the procedure is exited. If the pattern is found, then the cursor is positioned to the beginning of the delimiter. The second search looks for either a space character or the end of the line. The cursor is then positioned to the beginning of that pattern if it was found (thereby skipping over the printing characters of the sentence delimiter) or the procedure is exited. The third search looks for either line_begin or the first non-space character (thereby finding the beginning of the next sentence). If the next sentence is found, the cursor is positioned there, otherwise the procedure is exited. KAZ$SENT_DELIM is initialized in procedure TPU$LOCAL_INIT. The search pattern consists of the concatenation of the empty string (to force incremental searching) with two alternations: first, the punctuation, '.', '?', or '!', and second the conclusion which may include a "concealing" character such as ']', '}', ')', or '"', and terminates with a space or line_end. The second alternation is rather extended, since the various combinations of concealment and termination are all explicitly given. This implementation is significantly more versatile than true EDT's +SEN and -SEN commands, since those do not recognize any "concealed" sentences. New and Wonderful Options KAZ$WINDOWS This procedure permits selection of single- or double-window editing. After interactively specifying the number of windows, the user is asked for the name of the second buffer. If the buffer is new, the user is asked for the name of the file to edit and whether that file should be written to disk upon exit. The windows and buffers are established and mapped, and keys are suitably re-defined for moving between buffers. Global variables are established containing the names of the first and second windows and buffers. In normal usage, before executing KAZ$WINDOWS, we define PF1 + M to execute a procedure that moves the cursor to the main buffer and map that buffer to the main window. That procedure was created by copying the support routine for the EDT line mode "= buffer" command from page 22 of EDTSECINI, and then specializing it to go for the main buffer. In normal usage, before executing KAZ$WINDOWS, we define PF1 + B to execute a procedure (even more closely modeled on the "= buffer" support from EDTSECINI) that prompts for the name of the buffer, moves the cursor to it, and maps it to the main window. Thus, those keys are routinely used to return to the main buffer or to shift to a named buffer. KAZ$WINDOWS restores these definitions whenever single-window editing is specified. When dual-window operation is to commence, PF 1 + M is defined to move to the first (upper) window, and PF1 + B is defined to move to the second (lower) window. We have defined VAX-14 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator PF1 + to jump back a screen, and PF1 + to jump forward a screen. This is implemented using a global variable, KAZ$WINDOWSIZE, whose value is initialized to 21 for single-window editing and is set to 10 for dual-window editing. The action of the screen jump command is thereby adjusted to avoid either overlap or skipped lines as one moves through a buffer. The sizes of the windows are adjusted appropriately to allow for status lines at the bottom of each window, clarifying the boundary between them. The scrolling limits are set so that a reasonable amount of context is presented before and after the cursor, while still permitting some range of motion without stimulating excessive output to the terminal. KAZ$OVERSTRIKE This procedure is used to swap between the overstrike and insert modes using one key definition rather than using a key definition for each mode. The procedure KAZ$OVERSTRIKE uses a global variable called KAZ$ENTRY_MODE to indicate the current editing context. This allows the defined key to take on a dual function depending on which 'state' the variable KAZ$ENTRY_MODE is in. For example: if KAZ$ENTRY_MODE is 'insert', the current editing context is insert mode and the procedure should switch into overstrike mode. In the procedure an if statement implements the above logic; if the mode is not 'insert' then the else clause is executed to switch to 'insert' mode. The commands SET(OVERSTRIKE, CURRENT__BUFFER); and SET(INSERT, CURRENT__BUFFER); switch the current editing context of the current buffer to overstrike and insert respectively. After the editing context is set, then the variable KAZ$ENTRY_MODE is updated to __________ 'overstrike' or 'insert', respectively. Conclusion The VAX Text Processing Utility has certainly demonstrated its utility! It provides virtually the full functionality of the EDT Keypad environment, and can be readily enhanced both in ways that EDT can and in ways that EDT cannot. While providing this superb editing capability, it consumes significantly less CPU time than EDT itself to do the same job. Thus users see a more friendly _______________ system that responds faster, too. Acknowledgement We wish to express our thanks to the staff of the Customer Support Center in Colorado Springs, several of whom have provided quite useful suggestions. The file EDTSECINI.TPU provided with VMS 4.2 contained many useful examples. In fact, some portions of the code we used were simply copied from there and modified ______ _____ slightly. A variety of useful examples from the VAXTPU Users _____ Guide have also found their way into our code. The users of Kalamazoo College's Educational Computing VAX system tolerated being forced from EDT onto an early version of the customizations reported here, and have survived the various stages of refinement or brutalization it has gone through since, so to them we owe especial thanks. VAX-15 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator Enhancing VAXTPU EDT M.L. Penix and R.D. Piccard _____________________________________ | | | Procedure | | . | | . | | . | | Endprocedure | _____________________________________ _____________________________________ | | | Key-definitions | _____________________________________ _____________________________________ | | | Assignment statements | _____________________________________ Figure 1: TPU Command File Organization VAX-16 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Enhancing the VAXTPU EDT Keypad Emulator Enhancing VAXTPU EDT M.L. Penix and R.D. Piccard _____________________________________ | | | Procedure TPU$LOCAL_INIT | _____________________________________ _____________________________________ | | | other procedures | _____________________________________ _____________________________________ | | | Procedure KAZ$DEFINE_KEYS | _____________________________________ _____________________________________ | | | SAVE SYS$LOGIN:filename.NEW | | QUIT | _____________________________________ Figure 2: TPU Section File Organization VAX-17 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** VOTE *** Gary L. Grebus HOLD IT! DON'T PUT THIS OFF! THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 1. HOLD IT! DON'T PUT THIS OFF! THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 1. You have an opinion about what is right or wrong with VAX. Here is your chance to influence the directions of future DEC development. The VAX Systems SIG System Improvement Request (SIR) program is an important method for the VAX user community to provide input to Digital. Your opinion is important, and every ballot adds to the influence of the SIR program. On the following pages, you will find the current collection of System Improvement Requests. Please take the time to review these SIR's and assess their effect on your use of VAX's. Then THE NEW, indicate your preferences as described below. THE NEW, SIMPLIFIED BALLOT FORM APPEARS THE "QUESTIONNAIRE" SECTION OF SIMPLIFIED BALLOT FORM APPEARS THE "QUESTIONNAIRE" SECTION OF THIS NEWSLETTER. THIS NEWSLETTER. Also, please fill out the questionnaire portion of the ballot. This information is important to DEC, as it points out which requests are important to a particular segment of the VAX community. The returns from this ballot will be totalled, and Digital will provide a formal response to the 10 items which receive the most votes. The results and DEC's responses will be given at the VAX SYSTEM SIG SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT REQUESTS session of the Spring 1986 DECUS Symposium in Dallas. At the same session, we also hope to have an update on the status of past top-10 items. VAX-18 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests Instructions For Voting The ballot form contains two sections, a "support" section and an "oppose" section. To indicate your support for an SIR, enter its number in the "support" section of the ballot. You may list from zero to fifteen SIR's in this section. To indicate your opposition to an SIR you consider detrimental, enter its number in the "oppose" section. You may list from zero to five SIR's in this section. IMMEDIATELY Please return your ballot IMMEDIATELY. The very tight schedule before the Dallas Symposium makes this a tough ballot to do. To BALLOTS RECEIVED AFTER APRIL 1 allow time for DEC to respond, BALLOTS RECEIVED AFTER APRIL 1 MAY NOT BE COUNTED. MAY NOT BE COUNTED. Any ballot not specifying a DECUS membership number will not be counted. Only one ballot per member will be accepted. SIG members who have voted in past ballots may notice a radical change in the method of voting on this ballot. This is an experiment to (hopefully) make it less time-consuming to participate in the SIR ballot. The continued decline in the number of ballots returned has prompted such changes. Your comments are welcomed. Finding the Ballot As with all "forms" in the combined newsletter package, the ballot may be found at the back of the entire volume you are now reading on the QU- pages. Nominally it goes in alphabetic order by SIGs, putting VAX at the end, but there have been exceptions. VAX-19 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests ___ _________ VMS Internals SIR: S86-1 Abstract: Provide routines for accessing the DECnet configuration Description: There should be some way of obtaining information about the current configuration of the network: which nodes are available, number of hops, next hop to node, etc. through runtime calls. The only currently available method is to direct the output of SHOW NETWORK to a file and parse the file. SIR: S86-2 Abstract: Provide system wide event flag clusters. Description: UIC group based event flags cause considerable inconvenience when an existing event-flag based application must be expanded to serve users in multiple UIC groups. It should be possible to create and manipulate system-wide common event flag clusters. Use of this feature should be controlled by a privilege or quota independent of existing controls on system-wide resources. SIR: S86-3 Abstract: Provide better support for hardcopy terminals through SMG routines. Description: In release 4.0 of VMS, the TERMTABLE entries for DEC hardcopy terminals' do not contain all of the applicable escape sequences for the devices. For instance, many hardcopy terminals support automatic underlining and boldfacing, similar to the DEC CRT's. Even if local modifications are made to the TERMTABLE entries, the SMG routines do not use the additional information (say when SMG$SNAPSHOT is called). It would be nice to support the VT100 line drawing character set (or that kind of line drawing) when the device supports it. SIR: S86-4 Abstract: Allow DUMP files to be moved off the system disk. Description: A cluster of fully configured 8600's sharing the system generates a need for most of the disk to be dedicated to system DUMP files. Recently announced increases in memory size make this problem worse. The current mechanism of combining dump and paging files is unacceptable, since a shared system disk cannot tolerate VAX-20 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests the I/O load generated by a large page file. SIR: S86-5 Abstract: Support TCP/IP on VMS. Description: The TCP/IP protocol is probably the most widely supported protocol for networking among workstations and mid-sized computers. It is frequently necessary to connect VAX's into such a mixed-vendor network. The TCP/IP protocol should be supported under VMS to allow such connections. SIR: S86-6 Abstract: Provide for wildcard $GETDVI. Description: The $GETDVI service should provide a wildcard facility similar to that available with the other $GETxxx services. There is currently no acceptable way to find out the device configuration of a system. This is particularly true since VMS now has many devices which dynamically appear and disappear (virtual terminals, MSCP disks, etc). In a VAXcluster, this facility should ideally be able to show all devices connected to the cluster, including node-local devices. SIR: S86-7 Abstract: Eliminate the necessity for trailing commas in system service argument lists. Description: Even when one or more arguments at the end of a system service argument list are optional, it is still necessary (according to the system services manual) to include trailing commas in the system service call. (This is unlike the run-time library routines, where it is not necessary to include the commas.) This is annoying, and error prone. Could this be changed? SIR: S86-8 Abstract: Provide a terminal attribute to request filtering of BELL characters. Description: It would be useful to provide a terminal attribute which supressed sending of the BELL character to the terminal. Having many terminals beeping in a small area can be distracting. Ideally, it should be possible to specify an alternate sequence to be sent in place of the BELL so that CRT's for example could display some visual equivalent. VAX-21 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests SIR: S86-9 Abstract: Allow a privileged user the ability to link one terminal to another. Description: VMS should support a facility which would allow a privileged user to link his or her terminal to another terminal. This link would at minimum allow the privileged user to issue commands as if they were typed from the other keyboard. This capability would be useful to "cleanup" whatever was running on the remote terminal before its process was deleted. Ideally, the facility should also allow the privileged user to see all output directed to the target terminal. This would allow for fully interactive "hand-holding" or consulting for user problems. SIR: S86-10 Abstract: Provide a facility to list the VMS timer queue. Description: VMS should provide a service and a DCL command to list the entries in the timer queue. Appropriate privilege (e.g. WORLD) would be needed to list other users' queue entries. This would be useful to verify that periodic tasks were correctly scheduled, or that an idle process was in fact waiting for a timed event. SIR: S86-11 Abstract: CREATE/DIR should set owner protection to RWED, not only RWE. Description: A VAX directory file cannot be deleted until all files have been removed from it. Therefore, it is not a hazard to have OWNER:DELETE access to the file as it was in earlier versions of VMS. The CREATE/DIRECTORY command should, by default, grant OWNER:DELETE access. This simplifies cleanup of files and directories, since an extra step (protection-change on only directories) is avoided. SIR: S86-12 Abstract: Provide a supported virtual memory disk driver for VMS. Description: VMS should provide a supported device driver which implements a disk using pages of virtual memory. Optionally, some or all of the virtual disk could be locked into physical memory. Such a facility could provide very fast access for frequently used files. Note that this facility is orthogonal to any file system or RMS caches -- the benefit would apply for any access method or file structure, even simple sequential, text files. Suitable VAX-22 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests privileges and quotas should be required to create and destroy such a device (the scope seems similar to permanent mailboxes). The falling prices of semiconductor memory make this facility attractive when short access times are vital. SIR: S86-13 Abstract: SYSGEN should flag autoconfigured devices in SHOW/CONFIG. Description: It would be potentially useful if the SYSGEN SHOW/CONFIG command could indicate if a device was autoconfigured. SIR: S86-14 Abstract: All utilities should use a standard format for printable output. Description: Printable output generated by VAX utilities and compilers comes in a great variety of record formats and carriage control conventions. A particularly awkward convention is the use of embedded ASCII control characters to generate multiple print lines from a single record. There appears to be no standard for this or any other mechanism. As a result it is very difficult to print "printable" output on non-DEC printers or transmit it through heterogeneous networks. Digital should document a standard record format and carriage control convention and modify all facilities to conform to this convention. As a alternative, Digital should provide a utility which converts all currently used formats into a standard format. It seems that this functionality currently exists, distributed between the print symbiont, device driver, and "DEC standard" printers. SIR: S86-15 Abstract: Proposed changes to SMG$READ_STRING and SMG$READ_COMPOSED_LINE screen management routines. Description: When using the SMG$READ_STRING and SMG$READ_COMPOSED_LINE screen management routines, when the display-id argument is included, there is a restriction that the cursor for the virtual display associated with the routine(s) must be in column 1, and also that this virtual displays to its right. It would be very useful if these restrictions did not exist. VAX-23 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests SIR: S86-16 Abstract: Provide a call interface that parallels the DCL show queue functionality. Description: The interface to the symbiont manager is useful as long as you already have information (i.e., the job i.d.). There should be a call interface that permits an application to "look up" what jobs are in the queue(s). SIR: S86-17 Abstract: The VMS source kit should be cheaper. Description: We need to have parts of the source kit available for SEARCHing to quickly find out how VMS does certain things. We are a DEC OEM and third-party supplier; we have a non-disclosure agreement for a new type of hardware for which we will be building compatible products with DEC's cooperation and assistance. Unfortunately this cooperation and assistance does not extend to helping us to write the system software (device drivers) which are necessary to use our product. $25,000 seems excessive for the source kit; it seems designed to discourage people from buying it (it certainly has discouraged us) rather than as a reasonable price based on the cost of production and support (since DEC doesn't support it, or anyone's use of it). I understand that DEC does not want versions of VMS to proliferate the way Unix systems have. This could be addressed by leaving out something that was necessary (or very, very, very helpful) to actually use the kit to build a system. The system and module build command procedures come to mind. A price of $5,000 would surely result in more than five times as many sales of the source kit as DEC currently gets. Thus the suggestion makes sense financially. From a philosophy standpoint it makes sense too. DEC has been successful partly because it has been relatively easy for third-party suppliers to get information on how to do things that complement DEC hardware and software, filling market niches that DEC is too big or too slow to respond to and thereby enabling sales of DEC systems to customers who would otherwise have to look elsewhere. It seems unreasonable for DEC not to follow this philosophy in VMS, their flagship operating system and the system they are trying to sell to almost everyone. To say "you can look at the microfiche" is not responsive; it's hard to issue a SEARCH command to a fiche reader. To "market" a source kit that costs more than the low-end configuration of the MicroVAX II, which will surely put VMS into more sites than all the other VAXes to date combined, seems to be completely contrary to DEC's (former?) way of doing VAX-24 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests business. SIR: S86-18 Abstract: Make SWAPPER multi-threaded. Description: Given increasingly large VAX systems with lots of memory and disks it appears as if SWAPPER could become a bottleneck when performing large writes of working sets and modified pages. It would be nice if SWAPPER could format writes to all of the disks it accesses in parallel. SIR: S86-19 Abstract: Add description of file to header. Description: Long file names aren't good for elaborate descriptions of files because you have to type them. What if $SET FILE file/DESCRIPTION="text" could put up to 80 or 90 chars in the headers, which could be displayed by: $DIR/DESCRIP or $DIR/FULL This facility should also be available via RMS and QIO interfaces. Ideally, the description would be copied along with things like record attribute when you $COPY, $EDIT, etc. perhaps by having it appear in an XAB. SIR: S86-20 Abstract: Support a PRINTABLE attribute on files Description: Binary-type files can do awful things to terminals and printers when PRINTed or TYPEd. An attribute which would cause the commands to reject such files unless overridden would save many confused and frightened users. Modifying just compilers and the linker as a first step would probably eliminate 90% of the problem. This item appeared as a past top-10 SIR in which DEC proposed an alternate solution in which the printing software would make an empirical decision about the printability of a file it was given. However, this solution seems increasing difficult to implement given the proliferation of "intelligent" printing devices. SIR: S86-21 VAX-25 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests Abstract: Proposed improvement to RMS user control block run time macros Description: The RMS control block run time macros, $fab_store, $nam_store, $rab_store, and $xabxxx_store have a number of options which allow one to set various RMS attributes (such as fop-cbt, for contiguous best try, in the $fab_store macro). There is, however, no way to turn these attributes off using these macros. (one has to use symbolic offsets, such as fab$l_fop and fab$v_cbt, instead). It would be convenient if each store macro had a clear, or unset, form of its on/off attributes (such as fop=nocbt in the $fab_store macro). SIR: S86-22 Abstract: Support a per-user logical name table Description: Extend the logical name table system to provide user-level (not group-level) tables which remain after a process goes away. They should behave much as group tables do but should be unique to a full UIC. An appropriate privilege (USERNAM?) may be required since this would entail the use of system resources. SIR: S86-23 Abstract: Better program control of output to sys$error is needed, especially for detached processes. Description: In detached processes it is desirable to merge the sys$output and sys$error files. The ways/orders in which they are opened causes difficulties. For example, two files appear when one is desired. A possible solution is to give user programs control over where error output is to appear, e.g., traceback output. There is no control over how a process opens sys$error. ___ ___ _________ DCL and Utilities SIR: S86-24 Abstract: Increase the 255 byte limit on foreign command lines. Description: User commands that utilize the foreign command interface to get argument data may now exceed the 255 byte limit that is enforced with VMS 4.0. This is now a problem since the limit was not enforced in VMS v3.x software and longer arguments were working and are now not. Also the VAX-26 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests expansion of file names and extensions to 39 characters adds to the need for longer argument strings. SIR: S86-25 Abstract: Enhancements to the VMS MAIL facility. Description: There are several enhancements to mail that would generally increase the ease of use and functionality of mail: 1. Include the subject of the mail message in the broadcast message mail sends to logged in users. 2. In captive accounts which run from controlled command procedures some way to prevent users from using the spawn capability in mail is needed. This facility might also be useful elsewhere, restricting the subprocess count is not a solution since the running application may need to create a subprocess. 3. The ability to delete more than one message at a time would be desireable. I.E. DELETE 1:10 to remove message 1 thru 10 or DELETE 1,3,5,7 to remove messages 1, 3, 5, and 7. 4. Some form of search facility on the mail folders to aid in finding specific entries is needed. This could be restricted to the folder names or extended as far as searching thru the actual messages themselves. The syntax and command capabilities in the VMS SEARCH command are an excellent example. 5. When using the @FILESPEC method of sending mail to many people it is very desireable to have the option to specify that the detailed list expansion be included in the message in some form. This will allow a newly added member of the list to see who comprises the list. Additionally the number of redundantly forwarded mail messages could be reduced. SIR: S86-26 Abstract: Show open files for a process. Description: It is frequently necessary to attempt to determine the files that a specified process has open. With many devices on a system this can be a time consuming exercise to search through all of them. A more desireable method would be some form of show command, possibly SHOW FILES/PROCESS=pid or SHOW PROCESS/ID=PID/FILES VAX-27 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests SIR: S86-27 Abstract: SHOW PROCESS/CONT is inadequate for large images. Description: When watching large processes with SHOW PROCESS/CONTINUOUS the actual memory that is in use by the process is not shown by the fixed window. Some form of window specification where the user declares the memory range to be shown or some form of automatic selection of the window address is needed. SIR: S86-28 Abstract: Add restarting to DIRECTORY command. Description: Some mechanism is needed for either specifying a start point for the command or a restart from last file shown if interrupted by a control_c. For example, DIRECTORY/FROM=oldprog would start at the first file entry that in the normal sort order came after oldprog. Additionally a /UNTIL=stoptext would be very useful. With both features management of large directories would be very easy. It is understood that subdirectories are a more efficient way of organizing files, however this is not always possible. SIR: S86-29 Abstract: Enhance DCL command recall. Description: Additional desirable features in the command line recall facility: 1. When a command is recalled from the saved commands, move it to the top of the stack and erase it from the position it occupied. This eliminates loosing the oldest command. This also changes the recall facility to remember the last 20 unique commands. 2. Allow some method of specifying the number of commands to store. 3. Allow a method of ignoring short commands that are less than a specified length. SIR: S86-30 Abstract: SHOW SYSTEM display should have the old form of UIC numbers. VAX-28 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests Description: The enhanced version of SHOW SYSTEM maps UIC entries into named entries. Some method of getting the old UIC entry back is needed. Possibly SHOW SYSTEM/OLD would display the numeric UIC entries only, UIC entries that are not of the old numeric form would not be displayable by this command. SIR: S86-31 Abstract: Enhanced DCl substitution and parsing capabilities. Description: DCL would be more useful to advanced and expert users if the following concepts were implemented. 1. Direct substitution of parameters in DCL commands. 2. Multiple command entries on one DCL line. For example: BUILD:==MACRO/LIST ^P1 |LINK/MAP ^P1 BUILD FOO expands to MACRO/LIST FOO LINK/MAP FOO The syntax shown is only for the purposes of writing an example. SIR: S86-32 Abstract: Enhance the DEASSIGN command. Description: In many cases a simple enhancement to the DEASSIGN command would simplify writing command procedures and increase clarity and execution speed. For example DEASSIGN LNAME1,LNAME2,LNAME3 would deassign all three logical names and is easier to write than. DEASSIGN LNAME1 DEASSIGN LNAME2 DEASSIGN LNAME3 This general ability to restart the DCL command for more than one action would be useful in as many places as possible such as: CLOSE LNAME1,LNAME2,LNAME3 REWIND LNAME1,LNAME2,LNAME3 etc. ___________ VAXClusters VAX-29 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests SIR: S86-33 Abstract: Provide a feature to keep system times on a VAXcluster synchronized. Description: It is extremely important for the time-of-day to be consistent across all nodes in a VAXcluster. Often, applications involve cooperating processes on several nodes. Without synchronized times, it becomes extremely difficult to consistently handle any operation which requires timestamping. Even coordinated processing of accounting or performance data is impossible without coordinated times. Manual synchronization impossible to do if high accuracy is required. SIR: S86-34 Abstract: Provide support for cluster-wide print queues spooled via a device. Description: In single node systems, it is possible to declare a printer device as spooled so that files written to the device are printed without the necessity of using a PRINT command. Applications are written to take advantage of this behavior. In a cluster, this mechanism no longer works, since the device will not be present on every node of the cluster. A mechanism is needed which provides a "dummy" alias for the printer, which appears on every system. Defining a logical name to include a DECnet nodename (e.g. DEFINE LP NODE:LPA0:) is not acceptable since username and account information might not be the same for the DECnet server process. SIR: S86-35 Abstract: Provide cluster-wide system management tools. Description: Digital stresses that a VAXcluster should be managed as a single domain. To do this, the standard VMS system management tools need to be expanded to work cluster-wide. Cluster-wide ACCOUNTING and and cluster-wide MONITOR are two examples. SIR: S86-36 Abstract: Provide a capability similar to the NCP TELL to pass DCL commands to other nodes on a cluster. Description: It is frequently necessary to execute the same, or similar, commands on more than one node of a cluster. This is typically a command that has just been put in SYSTARTUP.COM, for example an INSTALL command, which is needed before the next reboot. We are currently using VAX-30 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests DECNET and batch jobs which are slow and inconvenient. What is needed is DCL TELL for use on a cluster. SIR: S86-37 Abstract: Provide high-speed task to task communication on a cluster using SCS, not DECNET. Description: Some applications need to get large amounts of data (100-300 Kbytes) from one node to another as fast as possible. At present, this can only be done using a shared file or DECNET transfers - neither of which is fast enough. The bandwidth of the CI is fast enough. What is required is the ability to do 'block' mode transfers via the CI. A simple device driver interfacing to SCS would suffice. ________ Security SIR: S86-38 Abstract: Mechanism needed that allows one user to grant other users access to a file only via a user-defined image. Description: Non-privileged users sometimes need to give other non-privileged users controlled access to data files through a program. Through this facility any user would be able to control who could access his data files and what kind of access they may have. In the current system, in order to allow another user to add a record to a file, that user must be given WRITE access to that file, which means he could alter existing data or delete records from the file. Presently this requires the system manager to install the program with privilege, which is both an administrative nuisance and a security problem, as the privileged image would also have access to other system data files as well as the intended files. This mechanism should be under user control, i.e., the user should be able to determine which images could access a file. For example, the UIC of the image and data file could be required to match before access would be permitted. This could be accomplished by an option on the compiler or linker when the image was being created. It could also be implemented by allowing the system manager to install an image with a particular identifier. Then the user could set up the access control list for that file to permit access by that Identifier. This would be less flexible but would permit a user to allow access from images other than his own, e.g., a data base manager. This capability could also be provided by VAX-31 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests file passwords, since the passwords could be imbedded in the programs that were intended to have access to the files; however, file passwords would be difficult to administer and prone to disclosure. SIR: S86-39 Abstract: Implement mandatory security controls in VMS. Description: Many VAX systems are being operated by government agencies or contractors and either are processing or need to process classified data. Mandatory security controls are needed in VMS to support such classified processing. An operating system that could be evaluated by the National Computer Security Center at the B1 level or higher would encourage more VAXes to be used for classified processing and make system management much easier for those already doing classified processing on existing systems. The system manager should be able to specify a security level for each user account using the AUTHORIZE utility. When a file is created, it should be given the security level of the creating process, and any subsequent access to the file should be controlled in accordance with the mandatory security policies. If a file is edited or copied, it should retain it's classification. A utility should be provided to allow a person with a special (SECURITY) privilege to change the classification of a file. SIR: S86-40 Abstract: End-to-end encryption of logical connections within DECnet-VAX. Description: The assumption made by DECnet that all nodes and communications paths are trustworthy is not viable in many environments. End-to-end encryption of the data portion of network packets is required in these environments to assure that eavesdropping is fruitless, both in Local Area Networks (broadcast) and Wide Area Networks (multi-hop). This encryption should be implemented so as to be transparent to the application programmer and user, i.e., the mechanism should be located in the NSP (or OSI session) layer. New encryption keys should be generated for each logical connection between cooperating, encryption-capable processors. (Some nodes will not be capable of encryption and should be allowed to participate in the network without performing encryption.) Intermediate nodes should not be required to participate in, or be knowledgable of, the key distribution/management or the encryption process. The DES algorithm should be utilized in the near term but should be readily replaced as NBS standards change. Provisions should be made for encryption hardware to boost performance where necessary. VAX-32 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests SIR: S86-41 Abstract: DECnet-VAX Node Authentication Description: In both Local Area and Wide Area Network environments, a malicious node can readily assume the identity of another node. Node passwords are inadequate protection, are easily circumvented, and are applicable only to adjacent nodes on point-to-point links. An encryption based node authentication mechanism is required (perhaps using the RSA algorithm). This improved authentication mechanism should provide the (local) node manager with a high degree of certainty that a remote node is who/what it claims to be. The authentication mechanism should also be immune to eavesdropping by intermediate routing nodes. After this capability is developed within DECnet-VAX, it will also be needed in other DECnet implementations, so that routers and PC workstations can take advantage of enhanced security in their communications with VAX systems. SIR: S86-42 Abstract: Record attempted usernames on login failures. Description: An OPTION is needed that permits the system manager to record login failures in more detail, including the ATTEMPTED USERNAME, terminal name, and time, even if the username is invalid. This would help the system manager to assess whether login failures are the result of penetration attempts, noisy lines, or just merely a user who is having difficulty. The system manager would be responsible for protecting the accounting file appropriately to prevent the disclosure of passwords. This capability must be an OPTION, as large numbers of system managers have indicated a strong need for this capability, and many others have expressed an equally strong concern that passwords might appear in their accounting files. Both groups of person have valid arguments and should be given a choice in the recording of login failure information. SIR: S86-43 Abstract: Security alarm messages to a file. Description: Add an option to the Access Control Entries (ACE's) that specifies a file into which security alarms for that file/directory are written. This would allow a user to review security alarms for his own files, rather than depending on the system manager to perform the VAX-33 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests auditing. Of course, security alarms requested by the system manager via the SET AUDIT command should be written to the system-wide security log. SIR: S86-44 Abstract: Prevent users from re-using passwords. Description: When passwords expire, users can change them to some other password such as XXXXXX, and can then immediately change them back to the original password. A mechanism is needed to prevent users from re-using old passwords. This might be implemented via a MINIMUM password lifetime or by maintaining a list of "n" previous passwords for each user. SIR: S86-45 Abstract: Control access to printers through ACL's. Description: ACL's are needed to control the usage of print devices, print queues, and batch queues. The UIC-based protections are now available on queues, but ACL's are not, so the system manager does not have sufficient granularity in granting access to the system queues and print devices. ACL's can be placed on physical devices, but they only control the ability of users to allocate the devices and do not control their ability to use shared devices such as printers. This is undesirable in cases where the user is expected to use some shared devices and not others. SIR: S86-46 Abstract: ACL's are ignored for images installed open and header resident. Description: In some cases, the system manager may wish to control the use of images (such as compilers and the linker) through ACL's, but would still like to take advantages of the efficiencies of installing the images OPEN and/or HEADER_RESIDENT. In VMS 4.2, ACL's applied to these images are ignored, even though UIC protection is enforced. Full ACL protection should be included. SIR: S86-47 Abstract: Make password validation a user-callable service. Description: Username/password validation should be made a user-callable system service or run-time library routine. Such a routine should one-way encrypt the password, open the UAF, read the record for the specified username, and return a status indicating whether the username/password VAX-34 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests pair is valid. For security reasons this service should only be available to users holding system privileges, e.g. SYSPRV. Such a capability would be useful for applications requiring users to log into shared or captive accounts, which would then need to further validate the individual users. SIR: S86-48 Abstract: Allow OPER to override LOGINS=0 only if it is a DEFAULT privilege. Description: It is useful to give OPER privilege to certain users, so that they can control print and batch queues. However, granting OPER as an AUTHORIZED privilege also allows that user to login even when logins are disabled. VMS should check the DEFAULT privileges (not the AUTHORIZED privileges) for an account when determining whether or not to allows that user to override disabled logins. SIR: S86-49 Abstract: Asynchronous data security erase on file deletion. Description: The data security erase occurs on file deletion when the disk volume or an individual file is set to /ERASE_ON_DELETE. If the file is large, this erasure can take a long time. The erasure should be performed asynchronously to the user process, so that a performance degradation is not seen by interactive users. ___ _________ ___ _____ VMS Languages and Tools SIR: S86-50 Abstract: Allow EDT to set tabs in any column. Description: Currently, only the first tab stop in EDT can be changed. The rest are in multiples of 8 (16, 24, etc.). A user should be able to tab to any column. This feature is useful when entering data that is not in every 8th column. SIR: S86-51 Abstract: Provide windowing capability in EDT. VAX-35 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests Description: A window capability in EDT would be useful, so that several portions of a file could be viewed and editted. It should also be possible to view and edit multiple files. SIR: S86-52 Abstract: Provide column editting capability in EDT. Description: It would be useful to easily insert, delete, or swap columns of text in EDT. Currently, these operations are quite awkward, compared to inserting, deleting, or swapping rows of text. It would also be useful if the column number of the current cursor position could be displayed. SIR: S86-53 Abstract: Provide a SPAWN command in EDT. Description: It would be useful to SPAWN from an editting session so that mail could be read, that status of batch jobs could be examined, etc. SIR: S86-54 Abstract: Provide insert and overwrite modes in EDT. Description: It would be useful if both insert and overwrite modes were available, and toggling between them would be easy. Overwrite mode would be especially useful in editting formatted files. SIR: S86-55 Abstract: Provide depth-level numbers on Fortran listings. Description: It would greatly aid debugging programs, if the Fortran listing would include the depth level of DO loops and the depth level of nested IF's. The level number could be printed on the left margin of the listing, to the right of source code line number and sequence number. SIR: S86-56 Abstract: Provide a qualifier on the Fortran compiler that would make all integer and real variables and constants use 64-bit fields. VAX-36 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests Description: A qualifier on the Fortran compiler is needed that would make all real variables and constants double precision, and all integer variables and constants occupy 64 bits. This qualifier would also cause functions to return a 64-bit quantity, unless otherwise specified. The IMPLICIT statement is not adequate, since constants are not affected. SIR: S86-57 Abstract: Provide more support for structure variables in Fortran. Description: It would be convenient to have an aggregate constant feature that could be used to initialize the fields in an aggregate assignment statement. It would also be convenient if aggregate fields could be specified in formatted I/O statements. SIR: S86-58 Abstract: Provide a DO UNTIL construction in Fortran. Description: A DO UNTIL construction is needed in Fortran. There are occasions when a DO UNTIL is simpler to use than a DO WHILE, and cleaner code will result. SIR: S86-59 Abstract: Provide a qualifier on the linker that would force inclusion of all modules in the library. Description: It would be useful if the linker could be directed to include all modules in a library, when building an executable program. This feature is useful when there are common routine names in libraries that are used to build an executable, and you need to be sure that all modules from a particular library are used. SIR: S86-60 Abstract: Provide source line debugging in MACRO. Description: The debugger does not always effectively translate offsets and other symbolic information. Source line debugging would remedy this problem. Source line debugging would be useful for programs that make extensive use of macros. The capability to STEP and SET BREAK points according to source lines would also be useful. VAX-37 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Spring 1986 System Improvement Requests SIR: S86-61 Abstract: Provide LSE Support for VAX MACRO. Description: The Language-Sensitive Editor should support VAX MACRO. Support would include a /DIAGNOSTICS qualifier on the MACRO command, assembling from within LSE, and templates for the commonly used system services. SIR: S86-62 Abstract: Provide a word count in the RUNOFF output log. Description: It would be useful to know how many words are in a document that RUNOFF processes. This number could be included on the output log file, along with the number of pages. This word count would not include section headings, chapter headings, etc. VAX-38 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot Gary Grebus SIR Coordinator and Richard Merewood VMS Engineering At the Anaheim Symposium, Digital responded to the VAX SIG's most recent System Improvement Request ballot. The ballot was originally published in the September issue of the Pageswapper. Only 172 ballots were returned, a disappointing decrease in participation by the SIG membership. A complete summary of the ballot appeared in last month's Pageswapper. Below is a summary of the top 10 items along with with Digital's responses, as presented by Richard Merewood of the VMS Engineering group. SIR F85-11 Position: 1 Points: 847 Abstract: Provide a means to perform an in-place compression of a disk. Response: While the importance of on-line compression is obvious in retrospect, this is a new request for us in that it has never appeared so prominently in past SIR ballots. We do not have any current plans to build such a facility. However, we understand its importance and we understand that it will increase as time goes on. There are a number of difficult problems to deal with, including coordinating ongoing file activity with the compression process, and solving the performance problem on large disks (since disk reorganization is inherently an n-squared order problem). We will investigate this for future VMS development. (Note: comments offered from the audience at the symposium session suggested that support of ongoing file activity was not a requirement, particularly in an initial implementation.) SIR: F85-55 Position: 2 Points: 588 VAX-39 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot Abstract: Enhance the SHOW command of AUTHORIZE. Specific suggestions included the ability to show a particular item across a group of users, selection of records by the contents of various items, and better support for wildcarding UIC's. Response: It has been recognized that the user friendliness of the VMS AUTHORIZE utility falls short of requirements, and therefore a major re-work is being planned. These suggestions are good ones and they will certainly be considered. SIR: F85-06 Position: 3 Points: 494 Abstract: This is actually a layered software specific improvement request and is not within the realm of the operating system to address. However, we agree that the ability to support running multiple versions of layered products in a given environment would be an attractive enhancement to the VAX/VMS system family. As noted in the SIR, many dependencies such as images, shareable libraries, DCL tables, etc. must be considered as well as any enhanced or revised features in a product that would preclude an existing or new function in that product. Other ramifications that make the implementation of this SIR complex are VAXclusters and the various flavors of clustered environments that might exist in a customer environment (such as complex database locking scenarios on both common and non-common disks throughout the cluster). These pose resource allocation and file/record access considerations. A new release of a product could introduce advance features incompatible with databases jointly accessed with an older version of the product. Additionally, product validation, test complexity, and ensuring system compatibility grows rapidly in order to ensure continued quality in each product. There are ways of accomplishing this to some extent with today's products by the use of alternate system roots, if you system environment is flexible enough to allow this. These alternate roots, however, must reside on alternate system disks and cannot be an alternate root on a common system disk. VAX Datatrieve accomplishes this by allowing a unique suffix per additional version (at the installer's request). In summary, we agree that this is an attractive and useful VAX-40 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot feature to add and would consider implementing it on a product by product basis as the design and implementation of each allows. SIR: F85-27 Position: 4 Points: 477 Abstract: Enhance DELETE command behavior so that when a version number was omitted, the command would be interpreted as ";*/CONFIRM" (as is done in RSX-11.) Response: Historically, when the VMS DELETE command was planned, it did parallel the behavior of the RSX DELETE command; it originally gave an error message when the ";" was omitted. The RSX version was changed after the VMS command was implemented. Any inconvenience to the user of the DELETE command caused by the accidental omission of a file version specification is easily minimized by the use of the command recall feature of DCL. SIR: F85-42 Position: 5 Points: 471 Abstract: Enhance network support in BACKUP. Particularly, support a remote magnetic tape server, rudimentary DECnet capability for standalone BACKUP, and the ability to boot stand-alone BACKUP over Ethernet. Response: a) Remote BACKUP Server: This is an interesting and useful idea. We will consider it for a future VMS release. While there are some dependencies involved in building such a facility, we do not see any insurmountable problems. b) Rudimentary DECnet capability for stand-alone BACKUP: Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a rudimentary DECnet capability. DECnet/VAX consists of a considerable number of components, all of which must be present and functioning before any level of DECnet capability is available. Also, the operation of DECnet requires the presence of DCL, RMS, and the file system, non of which are currently present in stand-alone BACKUP. To provide DECnet support in stand-alone BACKUP would require expanding stand-alone BACKUP to incorporate most of the full VMS kernel. c) Boot stand-alone BACKUP over Ethernet: Because the kernel that stand-alone BACKUP runs on is simply a VMS executive, this amounts to booting the VMS executive and a single-task system over the Ethernet. This is obviously a rather complex job. We feel that the solutions b) and c) are sufficiently complex and costly that it is unlikely that they will be VAX-41 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot implemented. However, we are looking at alternatives to improving system installation and maintenance in the Ethernet environment. SIR: F85-04 Position: 6 Points: 375 Abstract: Provide enhanced CPU usage reports in MONITOR, particularly breakdown of kernel mode time by system component, and breakdown of per-user CPU time by access mode. Response: This is a good idea because it eliminates a lot of the guess work that's involved in determining the culprit in a system performance problem. However, implementation of this type of collection requires many hooks to be placed in the executive and some analysis work to make sure that these hooks do not create new performance problems. At this point we have not researched any aspect of this feature and have no plans to do so in the immediate future. But, because the information is highly beneficial, it may be a candidate for a future release. In the meantime, information of this kind can be obtained using the performance analysis products VAX SPM and PCA. SIR: F85-49 Position: 7 Points: 371 Abstract: Provide a screen editor for AUTHORIZE Response: Again, it has been recognized that the user friendliness of the VMS AUTHORIZE utility falls short of requirements, and therefore a major re-work is being planned. This request, or something very similar, is also being given active consideration. SIR: F85-18 Position: 8 Points: 364 Abstract: Add a class based scheduler to VMS Response: We also feel that a class-based scheduling capability is very important, and believe that it is applicable for both single-node and cluster configurations. This is particularly true in large timesharing service environments. We also noted with interest that this particular request has risen from 16th to 8th place in the ballot. Note however, that its implementation requires major and VAX-42 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot extensive work in the executive and could therefore only be shipped in a major release. Although preliminary research has taken place, this work is not included in the modifications expected to be completed prior to the next rebuild of the executive. Therefore, it will be some time before this feature is available. SIR: F85-24 Position: 9 Points: 330 Abstract: Add an automatic closing option to DCL file opens so that when a procedure aborts for some reason, all files it opened would be closed. Result: We currently don't plan on implementing the file closing feature that is requested because A) it would require several design changes in DCL's file processing, and b) an easy work around exists which will provide the functionality required. The context that is saved whenever DCL opens up a file contains neither the procedure level at which the file was opened, which is irrelevant to an opened file, or the logical name associated with the file. As a work around, you can specify exit handlers that are activated by either by an error condition or control-Y, by using the ON command. By use of the "/NOLOG" qualifier on the CLOSE command, you can suppress the error message generated by trying to close a file that wasn't yet opened at the time of the error. SIR: F85-36 Position: 10 Points: 326 Abstract: Provide delivery tracking for VMS MAIL, including support in a network configuration. Response: Receiving the "MAIL>" prompt back is actually instantaneous notification that the message is in the mail file of the receiver. If MRGATE (part of the ALL-IN-1 product) is being used, say to get VMS MAIL to an ALL-IN-1 system then return of the "MAIL>" prompt means that the message is in control of the Message Router for delivery. The ability to inform a sender when a message is actually read is a very contentious issue since many individuals would consider this to be an unacceptable invasion of privacy. Thus, there are no plans to implement such a feature in VMS MAIL. DIGITAL is currently investigating producing an enhanced VMS MAIL product that has directory services and an interface directly into the Message Router for store and VAX-43 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 Digital Responds to the Fall 1985 SIR Ballot forward capability. Also, the Message Router will probably have a message trace capability in the future. FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS Gary Grebus SIR Coordinator Those of you who managed to find the Fall SIR Ballot in the September Pageswapper were hopefully pleased with its contents. I think it contained a very interesting collection of requests involving many substantial issues. However, it appears that the confusion and overwhelming size of the first combined newsletter may have prevented some SIG members from finding the ballot. In fact, the largest distribution of the SIR ballot yielded the POOREST return ever, with only 172 ballots returned. The summary of this voting appears below. Digital's response to the top 10 requests overall will be presented at the Fall 1985 DECUS Symposium in Anaheim. Interpreting the SIR Ballot Results The results of the System Improvement Request ballot are show on the following pages. All of the reports have the same one page format. Following the report title is the number of ballots counted for that report. The number shown on the "All Users" report is the total number of ballots which were returned. The SIR's are listed on the page in order of points received, from highest to lowest. The entry for each SIR begins with the SIR number (from the ballot), a brief description, and the total number of points received by that SIR. Next are listed the number of ballots which assigned positive and negative points points to the SIR. These numbers are expressed as a percentage of the total number of ballots represented on the report. Finally, the mean number of points assigned and the standard deviation of the points are show. VAX-44 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY ALL USERS Total ballots in this category: 172 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 847 59.9 0.0 8.22 2.7078 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 588 48.8 0.0 7.00 2.8999 6 Multiple versions of layered products 494 41.9 0.6 6.77 3.6573 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 477 39.0 1.7 6.81 3.5684 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 471 33.1 0.0 8.26 2.3109 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 375 35.5 0.0 6.15 3.1190 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 371 33.1 0.0 6.51 2.7654 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 364 30.8 1.2 6.62 4.1522 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 330 31.4 0.6 6.00 3.3884 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 326 29.1 0.6 6.39 3.4472 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 325 30.2 0.0 6.25 3.3599 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 322 29.1 0.6 6.31 3.6742 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 297 33.7 2.3 4.79 3.6581 67 Enhance EDT search command 297 24.4 0.6 6.91 3.9989 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 296 25.0 0.0 6.88 2.8885 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 296 26.2 0.0 6.58 2.9961 17 Support standard print-file format 286 27.3 0.0 6.09 2.9769 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 286 27.9 0.0 5.96 3.0032 19 Provide for extended error info 266 26.7 0.6 5.66 3.9081 20 Add keyword search to HELP 252 26.2 0.6 5.48 3.8629 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 249 22.7 0.0 6.38 3.2169 33 Utility for setting file attributes 239 20.9 0.0 6.64 2.8998 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 238 26.2 1.7 4.96 3.5667 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 232 21.5 0.0 6.27 2.9781 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 230 19.2 1.7 6.39 4.0798 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 223 19.8 0.0 6.56 2.9969 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 221 22.7 1.7 5.26 4.6068 41 Add field support to DCL READ 220 21.5 0.6 5.79 3.9192 56 Log one process stopping another 208 21.5 0.0 5.62 2.8901 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 201 18.6 0.0 6.28 2.6789 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 192 20.9 0.6 5.19 2.9518 62 Support descending keys in RMS 184 15.7 0.0 6.81 3.3286 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 174 17.4 0.6 5.61 4.1607 15 Provide TCP/IP support 172 12.8 0.6 7.48 3.9413 59 Support printers on term servers 170 14.0 0.0 7.08 3.0205 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 164 16.9 1.2 5.29 3.6805 57 Support print/batch job dependency 163 14.0 0.0 6.79 2.9632 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 162 12.2 0.6 7.36 3.7613 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 161 16.9 0.6 5.37 4.4138 22 Allow DCL procedures in libraries 161 14.0 1.2 6.19 4.4544 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 160 17.4 0.6 5.16 4.0996 60 Add tape AVR and label security 158 11.6 0.0 7.90 2.9182 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 154 14.0 0.6 6.16 3.6134 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 146 16.3 2.3 4.56 5.6622 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 129 9.9 0.0 7.59 2.6939 VAX-45 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY BUSINESS EDP USERS Total ballots in this category: 53 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 297 64.2 0.0 8.74 2.4533 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 159 43.4 0.0 6.91 3.0288 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 157 34.0 0.0 8.72 2.0809 6 Multiple versions of layered products 155 37.7 0.0 7.75 2.8631 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 143 35.8 0.0 7.53 2.9130 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 137 34.0 1.9 7.21 3.7502 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 133 39.6 0.0 6.33 3.3665 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 133 41.5 0.0 6.05 3.3163 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 132 34.0 0.0 7.33 2.7865 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 123 32.1 0.0 7.24 2.6108 67 Enhance EDT search command 114 24.5 0.0 8.77 2.4205 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 109 32.1 0.0 6.41 3.3365 56 Log one process stopping another 104 28.3 0.0 6.93 3.2834 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 104 24.5 0.0 8.00 2.7689 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 102 26.4 0.0 7.29 3.3381 57 Support print/batch job dependency 101 28.3 0.0 6.73 2.8900 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 92 24.5 0.0 7.08 3.4269 20 Add keyword search to HELP 84 28.3 0.0 5.60 3.0190 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 83 30.2 1.9 4.88 3.4074 41 Add field support to DCL READ 81 24.5 0.0 6.23 2.7127 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 78 24.5 1.9 5.57 5.6120 59 Support printers on term servers 77 18.9 0.0 7.70 3.0930 33 Utility for setting file attributes 77 17.0 0.0 8.56 2.9627 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 75 22.6 0.0 6.25 2.6671 62 Support descending keys in RMS 74 20.8 0.0 6.73 3.2586 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 73 17.0 0.0 8.11 2.0883 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 72 15.1 0.0 9.00 2.1381 1 Retain control of a MOUNT'ed device 69 18.9 0.0 6.90 3.0714 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 69 20.8 0.0 6.27 2.9357 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 68 20.8 0.0 6.18 3.3412 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 64 17.0 0.0 7.11 2.8916 66 Editors must avoid simultaneous update 64 18.9 0.0 6.40 2.7162 19 Provide for extended error info 64 26.4 0.0 4.57 2.7376 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 63 18.9 0.0 6.30 2.6687 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 59 18.9 0.0 5.90 3.0714 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 55 15.1 0.0 6.88 3.4821 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 55 13.2 0.0 7.86 2.8536 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 53 17.0 0.0 5.89 3.2575 53 Support restricted DCL environments 52 11.3 0.0 8.67 2.4221 60 Add tape AVR and label security 52 11.3 0.0 8.67 2.1602 72 Allow image-controlled file access 51 13.2 0.0 7.29 3.1472 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 50 9.4 0.0 10.00 0.0000 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 47 15.1 1.9 5.22 4.3525 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 46 13.2 0.0 6.57 3.3594 7 Support "keyboard" filters 46 13.2 0.0 6.57 3.4572 VAX-46 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS Total ballots in this category: 128 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 629 60.2 0.0 8.17 2.8070 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 414 46.1 0.0 7.02 2.9507 6 Multiple versions of layered products 369 42.2 0.8 6.71 3.8522 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 354 32.0 0.0 8.63 2.0827 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 315 33.6 0.8 7.16 3.7038 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 307 32.8 2.3 6.82 3.8981 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 298 37.5 0.0 6.21 3.1553 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 282 33.6 0.0 6.56 2.8056 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 267 32.0 0.8 6.36 3.7923 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 258 30.5 0.8 6.45 3.5370 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 247 30.5 0.0 6.33 3.0464 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 243 29.7 0.0 6.39 3.3735 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 223 25.0 0.0 6.97 3.0531 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 222 24.2 0.0 7.16 3.0011 67 Enhance EDT search command 222 25.8 0.8 6.53 4.2013 17 Support standard print-file format 215 27.3 0.0 6.14 3.1168 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 209 33.6 3.1 4.45 3.8550 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 204 24.2 0.0 6.58 3.3144 33 Utility for setting file attributes 199 23.4 0.0 6.63 2.9998 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 194 25.8 0.8 5.71 3.6807 19 Provide for extended error info 180 24.2 0.8 5.63 4.2786 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 180 25.8 0.0 5.45 2.9590 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 178 26.6 1.6 4.94 3.4054 20 Add keyword search to HELP 174 24.2 0.8 5.44 4.1963 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 174 19.5 2.3 6.21 4.3662 62 Support descending keys in RMS 162 17.2 0.0 7.36 3.1705 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 158 19.5 0.0 6.32 3.1454 41 Add field support to DCL READ 157 21.1 0.8 5.61 4.3148 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 156 18.0 0.0 6.78 2.8755 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 155 18.0 0.0 6.74 2.5975 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 141 18.0 0.8 5.88 4.5235 56 Log one process stopping another 135 18.0 0.0 5.87 2.9435 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 133 13.3 0.8 7.39 3.9577 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 131 18.8 0.8 5.24 3.1791 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 131 15.6 0.0 6.55 2.7810 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 127 16.4 1.6 5.52 4.9715 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 121 16.4 1.6 5.26 4.1584 15 Provide TCP/IP support 110 11.7 0.8 6.88 4.3340 57 Support print/batch job dependency 109 12.5 0.0 6.81 3.1669 59 Support printers on term servers 106 13.3 0.0 6.24 3.0317 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 104 12.5 0.0 6.50 3.3665 7 Support "keyboard" filters 102 14.1 0.8 5.37 3.1307 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 102 14.1 0.8 5.37 5.1770 61 Support segmented keys of mixed type 100 10.2 0.0 7.69 3.1460 66 Editors must avoid simultaneous update 97 15.6 2.3 4.22 4.5821 VAX-47 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY EDUCATIONAL USERS Total ballots in this category: 22 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 122 63.6 0.0 8.71 2.0913 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 80 50.0 0.0 7.27 3.0361 6 Multiple versions of layered products 78 50.0 0.0 7.09 3.5342 19 Provide for extended error info 74 54.5 0.0 6.17 3.3257 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 72 50.0 0.0 6.55 2.8058 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 64 45.5 4.5 5.82 4.9763 15 Provide TCP/IP support 54 31.8 0.0 7.71 3.9461 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 51 36.4 0.0 6.38 3.9256 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 50 45.5 0.0 5.00 2.7487 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 49 31.8 0.0 7.00 3.7859 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 49 45.5 0.0 4.90 2.7264 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 48 31.8 0.0 6.86 3.0237 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 47 36.4 4.5 5.22 5.9535 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 46 27.3 0.0 7.67 3.0111 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 43 22.7 0.0 8.60 2.1909 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 41 31.8 0.0 5.86 3.0237 41 Add field support to DCL READ 40 27.3 0.0 6.67 2.5820 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 39 31.8 0.0 5.57 2.5728 22 Allow DCL procedures in libraries 38 22.7 4.5 6.33 4.7610 17 Support standard print-file format 38 22.7 0.0 7.60 3.3615 20 Add keyword search to HELP 37 36.4 0.0 4.63 2.4458 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 37 27.3 4.5 5.29 4.8892 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 37 27.3 0.0 6.17 3.1885 9 Propagate file ERASE attribute 36 27.3 0.0 6.00 3.2249 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 34 22.7 0.0 6.80 2.9496 53 Support restricted DCL environments 31 18.2 0.0 7.75 3.3040 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 31 27.3 0.0 5.17 3.3116 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 30 27.3 0.0 5.00 2.6077 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 30 36.4 0.0 3.75 1.5811 16 Add FILE_ID to $GETQUI 28 22.7 0.0 5.60 3.8471 56 Log one process stopping another 25 27.3 0.0 4.17 1.3292 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 24 22.7 4.5 4.00 5.5857 59 Support printers on term servers 24 13.6 0.0 8.00 3.4641 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 24 13.6 0.0 8.00 3.4641 54 "Unbundle" the CAPTIVE login flag 23 13.6 4.5 5.75 5.6789 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 23 13.6 0.0 7.67 4.0415 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 22 18.2 0.0 5.50 3.3166 7 Support "keyboard" filters 21 22.7 4.5 3.50 3.8341 43 Enhance ACCOUNTING summary report 21 18.2 0.0 5.25 0.5000 60 Add tape AVR and label security 20 9.1 0.0 10.00 0.0000 67 Enhance EDT search command 18 9.1 0.0 9.00 1.4142 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 16 13.6 0.0 5.33 4.0415 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 15 13.6 0.0 5.00 3.0000 32 Increase LIB$GET_FOREIGN buffer 15 9.1 0.0 7.50 3.5355 68 Keep EDT select region active 14 13.6 0.0 4.67 2.8868 VAX-48 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY COMPUTER SCI. RESEARCHERS Total ballots in this category: 12 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 60 58.3 0.0 8.57 2.4398 6 Multiple versions of layered products 48 50.0 0.0 8.00 2.4495 19 Provide for extended error info 47 50.0 0.0 7.83 3.3714 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 45 41.7 0.0 9.00 2.2361 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 40 33.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 35 33.3 0.0 8.75 2.5000 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 34 33.3 0.0 8.50 3.0000 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 33 33.3 0.0 8.25 3.5000 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 32 41.7 0.0 6.40 2.5100 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 31 33.3 0.0 7.75 2.6300 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 30 33.3 0.0 7.50 2.8868 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 24 33.3 0.0 6.00 2.7080 54 "Unbundle" the CAPTIVE login flag 24 25.0 0.0 8.00 3.4641 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 23 33.3 0.0 5.75 2.9861 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 20 25.0 0.0 6.67 2.8868 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 20 16.7 0.0 10.00 0.0000 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 20 16.7 0.0 10.00 0.0000 7 Support "keyboard" filters 18 25.0 0.0 6.00 4.0000 15 Provide TCP/IP support 18 25.0 8.3 4.50 7.1414 66 Editors must avoid simultaneous update 16 16.7 0.0 8.00 2.8284 17 Support standard print-file format 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 33 Utility for setting file attributes 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 14 16.7 0.0 7.00 4.2426 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 14 16.7 0.0 7.00 2.8284 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 13 16.7 0.0 6.50 4.9497 67 Enhance EDT search command 11 16.7 0.0 5.50 0.7071 58 Enhance handling of TAB's in SORT 10 16.7 0.0 5.00 0.0000 59 Support printers on term servers 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 60 Add tape AVR and label security 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 61 Support segmented keys of mixed type 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 62 Support descending keys in RMS 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 10 16.7 0.0 5.00 0.0000 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 70 Unnumbered FORMAT statements in FORTRAN 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 41 Add field support to DCL READ 9 16.7 0.0 4.50 0.7071 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 8 16.7 0.0 4.00 1.4142 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 8 16.7 0.0 4.00 1.4142 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 8 8.3 0.0 8.00 0.0000 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 8 16.7 0.0 4.00 1.4142 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 7 16.7 0.0 3.50 0.7071 VAX-49 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY DATA ACQ./CTRL USERS Total ballots in this category: 44 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 243 63.6 0.0 8.68 2.4045 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 150 52.3 0.0 6.52 3.1023 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 146 40.9 0.0 8.11 1.9063 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 109 36.4 0.0 6.81 2.3443 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 101 34.1 2.3 6.31 3.5538 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 96 27.3 0.0 8.00 2.4863 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 96 31.8 0.0 6.86 3.7181 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 96 36.4 0.0 6.00 2.7809 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 93 43.2 4.5 4.43 3.4579 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 90 27.3 0.0 7.50 2.6112 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 86 29.5 2.3 6.14 3.9973 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 84 31.8 0.0 6.00 3.5734 19 Provide for extended error info 82 31.8 0.0 5.86 3.3936 6 Multiple versions of layered products 82 36.4 2.3 4.82 4.7201 59 Support printers on term servers 71 22.7 0.0 7.10 2.9981 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 70 22.7 0.0 7.00 3.6515 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 68 22.7 0.0 6.80 3.5214 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 67 27.3 0.0 5.58 3.0588 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 66 22.7 0.0 6.60 3.8355 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 65 25.0 0.0 5.91 2.8794 33 Utility for setting file attributes 65 25.0 0.0 5.91 2.5867 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 64 20.5 0.0 7.11 2.5712 61 Support segmented keys of mixed type 63 15.9 0.0 9.00 2.6458 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 62 31.8 2.3 4.13 3.1593 62 Support descending keys in RMS 61 18.2 0.0 7.63 3.6621 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 58 13.6 0.0 9.67 0.8165 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 57 20.5 0.0 6.33 2.7839 17 Support standard print-file format 56 20.5 0.0 6.22 2.9907 67 Enhance EDT search command 55 20.5 0.0 6.11 2.9768 66 Editors must avoid simultaneous update 49 18.2 4.5 4.90 4.3321 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 48 20.5 4.5 4.36 4.7597 15 Provide TCP/IP support 47 15.9 2.3 5.88 5.5404 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 46 13.6 0.0 7.67 2.3381 26 Provide a "catch symbol" for DCL 46 15.9 0.0 6.57 3.4572 20 Add keyword search to HELP 45 20.5 0.0 5.00 3.9370 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 45 13.6 0.0 7.50 2.7386 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 41 20.5 0.0 4.56 3.3953 57 Support print/batch job dependency 40 15.9 0.0 5.71 3.4983 41 Add field support to DCL READ 36 13.6 0.0 6.00 3.2249 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 36 15.9 2.3 4.50 4.3095 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 36 15.9 0.0 5.14 2.8536 65 Enhance MACRO support in DEBUG 35 15.9 0.0 5.00 2.9439 53 Support restricted DCL environments 35 11.4 0.0 7.00 2.9155 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 35 9.1 0.0 8.75 2.5000 32 Increase LIB$GET_FOREIGN buffer 34 11.4 0.0 6.80 2.7749 VAX-50 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY CAD/CAM USERS Total ballots in this category: 28 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 6 Multiple versions of layered products 111 53.6 0.0 7.40 3.6410 11 Support in-place disk compression 111 50.0 0.0 7.93 3.3619 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 103 42.9 0.0 8.58 1.9752 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 99 50.0 0.0 7.07 2.9733 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 73 42.9 0.0 6.08 3.6794 67 Enhance EDT search command 65 35.7 3.6 5.91 6.0738 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 64 35.7 0.0 6.40 3.6271 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 61 42.9 0.0 5.08 3.6794 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 59 32.1 0.0 6.56 3.2830 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 58 35.7 0.0 5.80 2.6162 15 Provide TCP/IP support 58 32.1 3.6 5.80 5.0288 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 56 32.1 0.0 6.22 2.9907 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 56 32.1 0.0 6.22 2.4889 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 53 35.7 0.0 5.30 3.3015 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 46 25.0 0.0 6.57 2.7603 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 42 28.6 0.0 5.25 2.0529 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 40 28.6 0.0 5.00 2.2039 59 Support printers on term servers 39 17.9 0.0 7.80 2.5884 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 39 21.4 0.0 6.50 2.5884 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 37 28.6 0.0 4.63 3.6621 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 35 14.3 0.0 8.75 2.5000 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 34 28.6 0.0 4.25 3.1510 58 Enhance handling of TAB's in SORT 34 25.0 0.0 4.86 2.7343 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 34 21.4 0.0 5.67 2.8752 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 34 25.0 3.6 4.25 4.7734 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 34 21.4 0.0 5.67 3.2042 17 Support standard print-file format 33 28.6 0.0 4.13 2.1671 20 Add keyword search to HELP 32 25.0 3.6 4.00 6.2335 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 32 28.6 0.0 4.00 2.8284 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 30 14.3 0.0 7.50 2.8868 60 Add tape AVR and label security 28 10.7 0.0 9.33 1.1547 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 27 17.9 0.0 5.40 2.5100 72 Allow image-controlled file access 27 14.3 0.0 6.75 3.3040 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 27 14.3 0.0 6.75 2.7538 41 Add field support to DCL READ 25 17.9 3.6 4.17 7.8592 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 25 21.4 0.0 4.17 3.5449 19 Provide for extended error info 24 17.9 3.6 4.00 7.8994 1 Retain control of a MOUNT'ed device 21 10.7 0.0 7.00 2.6458 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 21 21.4 0.0 3.50 1.3784 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 20 7.1 0.0 10.00 0.0000 33 Utility for setting file attributes 19 14.3 0.0 4.75 3.8622 56 Log one process stopping another 19 14.3 0.0 4.75 3.7749 43 Enhance ACCOUNTING summary report 18 14.3 0.0 4.50 4.0415 7 Support "keyboard" filters 18 14.3 0.0 4.50 2.5166 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 18 17.9 0.0 3.60 1.5166 VAX-51 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY SERVICE BUREAU OPERATORS Total ballots in this category: 12 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 48 50.0 0.0 8.00 3.1623 67 Enhance EDT search command 46 41.7 0.0 9.20 1.7889 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 37 50.0 0.0 6.17 3.0605 57 Support print/batch job dependency 34 41.7 0.0 6.80 3.1145 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 33 41.7 0.0 6.60 3.2094 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 30 33.3 0.0 7.50 3.3166 6 Multiple versions of layered products 28 33.3 0.0 7.00 2.1602 56 Log one process stopping another 27 33.3 0.0 6.75 3.9476 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 26 25.0 0.0 8.67 2.3094 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 25 33.3 0.0 6.25 2.6300 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 25 33.3 0.0 6.25 4.5000 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 25 33.3 0.0 6.25 2.9861 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 22 33.3 0.0 5.50 3.3166 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 22 25.0 0.0 7.33 2.5166 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 21 25.0 0.0 7.00 2.6458 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 20 25.0 0.0 6.67 3.0551 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 20 16.7 0.0 10.00 0.0000 72 Allow image-controlled file access 20 16.7 0.0 10.00 0.0000 60 Add tape AVR and label security 19 25.0 0.0 6.33 4.0415 66 Editors must avoid simultaneous update 19 33.3 0.0 4.75 1.8930 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 18 25.0 0.0 6.00 3.6056 19 Provide for extended error info 18 33.3 0.0 4.50 0.5774 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 17 16.7 0.0 8.50 2.1213 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 17 16.7 0.0 8.50 2.1213 22 Allow DCL procedures in libraries 16 25.0 0.0 5.33 0.5773 53 Support restricted DCL environments 16 25.0 0.0 5.33 4.1633 20 Add keyword search to HELP 16 25.0 0.0 5.33 0.5773 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 15 16.7 0.0 7.50 3.5355 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 14 16.7 0.0 7.00 4.2426 1 Retain control of a MOUNT'ed device 14 16.7 0.0 7.00 4.2426 25 Enhance CTRL-T capability 13 16.7 0.0 6.50 4.9497 3 Provide for parsing a privilege string 12 25.0 0.0 4.00 1.0000 62 Support descending keys in RMS 12 33.3 0.0 3.00 1.4142 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 11 25.0 0.0 3.67 1.5275 9 Propagate file ERASE attribute 11 25.0 0.0 3.67 1.5275 59 Support printers on term servers 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 12 Enhance use of swapping to page files 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 52 Enhance SHUTDOWN procedure 10 16.7 0.0 5.00 0.0000 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 29 Improve /CONFIRM qualifier 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 10 8.3 0.0 10.00 0.0000 VAX-52 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY HARDWARE DEVELOPERS Total ballots in this category: 21 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 81 47.6 0.0 8.10 2.4698 6 Multiple versions of layered products 75 52.4 0.0 6.82 3.5726 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 75 42.9 0.0 8.33 2.2913 11 Support in-place disk compression 65 47.6 0.0 6.50 3.8944 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 64 42.9 0.0 7.11 2.8480 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 64 42.9 0.0 7.11 2.8480 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 51 42.9 0.0 5.67 2.5981 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 48 28.6 4.8 6.86 5.4903 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 46 28.6 0.0 7.67 2.6583 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 46 42.9 0.0 5.11 2.6667 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 46 23.8 0.0 9.20 1.7889 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 43 33.3 0.0 6.14 3.2367 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 43 33.3 0.0 6.14 2.7946 17 Support standard print-file format 41 38.1 0.0 5.13 2.4749 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 40 33.3 0.0 5.71 2.8115 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 40 28.6 0.0 6.67 3.7771 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 38 28.6 0.0 6.33 4.0332 20 Add keyword search to HELP 35 23.8 0.0 7.00 4.2426 67 Enhance EDT search command 35 28.6 0.0 5.83 3.3116 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 35 19.0 0.0 8.75 2.5000 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 34 33.3 0.0 4.86 2.1931 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 32 28.6 0.0 5.33 3.8816 66 Editors must avoid simultaneous update 32 28.6 0.0 5.33 2.5820 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 30 23.8 0.0 6.00 2.5495 19 Provide for extended error info 29 23.8 0.0 5.80 3.1937 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 29 33.3 0.0 4.14 2.1931 41 Add field support to DCL READ 28 19.0 0.0 7.00 3.5590 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 27 19.0 0.0 6.75 4.2720 1 Retain control of a MOUNT'ed device 26 14.3 0.0 8.67 2.3094 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 25 14.3 0.0 8.33 2.8868 59 Support printers on term servers 25 14.3 0.0 8.33 2.8868 72 Allow image-controlled file access 23 14.3 0.0 7.67 4.0415 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 21 23.8 0.0 4.20 3.3466 56 Log one process stopping another 20 9.5 0.0 10.00 0.0000 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 20 9.5 0.0 10.00 0.0000 58 Enhance handling of TAB's in SORT 19 23.8 0.0 3.80 1.7889 33 Utility for setting file attributes 18 23.8 0.0 3.60 1.6733 62 Support descending keys in RMS 17 9.5 0.0 8.50 2.1213 64 Add /D_LINES support to VAX C 15 9.5 0.0 7.50 3.5355 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 15 14.3 4.8 3.75 6.7515 29 Improve /CONFIRM qualifier 14 19.0 4.8 2.80 4.6043 23 Provide a DCL optimizer 14 19.0 0.0 3.50 2.3805 7 Support "keyboard" filters 13 14.3 0.0 4.33 2.5166 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 13 14.3 0.0 4.33 4.9329 68 Keep EDT select region active 13 9.5 0.0 6.50 4.9497 VAX-53 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY SCIENTIFIC/ENGINEERING USERS Total ballots in this category: 99 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 472 58.6 0.0 8.14 2.7938 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 328 49.5 0.0 6.69 2.7478 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 281 40.4 1.0 6.85 3.2059 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 277 35.4 0.0 7.91 2.4177 6 Multiple versions of layered products 230 38.4 1.0 5.90 4.0183 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 226 35.4 0.0 6.46 2.6717 17 Support standard print-file format 209 33.3 0.0 6.33 2.9333 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 207 31.3 0.0 6.68 3.0701 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 203 31.3 0.0 6.55 2.9647 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 198 38.4 2.0 4.95 3.1619 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 198 30.3 2.0 6.19 4.9019 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 196 27.3 0.0 7.26 2.6398 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 193 31.3 1.0 6.03 3.8895 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 189 27.3 0.0 7.00 3.0000 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 186 30.3 0.0 6.20 3.0332 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 161 26.3 0.0 6.19 3.4412 19 Provide for extended error info 159 26.3 1.0 5.89 4.4836 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 149 23.2 0.0 6.48 2.9675 33 Utility for setting file attributes 147 25.3 0.0 5.88 2.6032 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 145 28.3 0.0 5.18 2.6674 20 Add keyword search to HELP 138 23.2 1.0 5.75 4.5612 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 137 22.2 0.0 6.23 3.0850 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 136 21.2 3.0 5.67 4.4689 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 133 24.2 2.0 5.12 4.8442 15 Provide TCP/IP support 132 18.2 1.0 6.95 4.1563 67 Enhance EDT search command 131 21.2 1.0 5.95 4.7256 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 125 24.2 0.0 5.21 3.2568 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 115 22.2 0.0 5.23 2.7243 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 114 23.2 1.0 4.75 2.6744 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 108 15.2 0.0 7.20 2.6780 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 100 18.2 0.0 5.56 2.3066 41 Add field support to DCL READ 87 17.2 1.0 4.83 4.6935 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 84 11.1 1.0 7.00 4.3901 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 83 15.2 0.0 5.53 3.5429 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 81 18.2 2.0 4.05 3.5314 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 80 16.2 1.0 4.71 4.7666 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 79 16.2 1.0 4.65 4.8211 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 78 16.2 0.0 4.88 2.9411 7 Support "keyboard" filters 77 14.1 0.0 5.50 3.0064 22 Allow DCL procedures in libraries 76 11.1 1.0 6.33 5.8205 60 Add tape AVR and label security 75 10.1 0.0 7.50 3.3417 62 Support descending keys in RMS 75 12.1 0.0 6.25 3.6213 9 Propagate file ERASE attribute 73 16.2 0.0 4.56 2.5025 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 71 10.1 0.0 7.10 2.5144 59 Support printers on term servers 69 11.1 0.0 6.27 2.9357 VAX-54 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY OFFICE AUTOMATION USERS Total ballots in this category: 50 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 230 58.0 0.0 7.93 2.6313 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 178 56.0 0.0 6.36 3.0818 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 141 36.0 0.0 7.83 2.3825 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 136 40.0 2.0 6.48 3.4150 6 Multiple versions of layered products 128 36.0 0.0 7.11 3.2879 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 120 36.0 0.0 6.67 3.0098 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 111 42.0 0.0 5.29 3.0190 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 110 42.0 2.0 5.00 3.0551 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 109 34.0 0.0 6.41 3.4652 67 Enhance EDT search command 101 30.0 0.0 6.73 3.2616 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 96 34.0 0.0 5.65 3.7239 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 93 30.0 0.0 6.20 3.7834 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 85 28.0 0.0 6.07 3.2691 46 Add some DCL to S/A BACKUP environ 83 26.0 0.0 6.38 2.9308 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 81 22.0 0.0 7.36 2.6560 17 Support standard print-file format 81 28.0 0.0 5.79 3.0929 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 80 24.0 0.0 6.67 2.2293 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 80 24.0 0.0 6.67 3.0251 20 Add keyword search to HELP 78 26.0 0.0 6.00 3.0551 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 76 28.0 0.0 5.43 2.6808 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 76 24.0 0.0 6.33 2.9025 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 76 28.0 0.0 5.43 3.5673 33 Utility for setting file attributes 75 22.0 0.0 6.82 2.6007 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 72 32.0 2.0 4.24 2.9692 19 Provide for extended error info 70 26.0 0.0 5.38 3.3798 41 Add field support to DCL READ 68 20.0 0.0 6.80 2.8206 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 67 24.0 0.0 5.58 2.6443 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 67 20.0 0.0 6.70 3.6833 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 65 24.0 0.0 5.42 3.1176 72 Allow image-controlled file access 65 16.0 0.0 8.13 2.9001 74 Add DECnet End-to-end encryption 65 16.0 0.0 8.13 2.5877 53 Support restricted DCL environments 63 18.0 0.0 7.00 3.3166 45 Provide time estimates for BACKUP 63 22.0 0.0 5.73 2.9695 15 Provide TCP/IP support 62 18.0 2.0 6.20 5.2451 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 61 20.0 0.0 6.10 3.2472 56 Log one process stopping another 60 22.0 0.0 5.45 3.4165 59 Support printers on term servers 60 14.0 0.0 8.57 2.4398 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 55 14.0 0.0 7.86 3.6710 62 Support descending keys in RMS 55 18.0 0.0 6.11 3.2575 57 Support print/batch job dependency 55 18.0 0.0 6.11 3.0596 7 Support "keyboard" filters 54 18.0 0.0 6.00 3.5355 1 Retain control of a MOUNT'ed device 53 16.0 0.0 6.63 3.2923 75 Improve node authentication in DECnet 53 12.0 0.0 8.83 2.8577 22 Allow DCL procedures in libraries 52 16.0 0.0 6.50 2.7255 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 49 22.0 0.0 4.45 2.5442 VAX-55 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 FALL 1985 SIR BALLOT RESULTS THE TOP 45 SIR's AS RANKED BY TELECOMMUNICATIONS USERS Total ballots in this category: 23 Fall 1985 Ballot Pct of Pct of Avg Pts Std Dev SIR SIR Total Ballots Ballots Given of Pts Nr. Description Pts Pos Pts Neg Pts 11 Support in-place disk compression 84 47.8 0.0 7.64 3.0421 6 Multiple versions of layered products 77 43.5 0.0 7.70 2.9458 42 Enhance network support in BACKUP 76 39.1 0.0 8.44 2.3511 55 Enhance AUTHORIZE SHOW command 69 47.8 0.0 6.27 3.2277 4 Enhance CPU usage reports in MONITOR 63 39.1 0.0 7.00 3.3541 8 Provide a SYSGEN DISCONNECT 59 39.1 0.0 6.56 3.4681 19 Provide for extended error info 50 34.8 0.0 6.25 3.6936 20 Add keyword search to HELP 46 30.4 0.0 6.57 3.3094 28 Modify behavior of PURGE command 45 34.8 4.3 5.00 4.0927 67 Enhance EDT search command 45 26.1 0.0 7.50 3.7283 33 Utility for setting file attributes 43 26.1 0.0 7.17 3.3714 44 Volume init parameters to S/A BACKUP 43 30.4 0.0 6.14 2.7343 10 Allow INSTALL with priority and UIC 41 30.4 0.0 5.86 2.1931 48 Add manual recover mode for BACKUP 41 26.1 0.0 6.83 3.8687 49 Provide screen editor for AUTHORIZE 40 21.7 0.0 8.00 2.7386 36 Add delivery tracking to MAIL 39 21.7 0.0 7.80 3.8987 47 Fix S/A BACKUP on write-protected disk 39 21.7 0.0 7.80 3.1937 24 Add automatic file close for DCL 39 30.4 0.0 5.57 3.3094 2 Provide a quota on buffered I/O RATE 35 21.7 4.3 5.83 5.7067 27 Enhance DELETE command behavior 35 30.4 0.0 5.00 3.1091 18 Add class-based scheduler to VMS 33 30.4 0.0 4.71 2.4976 40 Better SET TERM/INQUIRE with VT220 33 30.4 0.0 4.71 3.8607 35 DIFFERENCE should support C comments 33 17.4 0.0 8.25 3.5000 5 Enhance the ALLOCATE command 32 30.4 0.0 4.57 1.9024 37 Add wildcard send to MAIL 31 26.1 0.0 5.17 3.1252 63 Provide VMS definitions for all langs. 30 13.0 0.0 10.00 0.0000 73 Implement government classifications 30 13.0 0.0 10.00 0.0000 62 Support descending keys in RMS 28 17.4 0.0 7.00 3.5590 14 Alter the priority boost mechanism 28 21.7 0.0 5.60 2.5100 38 Provide callable interface to MAIL 27 21.7 0.0 5.40 3.6469 21 Add /NOIMAGE debugging option to DCL 27 17.4 0.0 6.75 3.7749 61 Support segmented keys of mixed type 25 13.0 0.0 8.33 2.8868 30 Modify treatment of SET VERIFY 25 17.4 0.0 6.25 4.3493 41 Add field support to DCL READ 25 13.0 0.0 8.33 2.8868 34 Add match limit to SEARCH 25 13.0 0.0 8.33 2.8868 31 SET PROTECTION for logical name tables 25 13.0 0.0 8.33 2.8868 50 Add /INTERACTIVE and /IMAGE to SHOW SYS 23 13.0 0.0 7.67 3.2146 7 Support "keyboard" filters 22 13.0 0.0 7.33 4.6188 17 Support standard print-file format 21 21.7 0.0 4.20 3.7014 39 Add /NOADVANCE to DCL WRITE 21 13.0 0.0 7.00 3.6056 60 Add tape AVR and label security 21 13.0 0.0 7.00 3.6056 22 Allow DCL procedures in libraries 21 13.0 0.0 7.00 1.0000 9 Propagate file ERASE attribute 20 17.4 0.0 5.00 3.5590 59 Support printers on term servers 20 8.7 0.0 10.00 0.0000 64 Add /D_LINES support to VAX C 19 8.7 4.3 6.33 6.3509 VAX-56 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 VAX System SIG Committee List VAX System SIG Committee List As of October 28, 1985 Osman K. Ahmad - TOPS-VAX Association of American Railroads Technical Center, Research and Test Department 3140 South Federal Street Chicago, IL 60616 Joe Angelico - Assistant Symposium Coordinator US Coast Guard CCGD8(DT) Hale Boggs Federal Building 500 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Elizabeth Bailey - Volunteer Coordinator 222 CEB Tennessee Valley Authority Muscle Shoals, AL 35660 June Baker - Planning Computer Sciences Corporation 6565 Arlington Boulevard Falls Church, VA 22046 Joe L. Bingham - Librarian Mantech International 2320 Mill Road Alexandria, VA 22314 Bob Boyd - Commercial GE Microelectronics Center MS 2P-04 Post Office Box 13409 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 C. Douglas Brown - Security Sandia Labs Division 2644 P.O. Box 5800 Albuquerque, NM 87185 Jack Cundiff - Assistant Symposium Coordinator Horry-Georgetown Post Office Box 1966 Conway, SC 29526 Tom Danforth - Handout Editor Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Woods Hole, MA 02543 VAX-57 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 VAX System SIG Committee List Jim Downward - Migration and Host Development, VAXintosh KMS Fusion Incorporated 3941 Research Park Drive Ann Arbor MI 48106 Jane Furze - Campground 3830 West Cochise Phoenix, AZ 85064 Dennis Frayne - Real Time/Process Control McDonnell Douglas 5301 Bolsa Avenue Huntington Beach, CA 92646 Carl E. Friedberg - Internals In House Systems 165 William Street New York, NY 10038 Don Golden - Publications Coordinator c/o Shell Development Company, D-2132 Westhollow Research Center Post Office Box 13480 Houston, TX 77001 Gary Grebus - System Improvement Request Battelle Columbis Labs Room 11-6011 505 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201-2693 B. Hancock - Network Dimension Data Systems, Incorporated 2510 Limestone Lane Garland, TX 75040 Jeffrey S. Jalbert - Historian J C C Post Office Box 381 Granville, OH 43023 614-587-0157 Ken Johnson - VAXcluster Working Group Meridian Technology Corporation Post Office Box 2006 St. Louis, MO 63011 Ray Kaplan - VAXeln Pivotal Incorporated 6892 East Dorado Court Ticson, AZ 85715 VAX-58 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 VAX System SIG Committee List Lawrence J. Kilgallen - Newsletter Editor Box 81, MIT Station Cambridge, MA 02139-0901 Margaret Knox - Chair Computation Center University of Texas Austin, Texas 78712 Ross W. Miller - Vice Chair and Working Group Coordinator Online Data Processing, Inc. N 637 Hamilton Spokane, WA 99202 Eugene Pal - Multiprocessor US Army CAORA (ATOR-CAT-C) Fort Leavenworth, KA Thomas Provost - Hardware MIT/LNS Bates Linac Facility Post Office Box 846 Middleton, MA 01949 Susan Rehse - System Management Lockheed Missiles 3251 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94301-1187 Bob Robbins - Advisor Array Computer Consultants 5364 Woodvale Drive Sarasota, FL 33582 Larry Robertson - Real Time/Process Control Bear Computer Systems Inc. 5651 Case Avenue North Hollywood, CA David Schmidt - LUG Coordinator Management Sciences Associates 5100 Centre Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Al Siegel - Advisor Battelle Memorial Institute 505 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201-2693 D. Slater - Artificial Intelligence Institute for Defense Analysis 1801 North Beavregard Street Alexandria, VA 22314 VAX-59 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 INPUT/OUTPUT INPUT/OUTPUT A SIG Information Interchange A form for INPUT/OUTPUT submissions is available at the back of the issue. INPUT/OUTPUT 480 Caption: VI for VMS? Wordstar for VMS? Message: Does anyone know where I can get a VI-like editor for VMS without buying a layered UNIX? I would also like to find a Wordstar lookalike for VMS without buying a hardware/software solution. Contact: Greg Collver Josephine County Schools 706 NW A Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 Telephone (503) 476-7721 Date: December 12, 1985 INPUT/OUTPUT 481 Caption: YACC, LEX and LINT for MicroVAX I under VMS Message: We are looking for versions of the UNIX utilities YACC, LEX and LINT that will run on a DEC MicroVAX I under VMS 4.1 with DEC C. Contact: W. E. Wilson Nuclear Radiation Center Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-1300 Telephone (509) 335-8317 Date: December 16, 1985 VAX-60 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 INPUT/OUTPUT INPUT/OUTPUT 482 Caption: Program to read IBM-PC floppy disks on a MicroVAX I Message: We desire to be able to read 5-1/4" floppy disks generated on an IBM-PC on the RX50 drive of a MicroVAX I. The July 1985 issue of the Pageswapper (I/O 431) indicated that Allison Hamilton in Canada had written a FORTRAN program that would perform this function. I wrote to Mr. Hamilton but did not receive a reply. Contact: W. E. Wilson Nuclear Radiation Center Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-1300 Telephone (509) 335-8317 Date: December 16, 1985 INPUT/OUTPUT 483 Caption: Dialing out on the VAX using a DF112 Modem Message: I wrote a Macro program which under VMS 3.7 would successfully dial out and connect our VAX to remote locations. Now under VMS 4.1 the program no longer works. Has the QIO function or related functions changed or is the problem in the terminal line set up? Contact: Tim Barrett Chalet Susse International, Incorporated Chalet Drive Wilton, NH 03086 Telephone (603) 654-2000 ext 276 Date: December 24, 1985 VAX-61 PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 INPUT/OUTPUT Submission Form INPUT/OUTPUT Submission Form A SIG Information Interchange Please reprint in the next issue of the Pageswapper If this is a reply to a previous I/O, which number? ________ Caption: ______________________________________________________ Message: ______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Contact: Name _______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Telephone ____________________________ Signature _____________________________ Date ________________ Mail this form to: Larry Kilgallen, PAGESWAPPER Editor Box 81, MIT Station, Cambridge, MA 02139-0901, USA PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 INPUT/OUTPUT Submission Form Tear out or photocopy reverse to submit an I/O item Larry Kilgallen, PAGESWAPPER Editor Box 81, MIT Station Cambridge, MA 02139-0901 USA PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 System Improvement Request Submission Form System Improvement Request Submission Form Page 1 of _____ ________________________________________________________________ Submittor: Firm: Address: Phone: ________________________________________________________________ How to write an SIR: Describe the capability you would like to see available on VAX systems. Be as specific as possible. Please don't assume we know how it's done on the XYZ system. Justify why the capability would be useful and give an example of its use. If you wish, suggest a possible implementation of your request. ________________________________________________________________ Abstract (Please limit to four lines): ________________________________________________________________ Description and examples (use additional pages if required) PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 System Improvement Request Submission Form Tear out or photocopy reverse to submit an SIR Gary L. Grebus Battelle Columbus Division Room 11-6011 505 King Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693 USA PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 VAX Systems SIG Spring 1986 SIR Ballot VAX Systems SIG Spring 1986 SIR Ballot DECUS membership number __________________ (six digits) Our site uses the following VAX models (check all that apply) 8600 ____ 11/782 ____ 11/780,11/785 ____ 11/750 ____ 11/730,11/725 ____ MicroVAX ____ We use VAX's in the following applications (Check all that apply) Business EDP ____ Software Development ____ Education ____ Computer Science Research ____ Data Acquisition/Control____ CAD/CAM ____ Service Bureau ____ Hardware Development ____ Scientific/Engineering ____ Office Automation ____ Telecommunications _____ Other ____________________________ I support the following as the most important System Improvement Requests. (List from zero to fifteen SIR's): SIR Number: ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- I oppose the following SIR's as detrimental. (List from zero to five SIR's): SIR Number: ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Mail to: Gary L. Grebus Battelle Columbus Division Room 11-6011 505 King Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 To be counted, you ballot must be received by April 1. PAGESWAPPER - February 1986 - Volume 7 Number 7 VAX Systems SIG Spring 1986 SIR Ballot Tear out or photocopy reverse to vote on SIRs Gary L. Grebus Battelle Columbus Division Room 11-6011 505 King Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693 USA