NOTES ON THE VAX READER PUNCH SYSTEM


Included on  the tape are  three different programs  for punching
cards. RP_CARDPUNCH.COM  reads a record  from the input  file and
"writes" it to  the reader/punch port. At the  end of each record
both a carriage return (CR) and a  line feed (LF) are sent to the
port. RP_CARDPUNCH_QUEUE.COM very  simply treats the reader/punch
as a  printer and uses  the system print  command to "print"  the
input file  at a queue  (which must be  previously initialized by
the system  manager) associated with the  reader/punch port. Each
record will have a CR and a LF at the end. It is possible that in
some  cases (depending  on the  input file  type) additional LF's
could  be  sent.  These  programs  have  the  advantages of being
simple, fast (especially the  queue version), and easily modified
since they are written in DCL.

Also included is the executable image file, RP_PUNCH.EXE. This is
a fairly simple  program which sends records  to the reader/punch
port  with only  a CR  at the  end. It  is almost  certainly much
faster than the  punch, and will introduce much  less overhead on
the VAX.  It is intended to  do nothing more than  pump the input
records unmodified to the reader/punch. The VAX MACRO source code
is  included  as  sample  code  and  in  case some customizing is
required.

RP_MENU  is based  on a  generic menu  system which  I intend  to
submit to the DECUS public domain library. The executable portion
of  this system  is a   "black box"  which displays  menu options
defined  in a  menu definition  file. RP_MENU.MDF  is a text file
which can be easily modified to change the appearance of the menu
and  the  options  it  displays.  The  executable gets the user's
choice and executes it based on  the commands defined in the menu
definition file.

The  simplest way  to use  the RP_  system is  to execute the VMS
command

        $ @RP_MENU

This  starts  up  the  menu  from  which  all  functions  can  be
performed.  RP_CARDPUNCH will  be executed  to punch  cards. More
information  on  using  and  modifying  RP_MENU  is  included  in
RP_MENU.DOC.











Following is a list of alternative commands and their functions:


@RP_CARDREADER             Reads cards from port
@RP_SET_FILE_NAME          Defines file name logical (gets user
                           input)
@RP_SET_DEFAULT_VALUES     Defines  logicals  used  in  system
                           (gets user input)
@RP_CARDPUNCH.COM          Reads records, punches cards (might
                           require firmware change)
@RP_CARDPUNCH_QUEUE.COM    Efficient way to punch (might require
                           firmware change)
RUN RP_PUNCH               Reads records, punches cards
                           (executable image, MACRO source
                           included)
RUN RP_MENU                Not recommended. Use @RP_MENU