(LOGO.JPG) Python for OpenVMS

Welcome


Welcome to the Python programming language running on the OpenVMS operating system.

This is the 'General Manual'.

It contains all sorts of information. Other documentation is in the 'Installation Manual', the 'Reference Manual' and the 'Demoes Manual'.


For information about Python, please refer to its homepage at:

Information about the OpenVMS operating system can be found at:


Please note:
This text is/was originally written in HTML format so it can be viewed with a browser. The '.HTML' files are also converted by a tool named HTML2RNO to '.RNO' files.

Those are then processed by the RUNOFF text-formatter (which comes with the OpenVMS operating system) to produce '.MEM' or '.LNI' files which can be printed. So, some things may look strange when this documentation is viewed with a browser or read as a text file, but now you know why.


Python for OpenVMS has been configured with as much builtin modules as possible. Here is a list as of 28-FEB-2000:

>>> print sys.builtin_module_names
('__builtin__', '__main__', 'array', 'audioop', 'binascii', 'cPickle', 'cStringIO', 'cmath', 'errno', 'imageop', 'imp', 'marshal', 'math', 'md5', 'new', 'operator', 'parser', 'pcre', 'posix', 'pyvms', 'regex', 'rgbimg', 'rotor', 'select', 'sha', 'signal', 'socket', 'soundex', 'strop', 'struct', 'sys', 'time', 'timing', 'vms_brkdef', 'vms_ciadef', 'vms_dcdef', 'vms_dmtdef', 'vms_dvidef', 'vms_fabdef', 'vms_fscndef', 'vms_initdef', 'vms_jpidef', 'vms_kgbdef', 'vms_lbr', 'vms_lckdef', 'vms_lib', 'vms_libdtdef', 'vms_lnmdef', 'vms_mail', 'vms_maildef', 'vms_mntdef', 'vms_namdef', 'vms_ossdef', 'vms_prcdef', 'vms_prvdef', 'vms_pscandef', 'vms_quidef', 'vms_rabdef', 'vms_rsdmdef', 'vms_sjcdef', 'vms_smg', 'vms_smgdef', 'vms_statedef', 'vms_sys', 'vms_trmdef', 'vms_uaidef', 'vms_xaballdef', 'vms_xabfhcdef', 'vms_xabitmdef', 'vms_xabkeydef', 'vms_xabprodef')

Beginning with version 1.5.2-V005 the 'vms_lbr' and the 'vms_mail' modules are no longer enabled by default - see 'configuration: builtin modules' for how to re-enable them if wanted. Beginning with version 1.5.2-V007 the 'vms_smg' module exists, but is not enabled by default.

Please note:
None of the nonVMS-related modules have been thoroughly tested.


Python for OpenVMS consists of the following elements:
  • the original Python distribution stored in the directory tree [PYTHON.PYTHON-1_5_2...]
  • some files that have been changed for OpenVMS
    e.g. [.MODULES]TIMEMODULE.C
  • files that implement the interfaces to OpenVMS routines (e.g. VMS_LIB.C). Take a look in the 'reference manual' under 'modules'.
  • additional files that implement / provide enhanced functionality that is not available on (some versions of) OpenVMS (e.g. utime() )
  • a number of data files that describe OpenVMS version-related information, item codes, bitmasks and constants (VMSD*.DAT)
  • command procedures to ease translation (e. g. VMSDEF related data files) and compilation
  • examples and documentation
I have tried to keep the original directory tree unchanged as much as possible. Additional files are located in the [.VMS...] sub-tree.

No changes have been sent back to have them included into the original source.

Version numbers / file names

The current release of Python for OpenVMS is version 1.5.2-V007.

The filename layout is as follows:

PYTHON1_5_2.ZIP
This is the original Python distribution, version 1.5.2, just in a re-packaged file.
Note that the Python documentation is separate.

PYTHON-1_5_2-V007typ.ZIP
An OpenVMS specific file. That looks like:

1_5_2
based on Python version 1.5.2

V007
OpenVMS port - version 7, full kit. It will be incremented for each new release. If the Python version increments (e.g. to 1.5.3) then the version number of the next OpenVMS port will reset to V001 again.

An update kit's version looks like:

V001U4
a kit that contains updates from version 001 (including 002 and 003) to 004.

typ
Type of the kit:

SRC
The Python for OpenVMS source kit. Documentation is embedded in HTML format. You can first build Python and then convert the HTML to other formats - see the page 'installing and building' in the 'Installation Manual'.

DOC
This file contains pre-build Python for OpenVMS documentation.

A documentation kit (the ".TLB" file) is always complete.

OBJ_arch
This file contains precompiled objects code.
arch can be 'ALPHA' or 'VAX'.
Download sources are listed in the Installation Manual.


As of 05-AUG-2000 'Python for OpenVMS' is still a 'hobby' project of mine (Uwe Zessin) which I do for my own pleasure in my spare time.


(go to: table of contents, index, prev: The Python for OpenVMS copyright, next: access to the Python for OpenVMS documentation )

05-AUG-2000 ZE.