Article 138940 of comp.os.vms:
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!lead.zk3.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in1.uu.net!news.decus.org!eisner.decus.org!schenkenberg
From: schenkenberg@eisner.decus.org (Brian Schenkenberger, VAXman-)
Subject: Re: prompt
X-Nntp-Posting-User: SCHENKENBERG
Lines: 36
Organization: DECUServe
Message-ID: <1996Jan28.165530.1@eisner.decus.org>
References: <01I0JPX818O88WX6G3@kopc.hhs.dk>
X-Nntp-Posting-Host: eisner.decus.org
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 1996 21:55:30 GMT

In article <01I0JPX818O88WX6G3@kopc.hhs.dk>, Arne Vajhoej <ARNE@ko.hhs.dk> writes:
> 
> You have several options:
> 
> 1)  Drop the idea (it is not very VMSish).

I whole heartedly agree!

> 2)  Get a CD.COM that changes directory and updates the prompt.
>     Dozens of them are available. It only works if you use that
>     COM-file to change directory with.

Which soon falls apart when a program mods the default directory 
or you run something to zap the symbol, like VMSINSTAL.

> 3)  Get and install one of the kernel hacks, that hook into SYS$SETDDIR.
>     This needs privs, but will catch everything.

I wrote one a long, long time ago and put in the PD.  I know that
there's an archive somewhere that has it.  There's a pointer to it
on the Digital freeware CD.  It's called SSHOOK.  There's both VAX 
and Alpha versions floating about somewhere.  I used both versions 
as the core of a non-proprietary VAX to Alpha porting presentation
at several DECUS.

> 4)  Get a little utility I once wrote, which modified the SET DEFAULT
>     command to change directory and change prompt. It does not need
>     privs and will work for all SET DEFAULT's both interactive and
>     embedded in various COM-files. It does not work for programs
>     calling SYS$SETDDIR.

Which has some of the drawbacks of #2.

Strange game!  The only winning move is not to play!

VAXman