(PYVMS LOGO) Python on OpenVMS

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the PYVMS source kit


You always need to download the PYVMS 'source kit'. It is currently available from:

There are currently no mirror sites available. I welcome offers, but request that we keep in touch for updates.

You need this file, even if you intend not to build the Python interpreter yourself, but download the pre-compiled object modules!


the PYVMS documentation


The documentation is available in different forms:

HTML documentation
The '.HTML' files are distributed within the 'source kit'. You can put these files on a web server or directly read them with a browser. See the 'GENeral MANual' for more details.

Keep the [.VMS.DOC] tree intact, because there are hyperlinks between the 'manuals'.

simple text format
This is a file that has been run through a text formatter without any information about bold printing. You can send this file to a printer that doesn't understand that or read it directly with a text editor.

All three manuals are separately available:

printer format
There are files that have been run through the RUNOFF text formatter that contain information for bold printing. Two variants are available:

  • a '.MEM' file for output on line printers
    This file can be converted to the 'simple text format' mentioned above. However you do need access to an OpenVMS system to do that.

  • a '.LNI' file for output on printers understanding ANSI sequences

All 3 manuals are stored in an OpenVMS text library. The library contains a file (README_TLB.TXT) with detailed instructions how to extract the manuals from the library, how to re-apply the correct record attributes to the '.MEM' and '.TXT' files and how to convert a '.MEM' file to a '.TXT' file to get the 'simple text format' mentioned above.

Start at:

After the download to an OpenVMS system do a:

$ LIBRARY /EXTRACT= README_TLB.TXT -
          /OUTPUT=  README_TLB.TXT -
          PYVMS1_5_1-V008DOC.TLB

Note that the PYVMS documentation only describes OpenVMS specifics. You should download the Python documentation, too.


precompiled object code


For very specific configurations I MIGHT make precompiled object code available. They may NOT work on your configuration! I'm sorry, but that is the best you can expect from a 'hobby project'.

Start at http://www.decus.de/~zessin/py_obj.html to see if and what versions are available.

I appreciate feedback and offers for other versions.


tools to build Python on OpenVMS


You need some tools that, unfortunately, are not build into the OpenVMS operating system.

These are:

Explaining these tools in more detail is beyond the scope of this guide, sorry. You should be able to get along with them if you follow the instructions in the 'building' section of the 'General Manual'.

I have made available executable files of the tools that I use. They can be downloaded from:

http://www.decus.de/~zessin/py_tools.html

Of course, there is NO guarantee that they work for you. The 'General Manual' of the PYVMS documentation has pointers where more up-to date versions (perhaps including source) can be found.


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27-MAR-1999 ZE.