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Caveat:
  1. The programs and information presented on this web site are intended for educational use only for OpenVMS application developers.
  2. The programs and information presented on this web site are provided free of charge.
  3. The programs and information presented on this web site are presented to you as-is. I will not be held responsible in any way if they damage your computer system, business or organization (sounds like the warning from a Microsoft shrink-wrap seal, eh?)
  4. To the best of my knowledge, the programs presented on this web site compile, link and run properly. Please let me know if they don't work and I will attempt to fix them as soon as I find the time (I only support this stuff in my spare time).
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OpenVMS Source Code (presented in HTML format)

OpenVMS BASIC

OpenVMS C/C++

DCL (Digital Control Language)

Macro Assembler

OpenVMS Programming

Updated: 2013-03-31 (a work in progress)

OpenVMS Source Code (presented in HTML format)

Presented in HTML format so:

How my source code pages were webified

My demo programs were converted to HTML pages by running my source code through this VMS-BASIC-based utility:

What does it do? For the most part, it converts certain "HTML sensitive" characters into "HTML entities" (meta data) like so:

Original Character HTML Entities
& &
< &lt;
> &gt;

The utility also inserts <pre> before my first line and appends </pre> after my last line in order to preserve spaces and tabs. Optionally, this utility can build a complete web page.

OpenVMS demo source code (old)

Some unconverted stuff (mostly RDB related sources) can still be found here in zipped format:

../demo_vms_zips/

OpenVMS BASIC programs

General Info Link: OpenVMS Notes: VMS-BASIC

File I/O Demos

Technology Program Notes
RMS   Record Management Services for OpenVMS
  rms_sequential_demo.bas shows how to manipulate sequential RMS files (with BASIC terminal i/o calls)
  rms_relative_demo.bas shows how to manipulate relative RMS files (with BASIC terminal i/o calls)
  rms_indexed_demo.bas shows how to manipulate indexed RMS files (with BASIC terminal i/o calls)
  rms_indexed_demo_fms.bas shows how to manipulate indexed RMS files (with a few FMS i/o calls)

FMS (Forms Management System) Notes:

  • in the early VAX/VMS days, developers were encouraged to insert their various FMS forms (name1.frm) into a developer-created "forms library" (name.flb). During image activation, the program would call FDV$LOPEN to open the library, FDV$LOAD to fetch the forms into various workspace buffers, then FDV$LCLOS to close the library connection. In those days I went to great lengths to reduce the cost of image activations. One solution was to bypass the form library by creating a binary version of each form then linking them to the executable. This demo shows you how to do this.
  • There are ~ 66 FMS functions and you can read more about them by downloading manuals from here:
  rms_test_fsp.bas a little hacking with the FSP$ function (only meant to support older BASIC-PLUS-2 programs. Newer code should to trial opens using USEROPEN)
  rms_test_useropen.bas do a trial file-open using a USEROPEN function
  • an intermediate version includes a hack to allow inclusion of XABSUM and XABKEY (this last one is for inspecting keys a.k.a. indexes)
  • recently added code to include XAMPRO (to inspect protection bits)
  • this program works in two modes:
    • simple-and-safe:
      • simply tack my pointer onto the existing FAB:XAB pointer (overwriting what was their previously)
      • do my thing
      • restore original pointer before exiting useropen
    • complex-and-dangerous:
      • start at FAB:XAB then scan the linked list until you hit a zero. Then use a home-grown POKE routine to tack my list onto the end of the existing list
      • do my thing
      • restore original pointer before exiting useropen
  sys_file_io_demo.bas doing file i/o in BASIC without using BASIC's file i/o routines
RDB   a.k.a. Oracle-RDB (Relational Data Base)
  coming soon you can find the original 43-file zipped package here
More information: OpenVMS Notes: Oracle-RDB

I/P Stack Demos

Technology Programs Notes
Any Stack    
  tcpip$tcp_client_qio_basic.bas
tcpip$tcp_server_qio_basic.bas		 client demo. Derived from [tcpip$examples] tcpip$tcp_client_qio-decc.c
server demo. Derived from [tcpip$examples] tcpip$tcp_server_qio-decc.c
  tcpip$tcp_sa_client_qio_basic.bas stand-alone client demo (can telnet to a VMS platform, log in, run a program, then log out)
this program works but is still under development
  get_host_by_name_qio.bas domain name lookup from BASIC
almost impossible to write with HP manuals in 2012. Why? They deleted code stubs found in the Compaq manuals.
TCP/IP Services
for OpenVMS		   HP's official stack for OpenVMS
a.k.a. UCX ("UNIX Communications Extensions" or "Ultrix Communications Extensions")
  coming  
TCPware   a third-party stack from Process Software.
This was the only I/P Stack for VMS in the 1980s and early 1990s
  TCPware_telnet_sample.bas Demos telneting from within BASIC. Also demoes: CHARGEN, ECHO, HTTP, etc.
  TCPware_pop3_demo.bas Demos connecting to a POP3 server to retrieve email
  TCPware_smtp_demo.bas Demos connecting to an SMTP server to send email
  TCPware_ftp_sample.bas Demos how to FTP from within a BASIC executable

Web Demos

Topic Programs Notes
Apache
Glued Example		 read_html_apache.com
  1. drop this DCL script into any one of your apache user-accessible scripts directories (I use "[.scripts]")
  2. rename the file to match the URL you wish to use. For example, if the link is "/demo123" then rename the file to "demo123.com"
  3. modify the script to run this next program called "read_html_apache.exe". It will read/decode the received HTML page then create DCL symbols representing the contents of HTML objects on the web page.
  4. if the program ran properly, now run your desired program which will read the DCL symbols then do whatever you want
  5. use a browser to test your application like so:
        http://node-spec/scripts/demo123
  read_html_apache.bas Have the script above run this program which will:
  1. read data sent by the browser to the web server
  2. decode the HTML page
  3.  create DCL symbols representing HTML data contents of HTML objects on the web page.
Apache
No-Glue
Example		 apache_demo.bas This stand-alone application does not require any glue (DCL script). You could do one of the following:
  1. create a one-line DCL script which does nothing other than run your executable program
  2. drop the executable program directly into the Apache scripts directory.
Password Change
Demo		 www_password_change.bas
  • CGI Glue
    • can be used standalone (does not use CGI glue)
    • can be used not standalone (see Apache Glued Example above)
  • can hook into an external database (RMS in my case) to validate users
  • demos how a small amount of JavaScript (embedded in the BASIC source) can be used to pre-validate the HTML form then enabling/disabling the submit button
Upload Demo coming soon  
SOAP Demo coming soon Since all my SOAP services are written in C (via gSOAP) or Java (via AXIS or AXIS2 running on Tomcat), I may publish a little BASIC program used to send SOAP test cases (messages) to published SOAP service.
AJAX Demo coming soon
  • but here is a little taste of only the JavaScript file: ajax_vdsl_port_mtce.js
  • AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) is a very cool, although poorly understood, client-server technology used in conjunction with DOM-compliant browsers.
  • AJAX allows a browser to fire JavaScript function XMLHttpRequest to issue an HTML request on a secondary channel behind the current web page. The response comes back then JavaScript can be programmed to inject data, inject HTML code, or anything you want, into the DOM-compliant web page.
  • AJAX can send back ANY text document. Plain, XML, HTML, whatever.
  • Back in the day, I wrote many VMS BASIC applications which employed FMS (form management system) forms on character cell terminals like so:
    Desired Action BASIC Code
    display a form call fdv$disp( fname$ )
    populate a form (field-by-field) call fdv$put( last_name$, "f$last_name" )
    populate a form (all at once) call fdv$putal( whole_form$ )
    read a form (field-by-field) call fdv$get( last_name$, terminator%, "f$last_name" )
  • I recently moved a BASIC application from FMS on VT420 to HTML/JAXA on browser by first creating a static web page which contains an HTML version of my FMS form (the FMS field name became the "id" of the HTML input object). My app first loads the static web page then issues (based upon user input) AJAX transactions requesting tagged data. Some of my scripts process the tagged data then:
    populate INPUT objects via:
        document.getElementById(fn).value = fd
    or populate DIV objects via:
        document.getElementById(fn).innerHTML = fd
    where:
        fn = field name
        fd = field data

Data conversion / manipulation

Programs Notes
ebcdic_ascii.bas convert EBCDIC to ASCII
iso_8859_to_ascii.bas convert 2-octect unicode to 8-bit characters then (optionally) map the result to 7-bit characters
base64_decode.bas base64 decode
sort_demo.bas calling VMS sort routines (hey, sometimes it is best to leave it to the experts)

Miscellaneous Stuff

Topic Programs Notes
Command Line foreign_cmd.bas allows a BASIC program to read DCL command-line parameters like "C" on UNIX
DCL symbols dcl_symbols.bas reading DCL symbols from BASIC
DECnet
Communications		 decnet_task_c.bas
decnet_task_s.bas		 DECnet client (start a remote server then send it some messages)
DECnet server (echo messages back to client)
Device Scan device_scan_demo.bas scan some/all devices on the system
Diffie-Hellman
Key Exchange Demo		 diffie_hellman.bas demos Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange Demo (limit to 64-bit math)
Displaying System errors display_system_error.bas can translate any system error number into the associated text message. This program is no longer required since modern OpenVMS versions can do this for you from the DCL prompt.
Health Monitor health_check.bas
health_check.dat		 like a super watchdog except this programs makes sure certain programs and batch job are present
sample data file to program 'health check'
Lock Demos (CEF) cef_lock_demo.bas CEF (Common Event Flag) Lock Demo
Lock Demos (DLM) dlm_demo_100.bas DLM (Distributed Lock Manager)
creates a null lock then synchronously converts it to more restrictive forms
  dlm_demo_101.bas creates a null lock then synchronously converts it to more restrictive forms
  dlm_demo_102.bas asynchronously requests an exclusive lock then polls DLM to see if it was granted
  dlm_demo_103.bas asynchronously requests an exclusive lock, then arms a timer, then waits for one of two event flags
Mailbox Demo
(mailboxes are
similar to PIPE in
UNIX/C world)		 advocate_client.bas client program with no-privs which will send DCL requests to the server program (via a VMS mailbox) which does have privs
  advocate_server.bas a server program with privs which will receive DCL requests from a client (via a VMS mailbox) with no-privs
  advocate_DCL_scripts support scripts to start the programs above
When you need
larger DCL symbols		 multi-line_logicals_demo.bas Some apps like Apache save session data (like HTTP_COOKIE) as a DCL symbol. When the data is greater than 930 bytes, Apache will save the data as multi-line logical names. This program demos how you would do something similar from BASIC

Overview:
  1. all operating systems support shell variables known as symbols
  2. VMS (and OpenVMS) also support a different data-passing method known as logical names
  3. programs wishing to create or modify logical names will need to call lib$set_logical or sys$crelnm
    Caveat: lib$spawn will allow you to make changes on copied data which is discarded upon exit of that spawned task
  4. While everyone knows how to create single line logical names from BASIC, multi-line logical names are a little more difficult
Password Stuff password_search.bas the name says it all
Peek peek_demo.bas Unlike most other BASIC implementations, VMS BASIC doesn't have a PEEK function but sometimes you need it to investigate further.
  peek_demo_test_run.bas see how variables are stored in an OpenVMS system
see how the Alpha complier is able to achieve such high levels of performance relative to VAX
Population
Simulation		 population_sim.bas a crude human population simulation to prove/disprove some things rolling around my head.
Sample output:
sys$getjpi getjpi_demo.bas demos how to properly call sys$getjpi (get job process information)
sys$qio qio-demo.bas yep, calling sys$qio from BASIC allows more control than PRINT and INPUT
sys$getrmi getrmi_demo.bas demos how to properly call sys$getrmi (Resource Monitor Information)
  getrmi_demo_mscp.bas same as before except only returns mscp stuff (if mscp exists)
Source Code Tools source_code_reporter.bas generate "code change" reports to justify your existence
  source_code_formatter.bas This horribly written hack has proved invaluable as a tool for locating coding problems introduced by other authors. Anyone who has inherited source code from another organization knows what I am typing about. Caveat: I've been meaning to rewrite this tool for a decade now but can never find the time. But this tool can format itself so maybe it's good enough for occasional use :-) 
Sequencer sequencer.bas When run from a DCL script, this program goes great lengths to ensure that your process, and only your process, gets the next number in a numerical sequence. I use this program so that an intercepted email account can temporarily access one of twenty subdirectories before I call MUNPACK to extract MIME attachments (if any) from cell phone messages. Of course, I need to run a different program to read the plain-text email if nothing was extracted :-)
Terminal
Characteristics		 terminal_characteristics_demo.bas the name says it all
Timer Demos timer-demo-easy.bas single (easy)
  timer-demo-hard.bas single (hard)
  two-timer-demo.bas two timers
  hiber-demo.bas demos how to pause program execution without using BASIC's SLEEP statement. Supports fractional seconds
VMS Mail vms_mail_send_demo.bas sending VMS MAIL programmatically without using DCL
  vms_mail_forward_demo.bas inspecting VMS MAIL forwarding
Watchdog watchdog.bas my own watchdog process (demos lots of systems calls)
Webification tool_webify_source_code.bas a tool to prepare source code for display in a web page (is webification a real word?)

OpenVMS BASIC standalone functions (file extension ".fun")

Some BASIC demos may require these standalone (most BASIC) functions:

Programs Notes
wcsm_calc_easter_n_good_friday.fun compute Easter or Good Friday for any date after 1582. Necessary for writing an annual holiday generator.
wcsm_dt_stamp.fun returns the current date-time in ccyymmddhhmmss format
wcsm_get_mime_time.fun mime time function for smtp use
wcsm_get_symbol.fun returns the value of a desired DCL symbol
wcsm_peek_quad.fun returns the 64-bit data work found at the specified 32-bit address
wcsm_set_symbol_or_logical.fun this function will attempt to save your data as a DCL symbol. If it can't (usually because the data is too large for your machine) then it will shift modes and save your data as multi-line logical names (emulates functionality found in the CGI interface of Apache for OpenVMS)
wcsm_submit_to_batch.fun submitting to batch from within BASIC
wcsm_trnlnm.fun translates a logical name
caveat: we used this function in the VAX days because it was much more efficient than calling lib$get_logical and easier to set up than sys$trnlnm. But there seems to be no performance hit when using lib$get_logical on Alpha so this  function is only included here incase I've included a few demos still calling it.
wcsm_url_decode.fun undo so-called percent encoding (as well as some other stuff)

Question: So just what does the prefix WCSM stand for?
Answer: Waterloo Computer System Maintenance. That department morphed into something greater but the function prefix remains.

OpenVMS BASIC includes (file extension ".inc")

Some BASIC demos may require these standalone includes:

Programs Notes
vms_structures.inc data structures required for item lists in system calls, etc.
vms_externals.inc system declarations required to do system calls from BASIC
should not be used for new code development
device_controls.inc escape sequences required to embed VT terminal and LA printer inside your programs. (written for use on small VAX systems where it was not practical to control devices by system calls to the terminal driver)
fms_fdvdef.inc FMS (forms management system) definitions: functions and constants
tcpware_ccb_definitions.inc TCPware control block definitions

My BASIC Development Environment

If you want to compile my programs without modifying then, you should emulate my development environment. You do not need to use the directory name "dvlp" but subdirectory names are important. For example, many of my programs complied in "dvlp" need to find standalone functions in sub-directory "[.fun]" or file record declarations in "[.fil]"

Directory File
Extensions		 Notes
[.dvlp] .bas
.com		 basic source code
DCL scripts for building some applications
[.dvlp.flb] .frm
.flb		 FMS forms (created by dcl command: $fms yada.frm)
FMS form libraries
[.dvlp.fil] .rec
.opn
.fdl		 mapped string declarations (records) for relative and indexed files
open statements for relative and indexed files
file description language files for tuning rms files
[.dvlp.fun] .fun basic functions
[.dvlp.inc] .inc basic includes
[.dvlp.mar] .mar
.m64		 macro-32 files
macro-64 files

BASIC Compiler bugs

Topic Programs Notes
QUAD
modulus bug in
HP-BASIC-1.7-000		 basic_quad_mod_bug.bas
  1. I just (2012-08-01) discovered a bug in HP Alpha BASIC-1.7-000 (it also exists in Itanium)
  2. Although you can divide large QUADWORD integers, the modulus function fails
  3. Here is a "C" version which works properly: basic_quad_mod_bug.c
  4. I just (2012-09-14) tested an experimental version of HP Alpha BASIC 1.7-001 which fixes this problem.
  5.  
    Version Notes-1 Notes-2
    1.7-000 test fails at 2^32 bug
    1.7-001 test works up to 2^62 fixed
DECIMAL
modulus bug in
HP-BASIC-1.7-000		 basic_decimal_mod_bug.bas
  1. I just (2012-09-01) discovered a bug in HP Alpha BASIC-1.7-000
  2. Although you can divide large DECIMAL integers, the modulus function fails
  3. Here is a "C" version which works properly: basic_quad_mod_bug.c
  4. I just (2012-09-14) tested an experimental version of HP Alpha BASIC 1.7-001 which fixes this problem.
  5.  
    Version Declaration Notes-1 Notes-2
    1.7-000 decimal(16,0) test fails at 2^32 bug
    1.7-001 decimal(16,0) test works up to 2^53 fixed
      decimal(17,0) test works up to 2^56 with compile warnings safer to use quad
      decimal(18,0) test works up to 2^59 with compile warnings safer to use quad
      decimal(19,0) test works up to 2^62 with compile warnings safer to use quad

OpenVMS C / C++ programs

Caveat: When calling OpenVMS code defined in the STARLET library, do yourself a favor and enable strict type-checking. This is done by inserting:

#define __NEW_STARLET 1

... before the library references you wish to be strict (for new programs it should be before all libraries). This way, your code will be in better shape to be ported to another OpenVMS hardware platform. In one of the programs below (sys_create_uid_101.c) I needed to add a few more lines (resorted to a union) to satisfy the compiler but the optimizer was able to generate a program which was byte-for-byte the same size as and earlier relaxed version. Everyone's happy.

References:
HP OpenVMS Programming Concepts Manual ( http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/82final/5841/5841pro_059.html )

Programs Notes
hello_world.c every site has one
hello_openvms_world.c introductory "hello world" program for OpenVMS
hello_openvms_world_more.c adds a few system calls to the previous program
   
chmod_demo.c changing VMS file protection bits
do_100k.c This little test file came from OpenVMS Engineering when we reported a 100k problem with CSWS 2.0 (Apache for OpenVMS). Drop this file into the scripts directory of your Apache server then trigger it from a browser like so:
    http://nodename.ext/scripts/do_100k
It will help you test your Apache server and/or network.
ebcdic-ascii-demo.c convert between EBCDIC and ASCII character sets
getuai.c demos use of getuai (get user authorization information)
gSOAP Demos When you check out the sample programs delivered with the gSOAP stack they seem fairly straight forward (right now I'm thinking about "calc") but most were created using the WSDL-last method. When someone hands you a WSDL then says "build client and server apps which will be part of a two way messaging system", things get complicated fast. You will be forced to use the WSDL-first method, and the tool wsdl2h (wsdl-to-h) will stuff your SOAP variables deep inside complicated structures and unions then pass the whole mess to you with a pointer. If the WSDL contains more than 100 fields like the one I saw a few months ago, you might want to tackle a smaller project first just to develop skills.
Last year I used the WSDL-last method to create a Java-based web service under Tomcat/AXIS2 called "SimpleService". This service only had three methods: ssADD, ssSubtract, and ssEcho (I added the "ss" prefix to my variables so I would see them in various places). Then I used AXIS2 to generate a WSDL which would be used to build this gSOAP/C service with the same functionality.
gSOAP demo web service
simple_service.wsdl
simple_service_client_100.c
simple_service_server_100.c
simple_service_server_101.c
simple_service_wrapper.c
build_simple_service_step1_common.com
build_simple_service_step2_server.com
build_simple_service_step3_client.com
this WSDL was generated by AXIS2 (using http://www.site.com/service?wsdl)
this is a simple gSOAP client
this is a simple gSOAP service
this is a simple gSOAP service with a few more bells and whistles
the service requires this wrapper if you want to access it from Apache
common build script (DCL)
service build script (DCL)
client build script (DCL)
gSOAP demos (other)
calcclient.c
dom2_hack.c
this sample gSOAP program (calc calient) has been tweaked to support SSL (demos initializations for three different SSL client contexts)
doesn't do anything useful other than traversing a DOM-loaded SOAP packet (needs more work; would like to produce a better version in C++)

GUID - UID
sys_create_uid_100.c
sys_create_uid_101.c
generate a UID (with a tip of the hat to Jim Duff)
generate a GUID (with a tip of the hat to Stephen Hoffman)
http-check.c
 HTTP connection test-tool from Hunter Goatley (Process Software)

LDAP
ldap.h
ldap_example.c
ldap_example_hack.c
ldap_example_hack_authenticated.c

 LDAP stuff from DEC-Compaq-HP
mod_gsoap.c plugin code to allow Apache access to gSOAP (problems highlighted in yellow)
PIPE and VFORK
pipe_demo_parent.c
pipe_demo_child.c
pipe_demo_child.com		 PIPE and VFORK
this program creates 3 pipes before calling vfork
this C program is executed by the vfork
this DCL script is optionally executed by the vfork
quad_mod_demo.c playing with quads (long long) in "C"
this program was used to verify some problems with HP Alpha BASIC 1.7-000
smtp-check.c SMTP connection test-tool from Hunter Goatley (Process Software)
sys_sndjbcw.c sndjbc - submitting a job to a batch queue (this will enable you to submit a job on behalf of another user for the express purpose of having that user send a file to another system via SFTP or SCP)
Two repaired examples from DEC
tcpip$tcp_server_qio-decc.c
tcpip$tcp_client_qio-decc.c		 Two repaired examples published by Digital Equipment Corporation. The originals would not compile.
timezone_demo.c display the current time translated to any other time zone
unix_hater.c does the "C" example in the UNIX Hater's Handbook compile? (yes)
vms_lock_dlm.c Accessing the OpenVMS DLM (Distributed Lock Manager)

Porting OpenSSL to OpenVMS

While it is possible to build OpenSSL from public sources, the libraries will be okay but at least one of the demonstration applications will not work without modifications. The main reason for this involves use of the UNIX I/O select() statement to test for I/O readiness. While this is perfectly acceptable in the UNIX/Linux world, select() can only be used to wait for network I/O in the VMS and Windows worlds. There are two possible fixes for this:

  1. use a different technique to detect the start of keyboard I/O
  2. use a VMS-recommended technique to use a socket to connect to SYS$COMMAND
Programs Notes
s_client.c This program was found in kit CPQ-OpenSSL-1.0A (OpenSSL 0.9.6b) published July 2001 by Compaq
It shows how to create a socket (TerminalSocket) to communicate with stdin (your keyboard)
No Compaq/HP copyright was included with this package.
While this program is copyrighted by Eric Young, the VMS changes are not copyrighted by anyone.
"I think" it was modified by someone at Compaq Computer Corporation
term_sock.c This program was found in kit CPQ-OpenSSL-1.0A and is used to create a socket (TerminalSocket) to communicate with stdin (your keyboard).
No Compaq/HP copyright was included with this package or this file.
"I think" it was written by someone at Compaq Computer Corporation.
It allows the programmer to get around the "bad select 38" problem
term_sock.h This c header supports term_sock.c
No Compaq/HP copyright was included with this package or this file.
"I think" it was written by someone at Compaq Computer Corporation
select_demo.c A demo program (derived from HP's UNIX to OpenVMS porting guide) to show how to use select() 
 

OpenVMS DCL scripts

Category DCL Scripts Notes
DECnet communication    
  decnet_demo_c.com client (start a remote server then send it some messages)
  decnet_demo_s.com server (echo messages back to client)
Intercepting an
FTP/SFTP login		    
systartup_vms_ftp_stub.com
login.com
login_helper.com		 Example DCL script for properly setting up FTP/SFTP
DCL script to intercept an FTP/SFTP login then submit a login helper job
DCL script which will wait for the network partner to exit then process received file(s)
(similar to what happens at the end of an XCOM transaction)
More notes can be found here: OpenVMS Notes: TCPware
uppercase - lowercase
switcheroo		    
  sense_nonsense.com a tool to easily toggle your account between two modes: case-sensitive and normal
  downcase_filenames.com a tool to easily down-case filenames. Intended for SSH key files.
Apache Support    
  rotate_apache_logs.com a little batch job to rotate apache client log files every 24 hours
also will (optionally) do monthly maintenance of apache process logs
Environmental Monitoring env_check_100.com
env_check_101.com		 original script
tweaked for calling from your LOGIN.COM

OpenVMS Macro32 source code

Programs Notes
peek_byte_vax.mar Code to peek at bytes
peek_byte_function.mar Code to peek at bytes (function)
peek_any_int_vax.mar Code to peek at bytes, words, and longs

OpenVMS Programming

Introduction to OpenVMS programming

It was a lot tougher before y2k

It was a lot tougher learning how to write VMS applications in the 1980s. Why? DEC charged big-bucks for everything including hardware, software, training and documentation (including pocket programming cards!) Many IT people wondered if that was why DEC used a dollar sign ($) for the VMS/DCL command-line prompt.

First off, you needed the 32-binder  Orange Wall of VMS documentation  which I remember being around $5k for the initial purchase. Then, even if you already knew how to program in one of the many DEC-supported programming languages, you still needed to attend DEC language-specific courses to learn how to do system calls. This meant you needed to work for a company with deep pockets, or needed to get VMS-specific training in college or university.

In the early 1990s, DEC renamed the product line from VMS to OpenVMS at the same time they introduced the 64-bit Alpha hardware line as a successor to 32-bit VAX. During this time the  Orange Wall  became the  Gray Wall  

Then Things Changed

In 1998, DEC was purchased by "PC manufacturer" Compaq.

In 2002, HP purchased (err, merged with) Compaq. HP restored some in-house training but now OpenVMS was just one of many software offerings from HP's, and I think OpenVMS has been lost in the mix.

Although my employer did provide us with the 32-binder Gray Wall, we had to learn how to interface VMS BASIC to VMS the good old-fashioned hard way: by hacking. In 1993 I fortunately stumbled across a copy of Writing VAX/VMS Applications Using Pascal (Author: Theo De Klerk, Published: 1991 by Digital Press) in DEC's student retail store in Bedford, Massachusetts. I had learned Apple Pascal in late 1970s so found it relativity easy to convert many of these programs into DEC-BASIC and DEC-C. This book contained many descriptions of VMS subsystems and was full of "system calls" on how to access them. These books pop up every so often on www.bookfinder.com and I think every serious OpenVMS programmer should own a copy.

Okay so that was then and this is now. To the best of my knowledge, you can only get the OpenVMS Documentation CD-ROM by purchasing it from HP, buying a used copy on eBay, or begging a friend to make you a copy. But if you use HP's online documentation along with examples from this book, you will learn how to become a VMS BASIC developer much faster than me.

Online HP Manuals + Documents

Advanced hacking (system services)

Many novice programmers do not know about this cool feature to trace system calls originating from your process (DCL or otherwise). So if you have the necessary privs, then try this experiment:
Legend:
  <sr> = system response
  <ur> = user response
<sr> $
<ur> set process /sslog=(state=on,count=4)		! enable tracing
<sr> $
<ur> monitor disks
<sr> screen fills with disk i/o statistics
<ur> now wait for 4 or 5 seconds then hit <ctrl-c> 
<sr> MONITOR>
<ur> exit
<sr> $
<ur> set process /sslog=(state=off)			! disable tracing
<sr> $
<ur> set process /sslog=(state=unload)			! this closes the file
<sr> $
<ur> ANALYZE/SSLOG/FULL/WIDE/OUTPUT=ss_trace.txt	! human readable data goes to this file
<sr> $

Official Documents:

Noteworthy C/C++ demos at other sites

Noteworthy C/C++ articles and manuals

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Neil Rieck
Kitchener - Waterloo - Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.