[Info-vax] Radical command line suggestion

[JF Mezei]

Since I have never been accused of being normal, I am allowed wacky
ideas from time to time...


In ios (the cisco one), typing ? on the command line gives you list of
options at this point of entering command:

router1(config)#ip access ?
  extended    Extended Access List
  log-update  Control access list log updates
  logging     Control access list logging
  resequence  Resequence Access List
  standard    Standard Access List

router1(config)#ip access

so you can then continue to enter command .

Imagine if DCLTABLES.EXE had a short description for each qualifier, it
should theoretically be possible for DCL to give you a list of valid
arguments and qualifiers along with short explanation  based on what you
have entered so far.

And say you are on a decterm, pressing some special key could pop up a
window where the command's full pedigree would be available and you
could click on whaver options you wanted with the display adapting as
you go along. ( so "delele" followed by the key would pop up a DELETE
window along with options such as  file, /QUEUE, /ENTRY, etc. You click
on file, and you then get a place to enter text for filename(s), as well
as qualifiers for command and for each file (if applicable)


This would be a really great tool for command you don't use often, and
especially for newbies.

For all the discussions about DCL needing a rework, one thing VMS has
that unix doesn't is that the DCL command line knows about commands due
to DCLTABLES.exe and can help you enter such commands.

You have this very long command and hate the terminal driver's inability
to wrap properly ? press that key and you get the pop up window where
the command is all there and you can then easily modify infividual
items/qualifiers in the command because they are all broken  out on
their own fields/lines.