[Info-vax] sys admin default directory

[BillPedersen]

MFD = Master File Directory.  On ODS1, ODS2, and ODS5 structured disks there is ONLY ONE MFD per disk.  This is typically referred to as [000000].  On ODS1 disks this then contained the UFD, or User File Directories, only one level allowed on ODS1 structured disks. The ODS1 directories are also only numeric.  ODS2 and ODS5 allowed multiple levels of UFDs and allowed for Alpha-numeric directory names, with ODS5 allowing mixed case and special characters.

OpenVMS (and it predecessors) do not have the concept of a "root" directory for a file system that stretched across partitions and eventually multiple devices.  On OpenVMS there is really only a single partition per disk.  File systems do not stretch across disks.

The concept of a users login directory, while handled by "~" on Linux or Unix is selected by the logical name SYS$LOGIN.  Now, this is not a "rooted" logical (something more for you to study up on) so you cannot use it in a command to view files in sub-directories off your login directory.  But if you like (and I have done this) you can create a logical names for your login directory which is a rooted logical and then specify it like "~" in file access commands.

Have fun...

Bill.