[Info-vax] How do I make zip, unzip etc. available to all users?

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2016-01-05 19:00:44 +0000, Bob Gezelter said:

> However, the phrasing "where should I put them" brings to mind the 
> manner in which many *IX systems are run.
> 
> OpenVMS do not have an equivalent of bin on *IX systems (where the 
> shell will automatically search for otherwise unspecified executables). 
> There is a facility to do the equivalent (DCL$PATH), but generally it 
> is used with extreme caution (searching large directories can be 
> expensive).

OpenVMS also entirely lacks /usr/local and other such norms, which 
basically means kitting chaos past what Unix and PATH usually sees.   
On OpenVMS, it's all been informal practice at best, and it's 
increasingly variable.

Even VMS itself seemingly can't decide what should be in SYS$UPDATE, 
SYS$MANAGER, SYS$SYSTEM, SYS$SHARE/SYS$LIBRARY, SYS$ETC, and what 
should be located elsewhere...  When to use a prefix, and when not to, 
too.

Then there's the lack of a mechanism like an application bundle, which 
just means that bits of kits get splattered all over the place.

Then there's the "fun" of DCL$PATH and what actually gets activated.  
Maybe don't have any local procedures that do something nasty around 
with filenames like N.COM or Y.COM, and don't enter % or * at the DCL 
prompt, etc.

Etc.

Welcome to OpenVMS!


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