[Info-vax] Where to locate software

[Paul Richards]

David Froble wrote:

> Paul Richards wrote:
> > I'm running OpenVMS 8.4 on FreeAXP and am a comparative newbie. So,
> > a noob question: I am planning to install some of the HP Open-source
> > software and Freeware.
> > 
> > For those applications which don't automatically install where
> > should I locate them such that I can run them from any directory?
> 
> Well, it depends what you mean by "from any directory".
> 
> To run an executable, you must have access to it.
> 
> 1) in a directory you own
> 
> or
> 
> 2) file protection set so that you have access
> 
> If you mean some "PATH" that is searched whenever you issue the
> command to run the executable, well, I think VMS has something like
> that, but I never use it.
> 
> The practice around here is to have one or more logicals pointing to
> some location where the files are located.  For example, if you have
> some utilities, you might have a directory Dev:[<something>.Utility]
> (or a top level directory) Dev:[Utility] where the files are stored.
> Then a logical
> 
> $ define UT dev:[Utility]
> 
> so that you can issue the command
> 
> $ run UT:<someprogram>
> 
> If it's just a few programs, and you use them often, you might define
> the symbol
> 
> $ <someprogram> :== $UT:<someprogram>
> 
> or
> 
> $ <someprogram> :== run UT:<someprogram>
> 
> Note, I didn't test the above ....
> 
> As for file protection ...
> 
> Directory DKA100:[DFEUL]
> 
> AR9901.EXE;6                    48/48       [DFEUL]
> (RWED,RWED,RE,) CUST91.EXE;5                    55/56       [DFEUL]
> (RWED,RWED,RE,)
> 
> Note the protection masks, which are for System, Owner, Group, and
> World.  in this example, System and Owner have Read, Write, Execute,
> and Delete access. Group has Read and Execute access.  To allow
> access to everyone, you'd need World Execute access.  For example:
> 
> AR9901.EXE;6                    48/48       [DFEUL]
> (RWED,RWED,RE,RE)
> 
> Not sure what you're asking, and perhaps I've gone into too much
> detail.
> 
> As for suggested locations, perhaps [Freeware], with subdirectories
> for each product.

David: thank you. That's exactly the guidance I needed. I should be
able to proceed now.

Paul

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