[Info-vax] Where to locate software

[Paul Richards]

Steven Schweda wrote:

> > For those applications which don't automatically install
> > where should I locate them such that I can run them from any
> > directory?
> 
>    The answer might depend on exactly which application, but,
> in most (if not all) cases, you can put anything anywhere you
> want.  You can use DCL$PATH to specify where executables will
> be sought, but I prefer the (old/original) "foreign command"
> scheme of defining a DCL symbol to specify what to run for a
> particular command/verb.  For some programs, you may need to
> define one or more logical names.  Such foreign-command
> symbols are normally defined in a system- or user-login DCL
> script (normally SYS$MANAGER:SYLOGIN.COM or
> SYS$LOGIN:LOGIN.COM, respectively).  System-wide logical
> names can be defined in SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM. 
> User-specific logical names can be defined in the user's
> SYS$LOGIN:LOGIN.COM.
> 
>    For example, around here, most executables are placed in a
> UTILITY directory:
> 
> alp $ show logical utility
>    "UTILITY" = "UTILITY_DEV:[UTILITY]" (LNM$SYSTEM_TABLE)
> 
> alp $ show logical utility_dev
>    "UTILITY_DEV" = "SYS$SYSDEVICE:" (LNM$SYSTEM_TABLE)
> 1  "SYS$SYSDEVICE" = "ALP$DKC0:" (LNM$SYSTEM_TABLE)
> 
>    And a typical program has an appropriate DCL symbol
> defined, such as:
> 
> alp $ show symbol curl
>   CURL == "$ UTILITY:CURL.EXE"

Steven: thanks. That has given me the guidance I need.

Paul

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus