[Info-vax] Where to locate software

[Paul Richards]

Dale Dellutri wrote:

> On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:18:47, Paul Richards
> <paulrichards at iinet.net.au> 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?
> > 
> > Thanks
> > 
> > Paul
> 
> Here's what I do for my "acquired software".
> 
> First I create a hierarchy on the system disk:
> $ CRE/DIR/LOG SYS$SYSDEVICE:[AS]
> $ CRE/DIR/LOG SYS$SYSDEVICE:[AS.CKERMIT]
> $ CRE/DIR/LOG SYS$SYSDEVICE:[AS.TOOLS]
> $ CRE/DIR/LOG SYS$SYSDEVICE:[AS.LYNX]
> $ CRE/DIR/LOG SYS$SYSDEVICE:[AS.VIM]
> 
> Then in system startup I define a system logical for the top:
> $ DEFINE /SYSTEM /EXECUTIVE_MODE -
>         /TRANSLATION_ATTRIBUTES=CONCEALED AS_ROOT SYS$SYSDEVICE:[AS.]
> And logicals for the rest of the directories
> $ @SYS_DEFINE_LOGICALS_STARTUP AS
> 
> which executes:
> $!
> $! DEFINE_LOGICALS.COM - Define logical names for a hierarchy on
> SYS$SYSDEVICE $!
> $! P1 = Top level directory name
> $!
> $ ON ERROR THEN EXIT
> $ IF p1 .EQS. ""
> $ THEN
> $  WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "No top level directory name given"
> $  EXIT
> $ ENDIF
> $ IF F$TRNLNM("''p1'_ROOT") .EQS. ""
> $ THEN
> $  WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "''p1'_ROOT not defined"
> $  EXIT
> $ ENDIF
> $GET_DIRNAME:
> $ filespec = F$SEARCH("SYS$SYSDEVICE:[''p1']*.DIR")
> $ dirname = F$PARSE(filespec,,,"NAME","SYNTAX_ONLY")
> $ IF dirname .EQS. "" THEN EXIT
> $ trnname = F$TRNLNM("''p1'_''dirname'")
> $ IF trnname .NES. "" THEN GOTO GET_DIRNAME
> $ DEFINE /SYSTEM /EXECUTIVE_MODE 'p1'_'dirname' 'p1'_ROOT:['dirname']
> $ GOTO GET_DIRNAME
> $!
> 
> I've put all of the ckermit files in [as.ckermit], and
> miscellaneous tools like zip in [as.tools].
> 
> Then for all the *.exe files in as_tools, I have this
> in the system login procedure:
> ...
> $!
> $get_as_tools_exe:
> $ f = f$search("AS_TOOLS:*.*EXE")
> $ if f .eqs. "" then goto done_as_tools_exe
> $ e = f$parse(f,,,"NAME","SYNTAX_ONLY")
> $ t = f$parse(f,,,"TYPE","SYNTAX_ONLY")
> $ 'e' :== $as_tools:'e''t'
> $ goto get_as_tools_exe
> $!
> $done_as_tools_exe:
> ...
> 
> and something similar for the specific directories
> like [as.ckermit]
> 
> However, HP has in the past used a different hierarchy for
> some tools.  For example, LTT gets put in
>   sys$sysdevice:[vms$common.opt.ltt]
> I assume that if I installed LTT on some Linux system, it
> woudl get put in /opt/ltt.
> 
> You might consider that as well.

Dale: thank you for that. I've still not decided what I'm going to do
but, probably, I'll create a 'MISCELLANEOUS' directory on my second
virtual disk - not the system disk - and keep all my
freeware/open-source software in subdirectories. Essentially what you
and others have suggested. I prefer not to mix up 'my' stuff with the
system directories, at least where I have the option of choosing.

Paul

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