[Info-vax] callable BACKUP example

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 7/9/2021 8:57 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 7/9/2021 8:25 PM, VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:
>> In article <00B65888.594833A3 at SendSpamHere.ORG>, VAXman-  
>>> If you want to wish you had a migraine a augmented by a hangover from a
>>> college toga party coupled with a raging case of herpes, take a gander
>>> at that BACKUP API documentation.
>>
>> In fact, the only thing that I believe could be worse than that BACKUP
>> API documentation would be the .SDL that created the awful definitions
>> you see in SYS$EXAMPLES.
> 
> Many years ago I needed to do this.  I took a look at the documentation, 
> then implemented a solution that created a small command file, then 
> spawned a sub-process to do the backup.  Some things aren't worth the 
> aggravation.

That solution makes a lot of sense.

The DCL BACKUP command is a lot better documented and well known
than the BACKUP$ API.

The performance overhead of spawning a sub-process is likely
insignificant compared to doing the backup.

But maybe there are some funky security requirements that we don't
know about.

Arne