PC Exchange (for VMS)

PC Exchange (PCX) is a utility for copying files to and from
MS-DOS format diskettes under VMS, using an RX23 (3.5") or RX33
(5.25") diskette drive.  For 3.5" diskettes, high-density disks can
be read or written; double-density disks are read-only. 


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
-------------------

* VMS V5.0 or later (it may work under V4.x)

* An RX33, RX33S, RX23, or RX23S diskette drive ("S" denotes SCSI variant)

NOTE: This software has been tested only with the RX23 and RX23S diskette
      drives.

  Please read the AAAREADME.TOO file for information on bug fixes,
  known problems, and other version-related information.


INSTALLING PCX
--------------

To build the executable:

* If you have the object library, PCX.OLB, available, create the
  executable with the command:

    $ LINK/NOTRACE PCX.OLB/INCLUDE=PCX/LIBRARY

  All required object files are in that library.

* If you have the MACRO sources, execute the ASMBUILD.COM command
  procedure to assemble them and link the PCX executable.  You will
  probably have to first edit the file ACCESS.MAR and remove some
  extraneous semicolons from in between the continuation lines of
  the big .LONG directive, close to the top of the file.

* If you have the BLISS sources and the MMS description file available,
  use MMS to compile and link the executable.

Once you have the PCX.EXE file, you can set up a DCL foreign command
to run PCX:

    $ pcx :== $disk:[directory]PCX

To build the help library:

    $ RUNOFF PCX_HELP.RNH
    $ LIBRARY/CREATE/HELP PCX_HELPLIB.HLB PCX_HELP.HLP

To make the help library available to PCX:

    $ DEFINE PCX_HELPLIB disk:[directory]PCX_HELPLIB

If you install the help library in SYS$HELP, this step is unnecessary.


PRIVILEGES REQUIRED
-------------------

* You may need VOLPRO privilege to use PCX.  PCX can be INSTALLed
  with this privilege:

    $ INSTALL CREATE disk:[directory]PCX/PRIVILEGE=VOLPRO

  PCX turns off all image privileges at startup, and only activates
  them when needed.


BEFORE YOU START
----------------

Before using PCX, you must define the logical name PCX_DISK as
the device name of the diskette drive.  One easy way to do that,
while at the same time ensuring that no other process has access
to the drive, is to use the ALLOCATE command, as in:

    $ ALLOCATE/GENERIC RX23 PCX_DISK

Using the /GENERIC qualifier also means you don't have to know
the physical device name of the drive (assuming you only have
one diskette drive available).


AVAILABLE COMMANDS
------------------

PCX provides the following commands:

@                     executes a command file (default filetype .PCX)
ATTACH                attaches to another process
CREATE/DIRECTORY      creates a subdirectory
DELETE                deletes a file or empty directory
DIRECTORY             displays a directory listing
EXIT                  leaves PCX
FORMAT                formats the disk
HELP                  displays help
READ                  reads a file from the floppy onto VMS
SET PATH              sets current default directory path on floppy
SHOW PATH             displays current default directory path
SPAWN                 spawns a subprocess
TYPE                  displays the contents of a file on the floppy
WRITE                 writes a VMS file on the floppy

The help information explains the parameters and/or qualifiers for each
command.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACTING THE AUTHOR

Comments, suggestions, and questions about this software can be directed to
the author at one of the following addresses:

Mail:    Matthew Madison
         Engineering Computing Services
         Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
         Troy, New York 12180-3590

Phone:  +1 518 276 2606

E-Mail: (Internet)  madison@vms.ecs.rpi.edu
        (BITNET)    MADISON@RPIECSVX or MADISON@RPIECS

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This software is COPYRIGHT © 1989, 1990 RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  Permission is granted for non-profit redistribution and
use.

DISCLAIMER

This software is provided "AS IS".  The author and Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute disclaim all warranties on the software, including without limitation,
all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness.  USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.