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SPROGS Technical Paper No 10: Listing PDP15 files on the 1906A lineprinter via magnetic tape

JW D Shaw, D C Toll

7 March 1973

THE PROBLEM

Because of the length of time required to print out long files on the teletype, a method has been devised to list PDP15 source files on the 1906A lineprinter. Three magnetic tapes:-

7000057   PDPLISTAPE1
7000102   PDPLISTAPE2
7000104   PDPLISTAPE3

located in the racks in the projection room (door near DMAC table), are available for transferring files between the two machines. An execute file on the PDP puts the source files on the tape and a 1906A GEORGE macro prints them out.

ON THE PDP15

The PDP15 FORTRAN program LISTIT accepts the names of a series of files to be transferred to magnetic tape. The input device is DAT slot 6, which is normally the users' disc area. The output device is DAT slot 7, which is normally Magtape 1. LISTIT exists as an execute (XCT) file on <SYS>. Other input devices such as DECTAPE, may be used by re-assigning slot 6 before executing LISTIT.

When LISTIT begins, it will write out the message

LIST IT 
FLNAMEEXT 

requesting that a list of file names be entered on the teletype. File name extensions should be separated from the first name by any number of blanks. Each file name is terminated by a carriage return. Finish the list by typing control D. If the extension of the first name in the list is omitted, SRC is assumed. Thereafter, an omitted extension means use the previous extension.

LISTIT then checks that all files are present on the input device. If some files are not present, the message,

UNDEFINED FILES WILL BE IGNORED. 
TYPE "T" CONTINUE, "F" TO QUIT, 

will be typed out, preceded by the unlocated file names. Typing "T" will cause all files to be output except the unlocated ones, Typing "F" re-starts LISTIT without moving the tape.

If all files were found, or if "T" was typed after the above diagnostic, LISTIT transfers the files one by one to the magnetic tape as a series of 4K, six-bit ASCII records. Backslash (\) and back arrow (←) will be listed as reverse square bracket (]) and up-arrow (↑) respectively. These are used by LISTIT as control characters.

Upon exhausting the list of files, LISTIT prints out the numbers of files and records output, writes an EOF on the tape, backspaces over it, and asks for more files. Then user may exit by typing control C.

If the user wishes to add files to an existing tape, he should use MTDUMP to skip records past the EOF unless the tape has not been moved since the last use of LISTIT.

After completion of a tape, take it to the 1906A console area and either place it on top of the rack nearest the console or give it to an operator. Do not return it to the projection room as someone else may use it before you have the opportunity to get it listed.

ON THE 19O6A

There exists a program on the 1906A to read the tape written by the PDP and list it on the lineprinter. The program is run using the macro, PDPLIST. The latter may be initiated by the operator or by the user.

Ordinarily, it is easiest and quickest to have the operator run the job using the command:

   DO PDPLIST,n 

where n is the number of the tape, PDPLISTAPE1, 2, or 3. The job will run express in this manner and the delay is largely dependent on the lineprinter backlog. The print-out will be delivered to you at the PDP desk.

Alternatively, there is a macro available which will run a program to list the PDP files held on one of the specified tapes. The call is

      PDPLIST n 

in user context, or

      RJ jobname, :username, PDPLIST,PARAM(n,EJ) 

if called in no-user context, where n is the number (ie, 1, 2 or 3) of the tape used.

When called from MOP, this macro will automatically issue a background job and exit, after telling the user the name of the background job.

The default jobtime for jobs issued by this macro is 10 secs, so such jobs should run fairly quickly, even when the 1906A is heavily loaded. This length of time is sufficient to list more than 8000 lines of file; if it is desired to list more than this, then a jobtime parameter should be supplied. The format is:

      JT time 

Note that the tape number must be the first parameter.

EXAMPLES

(1) List 3 files - FILE1 SRC, FILE2 DOC, and FILE3 SRC - on your DOS disc area. (User typed lines are marked with an asterisk.)

On the PDPI5 using tape PDPLISTAPE2 (No 7000102):

DOS 
*A <SYS> - 4 
*E LISTIT 
LISTIT 
FLNAME EXT 
*FILE1 
*FILE2 DOC 
*FILE3 SRC 
*↑D (control D) 
3 FILES LISTED, 3 RECORDS. 
LISTIT 
FLNAME EXT 
*↑C
MC 

On a Mor console:

THIS IS GEORGE 4 MARK NM ON 2 MAR 73 
15.00.01 
RJ JOBNAME, :GSIN00,PDPLIST,PARAM(2,EJ) accept 
TYPE PASSWORD← ABRACADABRA accept 

(2) Add 2 files to PDPLISTAPEl from DECTAPE 3 and list it from user context on the 1906A.

DOS 
*MTDUMP 
MTDUMP 
BUFSIZ= 
*R 1,1 
*S 1,EOF 
*↑C
DOS
*A<SYS> -4
*A DT3 6
*E LISTIT
LISTIT
FLNAME EXT
*FILE4
*FILE5
*FILE6, DOC
↑D
3 FILES LISTED, 5 RECORDS
LISTIT
FLNAME EXT
*↑C

Logged in to a MOP console

TYPE PASSWORD← 
STARTED :GSIN00,MOPGOOD, 2MAR73 15.00 
15.00.01 PDPLIST I accept 
DISPLAY: JOB NOW RUNNING AS BACKGROUND JOB 
DISPLAY: WITH NAME PDPMOPGOOD 
END OF MACRO 
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