MACALLSTR@vax1.physics.oxford.ac.UK.UUCP (03/31/87)
It's generally a bad idea to interfere with the standard VMS HELPLIB library.
Local module names may conflict with new or existing DEC items. I never let
third-party installations automatically update my standard VMS HELPLIB - if
I have any control over it, that is.
The easiest way to implement local HELP information is to have a separate local
HELP library e.g. LOCAL.HLB somewhere. You then have a few options using
HLP$LIBRARY,etc :
(1) search order DEC, LOCAL;
(2) search order LOCAL, DEC;
(3) two help commands - HELP for DEC library and HELPLOC for the local library.
I prefer option (1) combined with (3). (The local HELP command is called HELPO
{ O for Oxford } .) Option (1) presents the user with the standard DEC HELP
index; local items are automatically displayed; the DEC item is displayed if
the same keyword exists in both libraries; the user can still use the @LOCAL
form if desired; the HELPLOC command will conveniently display local items
even when there are conflicts with duplicate keys in the DEC library.
This scheme makes both DEC and LOCAL information available without interfering
with 'vanilla' VMS.
John