[mod.computers.vax] SET DEFAULT substitutes

STRASSER@seismo.CSS.GOV@RSBS0.anu.OZ.AU (02/19/87)

Everyone has their own favourite hacks, and here is one of mine:

I gave up on SET DEFAULT years ago (when VMS 4.0 came along) for managing 
my 20-odd directories.  Firstly, I have 2-5 letter logical names (which 
are DEFINEd at login, and are mnemonics) for each, and to go from one to
the other I use the symbol TO, which runs this command procedure, GOTO.COM: 

$  if p1 .eqs. "" then inquire p1 "Go to"
$  on error then exit
$  set default 'p1'
$  curdir :== 'p1'
$  set prompt = "''p1'> "

This has a few features:

	1.  Your prompt tells you (briefly, according to your mnemonic 
	    logical names) where you are.
	2.  If you misspell a name, you get an error, because the logical 
	    name won't translate.
	3.  This system works if you specify any logical name, e.g. 
	    SYS$LIBRARY.

(As an aside, I save the symbol CURDIR to file at logout and restore it as 
the default at login.)

The added bonus is that I can use the logical names to refer to files in 
directories other than the default one.


Mike Strasser
Research School of Biological Sciences
Australian National University
G.P.O. Box 475
Canberra City  A.C.T.  2601
Australia