1. $ SHOW DEVICE KUDOS %SYSTEM-W-NOSUCHDEV, no such device available $ HELP/MESSAGE The first command creates an error. The default HELP/MESSAGE command (with no qualifiers) displays a description of the SYSTEM facility message NOSUCHDEV. 2. $ HELP/MESSAGE ACCVIO $ HELP/MESSAGE/BRIEF ACCVIO $ HELP/MESSAGE/FACILITY=SYSTEM ACCVIO $ HELP/MESSAGE VIRTUAL ACCESS $ HELP/MESSAGE/STATUS=12 $ HELP/MESSAGE/STATUS=%XC These commands demonstrate how you can use various qualifiers to access and display the ACCVIO message (sometimes several!) in different formats. 3. $ HELP/MESSAGE/BRIEF ACC $ HELP/MESSAGE/BRIEF/WORD_MATCH=WHOLE_WORD ACC In the first command, Help Message by default matches dozens of words beginning with the string "ACC." The /WORD_MATCH=WHOLE_WORD qualifier dramatically refines the search to match the exact word only. 4. $ HELP/MESSAGE/FACILITY=(BACKUP,SHARED)/SORT/OUTPUT=MESSAGES.TXT This command selects all messages issued by the BACKUP facility and those messages documented as "Shared by several facilities," alphabetizes them, and outputs them to a printable file called MESSAGES.TXT. By selecting the messages you want and directing them to a file, you can create and print your own customized messages documentation. 5. $ HELP/MESSAGE/EXTRACT=BADMESSAGE.MSGHLP BADMESSAGE $ HELP/MESSAGE/DELETE=BADMESSAGE.MSGHLP- _$ /LIBRARY=SYS$LOGIN:MYMESSAGES.MSGHLP$DATA $ CONVERT SYS$LOGIN:MYMESSAGES.MSGHLP$DATA- _SYS$LOGIN:MYMESSAGES.MSGHLP$DATA $ PURGE SYS$LOGIN:MYMESSAGES.MSGHLP$DATA $ HELP/MESSAGE/INSERT=BADMESSAGE.MSGHLP The first command in this sequence extracts the hypothetical message BADMESSAGE from the default database and outputs it to file BADMESSAGE.MSGHLP. The second command uses the BADMESSAGE.MSGHLP file to delete the BADMESSAGE description from the MYMESSAGES.MSGHLP$DATA file specified by the /LIBRARY qualifier. The next two commands compress the MYMESSAGES.MSGHLP$DATA file to save disk space after the deletion. The last command uses the BADMESSAGE.MSGHLP file (possibly an edited version at a later time) to insert the BADMESSAGE message into the default .MSGHLP$DATA file. 6. $ HELP/MESSAGE/EXTRACT=NOSNO.MSGHLP NOSNO $ EDIT/EDT NOSNO.MSGHLP 1NOSNO, can't ski; no snow 2XCSKI, XCSKI Program 3Your attempt to ski failed because there is no snow. 4Wait until there is snow and attempt the operation again. 5If you don't want to wait, go to a location where there is 5snow and ski there. 5 5Or, try ice skating instead! [EXIT] $ HELP/MESSAGE/INSERT=NOSNO.MSGHLP This command sequence shows how users with write access to OpenVMS supplied .MSGHLP$DATA files can add a comment to a OpenVMS supplied message. The first command extracts hypothetical message NOSNO to file NOSNO.MSGHLP. The second command edits the .MSGHLP file to add a comment at the end of the message. Each comment line, even blank lines, includes a "5" prefix. The next command updates the database by using NOSNO.MSGHLP to insert the updated message into the default .MSGHLP$DATA file.