Broadcasts a message to a terminal or terminals.
See the qualifier descriptions for restrictions.
Format
REPLY [message-text]
1 – Parameter
message-text
Specifies the text of the message. The text must be 1 to 511
characters. Enclose the text in quotation marks (" ") if it
contains spaces, special characters, or lowercase characters.
2 – Qualifiers
2.1 /ABORT
/ABORT=identification-number
Sends a message to the user or magnetic tape file system
corresponding to the unique identification number and cancels
the request.
2.2 /ALL
Requires OPER (operator) privilege.
Broadcasts a message to all terminals that are attached to the
system or cluster. These terminals must be turned on and have
broadcast-message reception enabled. The /ALL qualifier is
incompatible with the /USERNAME and /TERMINAL qualifiers.
2.3 /BELL
Rings a bell at the terminal receiving a message when entered
with the /ALL, the /TERMINAL, or the /USERNAME qualifier; two
bells when entered with the /URGENT qualifier; and three bells
when entered with the /SHUTDOWN qualifier.
2.4 /BLANK_TAPE
/BLANK_TAPE=identification-number
Requires VOLPRO (volume protection) privilege.
Sends a message to the magnetic tape file system indicated by
the identification number to override the checking of volume
label information. The volume label must be specified in the
message-text parameter. The current terminal must be enabled as
an operator terminal for TAPES.
2.5 /DISABLE
/DISABLE[=(keyword[,...])]
Requires OPER (operator) privilege. Requires OPER and SECURITY
privileges for security messages.
If the operator communication manager (OPCOM) is running,
restores to normal (that is, nonoperator) status the terminal
at which the command is entered. The /DISABLE qualifier cannot
be entered from a batch job. To restrict the types of messages
displayed on an operator's terminal, specify one of the following
keywords:
CARDS Inhibits messages sent to the card readers.
CENTRAL Inhibits messages sent to the central system
operator.
CLUSTER Inhibits messages from the connection manager
pertaining to cluster state changes.
DEVICES Inhibits messages pertaining to mounting
disks.
DISKS Inhibits messages pertaining to mounting and
dismounting disk volumes.
LICENSE Inhibits messages pertaining to software
licenses.
NETWORK Inhibits messages pertaining to networks;
the keyword CENTRAL must also be specified to
inhibit network messages.
OPER1 to OPER12 Inhibits messages sent to operators identified
as OPER1 to OPER12.
PRINTER Inhibits messages pertaining to print
requests.
SECURITY Inhibits messages pertaining to security
events; requires SECURITY privilege.
TAPES Inhibits messages pertaining to mounting and
dismounting tape volumes.
When an operator logs out from a remote or a dial-in terminal,
the operator terminal is automatically disabled.
2.6 /ENABLE
/ENABLE[=(keyword[,...])]
Requires OPER (operator) privilege. Requires OPER and SECURITY
privileges for security messages.
Designates as an operator's terminal the terminal at which the
REPLY command is entered, if OPCOM is running. The /ENABLE
qualifier cannot be entered from a batch job. To enable the
following types of messages displayed on an operator's terminal,
specify one of the following keywords:
CARDS Displays messages sent to the card readers.
CENTRAL Displays messages sent to the central system
operator.
CLUSTER Displays messages from the connection manager
pertaining to cluster state changes.
DEVICES Displays messages pertaining to mounting
disks.
DISKS Displays messages pertaining to mounting and
dismounting disk volumes.
LICENSE Displays messages pertaining to software
licenses.
NETWORK Displays messages pertaining to networks;
the keyword CENTRAL must also be specified to
inhibit network messages.
OPER1 to OPER12 Displays messages sent to operators identified
as OPER1 to OPER12.
PRINTER Displays messages pertaining to print
requests.
SECURITY Allows messages pertaining to security events;
requires SECURITY privilege.
TAPES Allows messages pertaining to mounting and
dismounting tape volumes.
2.7 /INITIALIZE_TAPE
/INITIALIZE_TAPE=identification-number
Sends a message to the magnetic tape file system indicated by
the identification number to initialize a magnetic tape volume.
This qualifier can be used whenever the file system requests the
mounting of a new volume. The system performs normal protection
and expiration checks before initializing the volume. The current
terminal must be enabled as an operator terminal for TAPES.
If the tape drive cannot read the volume, the mount fails and
an error message is returned. Use the /BLANK_TAPE qualifier to
override the checking of information on a volume label.
2.8 /LOG
/LOG
/NOLOG
Requires OPER (operator) privilege.
Closes the current operator's log file and opens a new one if
OPCOM is running. The /NOLOG qualifier closes the current log
file, but does not open a new log file. The current terminal must
be enabled as an operator terminal. The operator can then examine
the contents of the previous log file.
2.9 /NODE
/NODE[=(node-name[,...])]
Sends a message to the local cluster node only. The optional
parameter list allows you to specify which nodes will receive the
message. Default sends messages to all cluster nodes.
2.10 /NOTIFY
/NOTIFY (default)
/NONOTIFY
Sends a message describing success back to the originating
terminal.
2.11 /PENDING
/PENDING=identification-number
Requires OPER privilege.
Sends a message to the user specified by the identification
number and prevents the user from entering other commands until
the operator fulfills or aborts the request. The current terminal
must be enabled as an operator terminal.
2.12 /SHUTDOWN
Sends a message beginning "SHUTDOWN..."; if used with the /BELL
qualifier, rings three bells at terminals receiving the message.
2.13 /STATUS
Requires OPER (operator) privilege.
Reports the current operator status and all outstanding user
requests for the terminal from which this command was entered.
The current terminal must be enabled as an operator terminal.
2.14 /TEMPORARY
Designates the terminal at which the command is entered to be
an operator's terminal for the current interactive session only.
This qualifier is meaningful only when used with the /ENABLE
qualifier.
2.15 /TERMINAL
/TERMINAL=(terminal-name[,...])
Requires OPER (operator) privilege.
Broadcasts the message to specified terminals, where the
terminal-name parameter is the device name of the terminal.
Incompatible with the /ALL and /USERNAME qualifiers.
2.16 /TO
/TO=identification-number
Requires OPER (operator) privilege.
Sends a message to the user or file system specified by the
identification number and completes the request. The current
terminal must be enabled as an operator terminal.
Note that you can also use a variation of the REPLY/TO command
in response to a MOUNT/ASSIST command where you redirect the
mount operation to another device. Whenever you must substitute
a device, load the user's volume on the alternate device and
prepare the device for connection before entering the REPLY
command. Use the following syntax:
REPLY/TO=identification-number "SUBSTITUTE device-name"
You can abbreviate the word SUBSTITUTE to S and can use uppercase
or lowercase characters. After a space, use the remainder of the
message-text space to name the substituted device.
2.17 /URGENT
Sends a message beginning "URGENT..."; if used with the /BELL
qualifier, rings two bells at terminals receiving the message.
2.18 /USERNAME
/USERNAME[=(username[,...])]
Requires OPER (operator) privilege.
Broadcasts a message to all terminals at which users are logged
in to the system (or OpenVMS Cluster), or only to the terminals
of the specified users. Incompatible with the /ALL and /TERMINAL
qualifiers.
2.19 /WAIT
Sends a message synchronously and then waits. The default is to
send a message to OPCOM, which does the actual I/O. On a cluster,
the message is sent to the local node.
3 – Examples
1.$ REPLY/ALL/BELL "SYSTEM GOING DOWN FOR BACK-UP. PLEASE LOG OFF."
The REPLY command in this example broadcasts a message to all
terminals on the system. When the message appears at the user's
terminal, it is prefixed with the terminal name, the user name
of the sender, and (when DECnet-Plus or DECnet for OpenVMS is
installed) the node name. The bell sounds at the terminal as
the message is displayed.
2.$ REPLY/ENABLE=DISKS
%OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001, 10:17:09.02, operator enabled, operator OPA0
$
%OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001 10:17:10.30, operator status for operator OPA0
DISKS
The REPLY/ENABLE command in this example designates the
terminal OPA0 as an operator terminal that can receive messages
pertaining to mounting and dismounting disks. The OPCOM message
confirms that terminal OPA0 is established as an operator's
terminal.
3.%OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001 10:19:33.21, request 5, from user SYSTEM
OPA0, Please mount OPGUIDE on DKA3:
$ REPLY/PENDING=5 "YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT... -
_$ THERE ARE SEVERAL REQUESTS BEFORE YOURS"
.
.
.
$ REPLY/TO=5
24-DEC-2001 10:20:25.50, request 5 completed by operator OPA0
In this example the OPCOM message indicates that a user wants
the operator to place the disk volume labeled OPGUIDE on the
disk drive DKA3 and prepare the device for connection. The
REPLY/PENDING command indicates that the operator can perform
the task but not immediately; the /PENDING qualifier prevents
the user from entering other commands until the operator
fulfills or aborts the request. After mounting the disk on the
drive the operator sends a message indicating that the request
has been fulfilled. When no message is specified, OPCOM sends a
standard message indicating that the task has been performed.
4.%%%%%%%%%% OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001 10:20:50.39 %%%%%%%%%%%
request 5 from user ROBINSON
Please mount volume GRAPHIC_FILES in device _DUA11:
Shelf 4 - slot B
$ REPLY/TO=5 "SUBSTITUTE DUA4"
The REPLY/TO command with the SUBSTITUTE syntax in this example
is used in response to a MOUNT/ASSIST command entered by user
ROBINSON. The MOUNT device is switched to DUA4, and the logical
name specified by the user in the MOUNT command is defined with
an equivalence name of DUA4 rather than the drive originally
specified.
5.$ REPLY/STATUS
%OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001 10:20:50.39, operator status for operator OPA0
DISKS
The REPLY/STATUS command in this example requests that the
operator terminal status for terminal OPA0 be displayed. The
response from OPCOM indicates that terminal OPA0 is enabled to
receive messages from disk devices.
6.$ REPLY/BELL/TERMINAL=TTC1: "YOUR FILE HAS COMPLETED PRINTING. BOB S."
The REPLY command in this example sends a message to the user
logged in at terminal TTC1. When the message displays, a bell
rings at that terminal.
7.$ REPLY/ENABLE
%OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001 10:22:19.75, operator status for operator OPA0
CENTRAL, PRINTER, TAPES, DISKS, DEVICES, CARDS, NETWORK, CLUSTER,
LICENSE, OPER11, OPER12
.
.
.
$ REPLY/DISABLE=(PRINTER, TAPES)
%OPCOM, 24-DEC-2001 10:22:26.07, operator disabled, operator OPA0
The REPLY/ENABLE command in this example designates terminal
OPA0 to receive messages from all facilities. Later, the
REPLY/DISABLE command selectively disables OPA0 from receiving
messages pertaining to print devices and tapes.