Parameters

equivalence-name[,...]

   Specifies a character string of 1 to 255 characters. Defines the
   equivalence name, usually a file specification, device name, or
   other logical name, to be associated with the logical name in
   the specified logical name table. If the string contains other
   than uppercase alphanumeric, dollar sign ($),  or underscore (_)
   characters, enclose it in quotation marks (" ").  Use two sets
   of quotation marks ("" "")  to denote an actual quotation mark
   within the string. Specifying more than one equivalence name for
   a logical name creates a search list. A logical name can have a
   maximum of 128 equivalence names.

   When you specify an equivalence name that will be used as a file
   specification, you must include the punctuation marks (colons
   (:),  brackets ([]),  and periods (.)) that would be required if
   the equivalence name were used directly as a file specification.
   Therefore, if you specify a device name as an equivalence name,
   terminate the device name with a colon.

   The ASSIGN command allows you to assign the same logical name to
   more than one equivalence name. When you specify more than one
   equivalence name for a logical name, you create a search list.
   For more information on search lists, see the OpenVMS User's
   Manual.


logical-name[:]

   Specifies the logical name string, which is a character string
   containing up to 255 characters. You choose a logical name to
   represent the equivalence name in the specified logical name
   table.

   If the string contains other than uppercase alphanumeric, dollar
   sign, or underscore characters, enclose it in quotation marks.
   Use two sets of quotation marks to denote an actual quotation
   mark. If you terminate the logical-name parameter with a colon,
   the system removes the colon before placing the name in a logical
   name table. (This differs from the DEFINE command, which saves
   the colon.) If the logical name is to be entered into the
   process directory (LNM$PROCESS_DIRECTORY) or system directory
   (LNM$SYSTEM_DIRECTORY) logical name tables, the name can have
   only 1 to 31 alphanumeric characters (including the dollar
   sign and underscore). If the logical name being entered into
   the process or system directory translates to a logical name
   table name, any alphabetic characters in the name should all be
   uppercase. By default, the logical name is placed in the process
   logical name table.

   If the logical name contains any characters other than
   alphanumeric characters, the dollar sign, or the underscore,
   enclose the name in quotation marks. If the logical name contains
   quotation marks, enclose the name in quotation marks and use
   two sets of quotation marks in the places where you want one set
   of quotation marks to occur. Note that if you enclose a name in
   quotation marks, the case of alphabetic characters is preserved.