Parameters

device-name[:]

   Specifies the name of the device you want to go to.

                                  NOTE

      The SET DEFAULT command will accept a node name with the
      device name (that is, node-name::device-name). However, the
      results of operations using a default with a node name are
      unpredictable. Some utilities and applications do not allow
      a node name to be specified in a file specification and will
      fail if the default file specification contains a node name.


directory-spec

   Specifies the name of the directory you want to go to. A
   directory name must be enclosed in brackets ([ ]).  Use the minus
   sign (-)  to specify the next higher directory from the current
   default.

   On Alpha systems, if the length of the resulting default
   directory specification exceeds 255 characters, the SET DEFAULT
   attempts to replace the default directory string with a generated
   directory specification. If this happens, then in addition to
   the normal syntax check, the entire path to that specification,
   including the device, is verified and must exist for the call to
   succeed.

   On Alpha systems, if the process parse style is set to extended,
   then the directory specification may include a directory ID
   (DID).

   You must specify either the device-name parameter or the
   directory-spec parameter. If you specify only the device name,
   the current directory is the default for the directory-spec
   parameter. If you specify only the directory name, the current
   device is the default for the device-name parameter.

   You can use a logical name but it must constitute at least the
   device part of the specification. When you use a search list
   logical name as the parameter, the logical name is not translated
   by the SET DEFAULT command. Instead, the SET DEFAULT command
   retains the logical name so that OpenVMS Record Management
   Services (RMS) is able to access the entire search list. If you
   enter the SHOW DEFAULT command, the search list logical name
   is displayed as the default device, along with its equivalence
   strings.