TOPS-20 Tips and Tricks

Last Updated: 21SEP01

If you're new to TOPS-20 this page will hopefully be of help. If you're not, it might jog your memory. Please submit any Tips or Tricks to healyzh AT aracnet DOT com for inclusion in this web page.

I recommend your first stop be the following :
Introduction to using the DECSYSTEM-20, originally from the Dundee College of Technology (TEXT) 36bit.org

    Setting your terminal to VT100 mode
    @terminal vt100

    When in VT100 mode and doing something such as getting a long directory listing
    that fills several screens, you will need to use ^Q to continue after each screen
    full.

    Getting Information about your terminal (INFORMATION TERMINAL)
    @I TERM
     TERMINAL VT100
     TERMINAL SPEED 300
     RECEIVE LINKS
     REFUSE ADVICE
     RECEIVE SYSTEM-MESSAGES
     TERMINAL PAUSE (ON) COMMAND
     TERMINAL PAUSE (ON) END-OF-PAGE
     TERMINAL LENGTH 24
     TERMINAL WIDTH 80
     TERMINAL LOWERCASE
     TERMINAL RAISE
     TERMINAL NO FLAG
     TERMINAL INDICATE
     TERMINAL NO FORMFEED
     TERMINAL TABS
     TERMINAL NO IMMEDIATE
     TERMINAL FULLDUPLEX
    @

    Defining a Search Path
    @DEFINE SYS: PS:<SUBSYS>, PS:<TOOLS>

    Invoking the SED Text Editor (if it's installed)
    @sed;=filename.txt

    Get more directory info than plain DIRECTORY
    @vdir

       PS:<GUEST>
     LOGIN.CMD.1;P777700        1 26(7)       4-Sep-2001 20:17:20 OPERATOR
     README.TXT.1;P777700       1 118(7)     22-Aug-2001 21:05:53 OPERATOR
     Total of 2 pages in 2 files
    @

    Running a Macro-10 file
    @exec hello.mac

    Compiling and Linking a Macro-10 file
    @compile hello
    @link
    *hello/save=hello/go

    Getting System Information

    @SYSTAT
     Fri 21-Sep-2001 07:52:38  Up 105:29:25
     0+5 Jobs   Load av   0.02   0.02   0.01
     Job  Line Program  User
       1    43  PTYCON  OPERATOR
       2    44  BATCON  OPERATOR
       3    45  OPR     OPERATOR
       4     2  EXEC    OPERATOR
       5*    3  SYSTAT  OPERATOR
    @

    @I SYS
     Operator is in attendance
     Remote logins allowed
     Local logins allowed
     Pseudo-terminal logins allowed
     ARPANET terminal logins are not allowed
     Console terminal login allowed
     Accounting is being done
     Account validation is disabled
     Working set preloading is disabled
     Tape-drive allocation is enabled
     Automatic file-retrieval-waits allowed
     Maximum offline-expiration is 0 days
     Scheduler bias-control setting is 8
     Class scheduling is disabled
    @

    @I VER
     Psychotic Reaction TOPS-20 V4.1, TOPS-20 Monitor 4.1(5471)
     TOPS-20 Command processor 5.1(1354)
    @

    Creating a User Account
    I've no idea if this is the correct method, but it seems to work at
    least when logged in as OPERATOR.

    @ENABLE
    $^ECREATE PS:<USERNAME>       {Note, the ^E is ESC-E}
    [New]
    $$PASSWORD MYPASSWD
    $$USER-GROUP 200
    $$IPCF
    $$
    $DIR PS:<USERNAME>