Guardian Programmer's Guide

Table Of Contents
Communicating With a TACL Process
Guardian Programmer’s Guide 421922-014
8 - 2
Setting Up the Process Environment
The following TACL commands can affect the parameter information sent to a new
process:
The VOLUME, RUN, ASSIGN, PARAM, CLEAR, and SYSTEM commands are
described in the TACL Reference Manual.
Once the process environment is set up and the RUN command started, the parameter
information is passed to the new process in the following sequence:
1. The system sends system message number -103 (Open message) to the new
process when the TACL process opens the new process. The TACL process is
then able to send messages to the new process.
2. The TACL process sends a Startup message (command-interpreter message
code -1) to the new process. This message contains the default volume and
subvolume names, as well as the input and output file names and optional
parameters.
3. If requested by the new process, the TACL process sends Assign messages to the
new process (command-interpreter message code -2). These messages contain
logical-file assignments made by the ASSIGN command.
4. If requested by the new process and if the TACL process has accepted any
PARAM statements, the TACL process sends a Param message to the new
ASSIGN Makes logical-file assignments. A logical-file assignment equates a file
name with a logical file of a program and optionally assigns file
characteristics to that file. For each ASSIGN in effect when the
program is run, one Assign message is sent to the new process at the
option of the new process.
CLEAR Clears ASSIGN and PARAM settings.
PARAM Associates an ASCII value with a parameter name. This command is
typically used to pass arbitrary string values to the program. If any
PARAMs are in effect when a program is run, a single Param message
containing all parameter names and values is sent to the new process
at the option of the new process.
RUN Specifies the input and output files and optional parameter string to be
passed to the new process. This information, along with the default
volume and subvolume names, is passed to the new process in the
Startup message.
SYSTEM When used with a nonblank system name, implicitly causes remote
programs to be run. In this case, the volume IN and OUT parameters
passed in the Startup message contain the network node number in the
upper bytes. That is, the upper byte contains the backslash character
(\), and the second byte contains the network node number. Up to six
characters then identify the volume (without the leading dollar sign, $).
VOLUME Specifies the default volume and subvolume names to be passed to the
new process.