TACL Reference Manual

HP NonStop TACL Reference Manual—429513-018
7-1
7
Summary of Commands and Built-In
Functions
TACL provides three types of standard capabilities:
•
Commands, which are implemented as TACL variables
•
Built-in functions, which are not implemented as TACL variables but are accessed
in the same manner as TACL variables
•
Built-in data variables
This section provides an overview of these standard capabilities, followed by tables
that summarize commands, functions, and variables by functional group. All these
constructs can be used interactively or in a TACL program. When there are two
constructs that support the same function, however, use the command for interactive
work and the built-in function for programmatic work:
•
Commands typically display results. Commands provide information about files,
allow you to check the status of processes, gather information about your own
processes and those of other users, and perform other types of work. The RUN
command runs other programs such as the File Utility Program (FUP).
The :UTILS:TACL directory contains the set of standard TACL commands.
•
Built-in functions and variables provide information that can be used by a program.
They return information and status in the form of a result. The set of built-in
functions and built-in variables provide the fundamental, fixed set of TACL
functionality.
TACL Commands
When you log on to your system, you use TACL commands. These commands
include:
Commands are intended for interactive use; although you can use them in TACL
programs, commands do not typically return as much status or error information as do
functions. The commands generally display a result.
TACL commands are interpreted. Each command is a TACL variable. All commands
call TACL built-in functions.
RUN Runs a process
STATUS Displays information about one or more running processes
WHO Describes the current environment