ViewPoint Manual

ViewPoint Manual—426801-001
Glossary-1
Glossary
Introduction
This glossary defines technical terms used in this manual. Some of these terms are also
defined in the SPI Programming Manual.
abend (abnormal end). (1) An abnormal end of a task or process. (2) An error condition
that can result in the termination of a program.
action event. An event for which the generating subsystem requires a response from the
operator, such as mounting a tape. Each subsystem determines what events are action
events by including a unique EMS token in the event message.
advice line. Line 21 (or 20 in some cases) of the ViewPoint block-mode screens. It provides
information pertinent to your operation of the ViewPoint application, such as error
notices and advisory messages (such as operation-complete messages). See Appendix B
for a complete listing of such messages.
alternate event. An event selected for display to a particular operator according to criteria
specified by that operator. Alternate events are displayed on the ViewPoint Alternate
Events screen. Contrast with Primary event.
alternate-events distributor. An EMS consumer distributor that distributes event messages
to a ViewPoint event collection server for display only to a particular operator. See also
Distributor.
Alternate Event Configuration screen. The two-page ViewPoint Event Configuration
screen requested from the Alternate Events screen that allows operators to control events
sent to their Alternate Events screens.
Alternate Events screen. The screen on which ViewPoint displays events configured
specifically for individual operators; these are events that pass the filter for alternate
events and the configuration criteria specified on the Alternate Events Configuration
screen. If not specifically configured, this screen shows the same events as the Primary
Events screen.
background process. A server process that runs in the background—that is, a process that
continues running until it is explicitly stopped. Background processes are defined and
executed using the TACL routines that constitute the Define Process library. See also
Define Process library.
buffer. Temporary storage of data. For instance, data to be sent in an interprocess message is
encoded in a buffer from which it is copied by the file system. The data is delivered to a
buffer addressable by the recipient. See also SPI buffer.
built-in. A primitive function or variable in TACL. Names of built-ins always begin with a
pound sign (#).