BF) Details concerning the DESL
list command.Allows the user to define a sequence of names or values to be contained in a named set or "list" which can be used in association with a "list-oriented" DESL command such as do . Another use of a list of items is in association with the "files" option in many DESL commands. A list used in this respect serves to allow an expansion of file name strings, interior to the strings themselves, by providing the opportunity to substitute the list items - either all strings or all values - into the file name in sequence, producing additional file name strings. The list command can also accept one or more lists of file names via the inclusion of the "<file_list" construct. Each of these such list names would have to have been created previously via the "newfiles" or "newfilex" option used in a previous DESL command during the same session.
| . |
(Begin modifications on 081202)
The use of the <file_list type implied file name sequence
will only make use of the first 16 characters of each file name.
(End modifications on 081202) |
The arguments associated with the "list" command must begin on the command line and can be continued to one or more subsequent lines via the inclusion of the blank-delimited ampersand symbol (&) as the last item on the line. All lists can be cleared by following the "list" command name or abbreviation with no other items. Each "list" command can define only one (1) list and each must contain, in its expanded form, either all strings or all values - not a combination of the two.
There can be an unlimited number of lists defined. Each list can contain up to 500 items. Creation of a list with the same name as one already defined serves to inactivate the list defined earlier.
The arguments associated with the "list" command must begin on the command line and can be continued to one or more subsequent lines via the inclusion of the blank-delimited ampersand symbol (&) as the last item on the line. Following the "list" command name must be the list's up-to 16-character name followed by the expressed or implied strings or values which will compose the list proper, up to the 500-item limit.
| . |
(Begin modifications on 052102)
At the present time, even though the allow SIF file name length
has been increased to up to 256 characters, the list elements can
still only be 16 or less characters. This precludes the use of
"long" file names as list elements.
(End modifications on 052102) |
A list cannot be composed of a mixture of strings and values. The list must entirely be composed of one species or the other.
The syntax of the allowable forms of the "list" argument list are as follows :
list
"list" alone will clear all defined lists
For string-type lists :
list l_name [ str1 str2 ... str3 ] . [ str1 thru str2 ] . [ # at str1 ] . [ read file_name ]
where, "str" represents any up-to 16-character string and "#" represents a value.
For value-type lists :
list l_name [ #1 #2 ... #3 ] [ #1 to #2 ( by #3 ) ] [ # at #1 ] [ read file_name ]
where, "#" represents a value.
There are several forms of shorthand notation which can be employed to specify, in more compact terms, a list which will later be expanded. For string-type lists, the "thru" and "at" special strings can be used. For value-type lists, the "at" and "to"/"by" special strings can be used. The special "read fn" string, where "fn" represents an up-to 16-character file name, can be used for either type list. The read-in file should contain a section of the list being defined and can use these shorthand notations.
The meanings of these shorthand words are the following : The "thru" serves to force the generation of strings whose numeric suffixes increment or decrement by 1, depending on the implicit order of the desired sequence of strings. The "at" serves to replicate the following string or value a number of times equal to the value preceding the "at". The "to"/"by" serves to generate values which either increment or decrement, depending on the magnitudes of the two values specified and the "by" parameter. The default "by" value is 1. The "read" serves to cause the contents of the specified file to be inserted in the list being defined.
Defined lists stay in effect until superseded or cleared.
See the copy command's makelist option.
DESL Manager at ViGYAN, Inc.
30 Research Drive
Hampton, VA 23666
Voice: (757) 865-1400
Toll Free: (800) 288-3998
FAX: (757) 865-8177
