1 02/21/84  assign_resource, ar
  2 
  3 Syntax:  ar resource_type {-control_args}
  4 
  5 
  6 Syntax as active function:  [ar resource_type {control_args}]
  7 
  8 
  9 Function:  calls the Resource Control Package (RCP) to assign a
 10 resource to your process.
 11 
 12 
 13 Arguments:
 14 resource_type
 15    specifies the type of resource to be assigned.  Currently, only
 16    device types can be designated.  The -device control argument is
 17    used to name a specific device to assign.  Other control arguments
 18    are used to indicate characteristics of the device to be assigned.
 19    The following device type keywords are supported:
 20 
 21      tape_drive
 22      disk_drive
 23      console
 24      printer
 25      punch
 26      reader
 27      special
 28 
 29 
 30 Control arguments:
 31 -comment STR, -com STR
 32    is a comment string that is displayed to the operator when the
 33    resource is assigned.  If more than one string is required, the
 34    entire string must be in quotes.  Only printable ASCII characters
 35    are allowed.  Any unprintable characters (also tabs or new lines)
 36    found in this string are converted to blanks.
 37 -density N, -den N
 38    specifies the density capability characteristic of a tape drive.
 39    There can be more than one instance of this argument.  A tape drive
 40    is assigned that is capable of being set to all of the indicated
 41    densities.  The acceptable values for this argument are 200, 556,
 42    800, 1600, and 6250.  Note that the values permitted depend on the
 43    particular hardware on the system.
 44 
 45 
 46 -device STR, -dv STR
 47    specifies the name of the device to be assigned.  If used, other
 48    control arguments that indicate device characteristics are ignored.
 49    If used with -long, a message containing the name of the assigned
 50    device is printed on your terminal; otherwise, no message is
 51    printed.  If found several times on the command line, the last one
 52    specified overrides any previous ones.
 53 -line_length N, -ll N
 54    specifies the line length of a printer.  Its value must be one that
 55    is found in the "line length" field of a printer PRPH configuration
 56    card.  If this field is not specified on that type of card, this
 57    device characteristic is ignored for this printer.
 58 
 59 
 60 -long, -lg
 61    prints all the device characteristics of the assigned device.  If
 62    not supplied, only the name of the assigned device is printed.
 63 -model N
 64    specifies the device model number characteristic.  Only a device
 65    that has this model number is assigned.  In order to find the model
 66    numbers that are acceptable, use the print_configuration_deck
 67    command.
 68 -number N, -nb N
 69    specifies the number of resources to assign.  All the resources
 70    assigned have the device characteristics indicated by any other
 71    arguments passed to this command.  If -number is not given, one
 72    resource is assigned.
 73 
 74 
 75 -speed N
 76    gives the speed of a tape drive.  The acceptable values depend on
 77    the particular hardware on the system and can be 75, 125, or 200.
 78 -system, -sys
 79    specifies that you want to be treated as a system process during
 80    this assignment.  If not used or if you do not have the appropriate
 81    access, then the RCP assumes that this assignment is for a nonsystem
 82    process.
 83 -track N, -tk N
 84    specifies the track characteristic of a tape drive.  The value can
 85    be either 9 or 7.  If both -track and -volume are not given, a track
 86    value of 9 is used when assigning a tape device.
 87 -train N, -tn N
 88    specifies the print train characteristic of a printer.
 89 
 90 
 91 -volume STR, -vol STR
 92    specifies the name of a volume.  If possible, the device assigned is
 93    one on which this volume has already been placed.  If this is not
 94    possible (e.g., the volume is on a device assigned to a process) any
 95    available, appropriate, and accessible device is assigned.
 96 -wait {N}, -wt {N}
 97    indicates that you want to wait if the assignment cannot be
 98    made at this time because the resources are assigned to some other
 99    process.  The value N designates the maximum number of minutes to
100    wait.  If N minutes elapse and a resource is not yet assigned, an
101    error message is printed.  If N is not specified, it is assumed that
102    you want to wait indefinitely.
103 
104 
105 Notes:  An assigned device still must be attached by a call to some I/O
106 module.  If a device is successfully assigned, the name of the device
107 is printed.  (If you request a specific device that is successfully
108 assigned, the name of the device is not printed unless you ask for it.)
109 
110 
111 Notes on active function:  The active function returns either true if
112 an assignment was successful or false if the resource is unavailable.
113 Other errors are reported by active_fnc_error_.  The -long control
114 argument is not allowed.  Use the list_resources command to obtain the
115 name of the assigned device(s).