MAREN bulletin

Similarly to the LOGON bulletin in BS2000, a file containing information for the MAREN user can be set up by the MAREN administrator. The messages deposited there are automatically output after the MAREN user program has been called.

The bulletin file can be created in SAM file format using any editor. It must be shareable (USER-ACCESS=*ALL-USERS) and protected against inadvertent overwriting (ACCESS=*READ). A message can consist of multiple records.

The BULLETIN file must be constructed in such a way as to allow the interactive user to request further follow-up messages step by step following the first message. In each case, the following query is issued before further messages are output:

CONTINUE OUTPUT OF BULLETIN? REPLY (Y=YES; N=NO)

In the case of batch jobs, this possibility of optional output does not exist; merely the first message block of the BULLETIN file is output to SYSOUT. For this reason, the most recent messages should always be placed at the beginning of the BULLETIN file.

Apart from messages addressed to all MAREN users, special information can also be provided for defined users. The following message offers this option to the interactive user.

CONTINUE OUTPUT OF BULLETIN FOR USERID (&00)? (Y=YES; N=NO)

In batch tasks, this special message is output via the SPOOLOUT log. With regard to this option, it is good practice to structure the file in three parts, as follows:

1. General information for all users. Follow-up messages begin with a data record containing a STOP statement:
   **STOP**
2. Special information for defined users. (Grouping of messages for a particular user is not necessary). This information begins with a data record containing a STOP statement for the defined user:
   **STOP** <userid>
3. Additional information which can be queried for all users. Follow-up messages begin with a data record containing a STOP statement:
   **STOP**

The STOP statement separates the individual groups of messages. At this point, the user specified in the STOP statement is asked whether bulletin output is to be continued.

 

Example

The BULLETIN file was created with the following contents (displayed with the command SHOW-FILE):

   ******************************************************************          
   ******************************************************************          
   * Normal MAREN operation from 07:00 to 19:00                     *          
   * To contact the administrator, dial 77889                       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
**STOP** USER1                                                                 
   *                                                                *          
   * This is a message for USER1: ...........................       *          
   * ........................................................       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
**STOP** USER2                                                                 
   *                                                                *          
   * This is a message for USER2: ...........................       *          
   * ........................................................       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
**STOP** USER1                                                                 
   * This is another message for USER1: ..........                  *          
   * ........................................................       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
e                                                          S*SOF+     1(     1)

The following command should then be issued:
/MODIFY-FILE-ATTRIBUTES MAREN.BULLETIN, USER-ACCESS=*ALL-USERS, ACCESS=*READ

After MAREN is started, USER1 receives the following output:

/start-maren                                                                   
   ******************************************************************          
   ******************************************************************          
   * Normal MAREN operation from 07:00 to 19:00                     *          
   * To contact the administrator, dial 77889                       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
%  MARM1B2 CONTINUE OUTPUT OF BULLETIN FOR USERID 'USER1'? REPLY (Y=           
YES; N=NO)?y                                                                   
   *                                                                *          
   * This is a message for USER1: ...........................       *          
   * ........................................................       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
%  MARM1B2 CONTINUE OUTPUT OF BULLETIN FOR USERID 'USER1'? REPLY (Y=           
YES; N=NO)?y                                                                   
   * This is another message for USER1: ..........                  *          
   * ........................................................       *          
   *                                                                *          
   ******************************************************************          
%//