This manual introduces the BS2000 dialog interface provided by the System Dialog Facility (SDF) and describes how the user can employ SDF to enter commands and statements. The manual comprises nine chapters, which are arranged as follows:
Chapter 1 summarizes the range of SDF functions and gives hints on how to use the manual.
Chapter 2 provides a brief introduction to working in the SDF environment and gives brief examples of possible input.
Chapter 3 contains an overview of rules and regulations to be observed when entering commands or statements.
Chapter 4 shows, with the aid of a sample session, how commands are entered with and without prompting (referred to in SDF as guided and unguided dialog respectively).
Chapter 5 describes the syntax files accessed by SDF to process an input. This is followed by information on the functionality of software products supporting the generation and modification of syntax files.
Chapter 6 contains the SDF-specific commands, standard statements and an overview of the program interfaces available to the user.
Chapter 7 provides notes on the use of OMNIS and CHECKPOINT/RESTART in conjunction with SDF.
Chapter 8 shows how SDF is installed.
Chapter 9 provides information on how to behave when errors occur.
Chapter 10 describes the SDF-I utility routine for merging syntax files.
Chapter 11 describes the SDF-U utility routine for modifying syntax files.
Chapter 12 describes the SDF-PAR utility routine for managing SDF parameter files.
Chapter 13 describes the SDF-CONV utility routine for converting command procedures to the current procedure and command format.
Chapter 14 describes the DISPLAY subsystem, which permits the full output scope of most of the SHOW commands to be made available to nonprivileged users.
The BS2000 commands, including privileged commands and the format of the SDF command language together with the SDF syntax representation and the command return codes is described in detail in the “Commands“ manual [1] and is consequently no longer contained in this manual.
The Details on administering and operating the system are dealt with in the “Introductory Guide to Systems Support” [2].
All literature references in the text are given in abbreviated form. Complete titles of every publication referred to can be found under “Related publications”.