Common VAX commands

This web page provides you with the following VAX commands:

  • listing the contents of a directory (folder)
  • deleting a file(s)
  • changing directories (folder)
  • setting protections
  • determining your quota
  • getting to the library software
  • displaying the BSU menu

    • Listing the contents of a directory:

    Just like when you use Windows Explorer and you click on a folder, the right pane displays the folders and files that are located in that folder. The VAX dir command also lists the contents of the current directory. 

     
       $dir
    The files are listed in alphabetical order: filename first, period, file extension type, colon and version number. The version number is perhaps the only attribute that you are not familar with. Every time a file is saved, the version number is incremented by one. Perhaps what is also convenient, is that the VAX OS saves the last old version before it increments the version number by one and saves the new contents. So many times, you may have files with the same name but different version numbers, example, MY_FILE.TXT;1 and MY_FILE.TXT;2. The VAX OS is also smart enough to know that when you give a command with MY_FILE.TXT it will use the highest version number. However, this is not true when you must delete the file. Vax Command List

    Deleting a file(s)

    To delete a file use the following command: 

     
       $del filename.file_type:version_number
    You may use the wildcard * to represent any number of characters, so del x.txt:* would delete all the versions of x.txt files. Del *.txt:* would delete all versions of files with the file_type of txt and any filename.

    Vax Command List

    Changing directories:

    When you log into your VAX account you are placed in your root directory. This is your default directory. This is a folder/directory that is only yours and where you want to work in. To change what directory is currently set as the default directory use the following command: 

     
       $set default ["directory"]
    For example to change to your www directory enter the following: 
     
       $set default [.www]
    This is just like clicking on a directory through Microsoft Explorer. You are now working in that directory (folder).

    Vax Command List

    Setting Protection: (or How to let others see your file)

    When you are the owner and only user of a file, you do not need to worry about the file protection. File protection, like any kind of ownership, gives certain priviliges to the owner. In particular, the owner of file (you) can choose the permission associated with a file. Permissions determine how different users can access a file. Permissions specify whether a member of a particular category can read the file, write to the file or attempt to execute the file. By default, the Vax operating system has set the file protection for your use only.

    However, when you want others to READ or perhaps even WRITE or EXECUTE your file, then you need to change the file protection. In our case, for our Web pages, we want all people (the world) to see our files, thus we need to change the file protection to let read the file. The command to do this on the Vax is call set protection. At the $ prompt type in 

     
    set prot= w:r filename.ext

    The w in the command means world. The r in the command means read. Now all other viewers of your web pages can see (read) the appropriate files. Note, when webready created your index.html file and placed it your www directory, it set the protection correctly, so that others can read it.

    Vax Command List

    Seeing your quota:

     If you are going to store some graphics files (ones for your homepage), they may be too large to store on your VAX account. You need to know how much space you have left in your account. The command to do this is 
           $show quota

    Vax Command List

    Connecting to Library Databases:

    You can connect to the library database by typing in 

          $TN3270 LIBRARY
    On your screen you will see the same interface you see when using the the library computers.

    Vax Command List

    Getting the BSU MENU

    For those of you with older accounts, you may not get the friendly menu that newer accounts have when logging in. To see this same menu, type in 

               $BSUMENU

    Vax Command List