Preface

This manual describes how to use the PL/I compiler on the OpenVMS operating systems and contains detailed explanations of the extensions made to the standard PL/I language for Endless PL/I. To aid in program development, it includes information on some commands and utilities in the operating systems. It also includes information to assist in writing PL/I programs that use features of the file system and the operating systems.

1. Intended Audience

This manual is designed for programmers who have a working knowledge of PL/I and some familiarity with the OpenVMS operating systems and the DIGITAL Command Language (DCL).

2. Associated Documents

The Endless PL/I for OpenVMS Reference Manual contains a complete definition of the PL/I language, with detailed reference information on all standard PL/I language elements.

The Endless PL/I for OpenVMS Installation Guide gives instructions on how to install the PL/I compilers.

The OpenVMS documentation set gives complete information on the OpenVMS operating system.

Online Examples

All the full program examples in this manual, and some additional examples, are on line in SYS$COMMON:[SYSHLP.EXAMPLES.PLI]. (This device-directory specification may have been given the logical name PLI$EXAMPLES during installation of the PL/I compiler.)

3. Conventions

Return	A symbol with a key name indicates that you press a key on the terminal, for example, Return or ESC.
Ctrl/x	The symbol Ctrl/x indicates that you press the key “x” while holding down the key labeled Ctrl, for example, Ctrl/C.
`$ bold Return`	In interactive dialogues between the system and the user, user input is printed in boldface characters.
`. . .`	Vertical ellipses indicate that not all of the text of a program or program output is illustrated. Only relevant material is shown in the example.
option,...	Horizontal ellipses indicate that additional optional parameters, options, or values are allowed. When a comma precedes an ellipsis, it indicates that successive items must be separated by commas.
quotation mark apostrophe	The term quotation mark is used only to refer to the double quotation mark character ("). The term apostrophe is used to refer to the single quotation mark character (').
[OPTIONS (option,...)]	Except in OpenVMS file specifications, brackets indicate that a syntactic element is optional and you need not specify it.
[ LIST ] [ EDIT ]	Brackets surrounding two or more stacked items indicate conflicting options, one of which can optionally be chosen.
{ EXTERNAL } { INTERNAL }	Braces surrounding two or more stacked items indicate conflicting options, one of which must be chosen.
FILE (`file-reference`)	An uppercase word or phrase indicates a keyword that you must enter as shown; a lowercase word or phrase indicates an item for which you must supply a variable value. This convention applies to format (syntax) lines, not to code examples.

4. Terminological Conventions

Information in this manual applies to the use of Endless PL/I V3.9 for OpenVMS VAX on the OpenVMS VAX platform, Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS Alpha on the OpenVMS Alpha platform, Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS I64 on the OpenVMS I64 platform and Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS x86-64 on the OpenVMS x86-64 platform unless otherwise indicated. The term PL/I applies to Endless PL/I V3.9 for OpenVMS VAX, Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS Alpha, Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS I64 and Endless PL/I V5.0 for OpenVMS x86-64 unless otherwise noted.