RFC 409 (rfc409) - Page 2 of 8

Tenex interface to UCSB's Simple-Minded File System

RFC 409       TENEX INTERFACE TO SIMPLE-MINDED FILE SYSTEM December 1972


III.  OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

   SMFs is invoked like any other subsystem --- by typing its name
   followed by a carriage return (CR).  SMFS responds with the herald
   'UCSB Archival System (ver n date)' followed by its prompt character
   '#'.  Whenever SMFS types its prompt character, it expects the user
   to respond with a command ('?' will generate a list of all valid
   commands).

   The user selects a command by typing its first letter (here and
   throughout the exchange, upper- and lower-case alphabetics are
   interchangeable).  SMFS acknowledges a command it recognizes by
   typing the remaining characters of the keyword, and rejects those it
   doesn't by typing '?'.

   If the command requires arguments, SMFS prompts the user for each one
   in turn by describing it in parentheses.  If the argument is a
   keyword, SMFS will list the set of alternatives (separated by
   slashes).  The user selects one by typing its first letter.  Again,
   SMFS acknowledges a valid selection by completing it; if the user's
   response is in error, SMFS prompts for the parameter a second time.
   If the argument is not a keyword (e.g., a filename), the user enters
   an appropriate character string terminated by a CR.  Commands with no
   predicate are simply confirmed by the user with a CR.

   Entering the last argument initiates execution of the command.  In
   most cases, successfully executed commands illicit no explicit
   response (SMFS simply prompts for the next command).  Unsuccessful
   commands illicit a diagnostic.

IV.  COMMAND EDITING

   Anytime a character string is called for, the following editing
   features are available to the user:

      control-A     deletes the previous character
      control-X     deletes the entire string
      Control-R     retypes the string

   Anytime a filename (see Section V) is called for, the following
   additional editing features are available:

      control-W     deletes the current field
      control-F     recognizes the current field
      ESC           recognizes all remaining fields

   Control-O aborts a command during specification or execution (some
   commands cannot be aborted once the final CR has been typed).



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