MESSAGE and MSG

Sends a message to one or more ports on the database.

Syntax

MSG{n} [* || !first-port{-last-port}] text
MSG{n} account{,account }... text
MSG{n} @user-id{, @user-id }... text
MSG{n} %plid{,plid}... text

The syntax for MESSAGE is the same, except that the variant forms (specified with parameter n) are not available.

Command Class

TCL-I command.

Syntax Elements

n specifies the command execution and display format. Its value can be null, 0, 2, 3, 4 or 6, as explained in Variant Forms of MSG below.

* specifies that all ports on the database are to receive the message.

first-port specifies a single port number, or the lower port number in a range of ports to which the message is to be sent.

last-port specifies the upper port number in a range of ports to which the message is to be sent.

account specifies the name of an account.

user-id specifies a valid user-id on the database.

plid specifies a full or partial PLId.

text is the message text.

Operation

The MESSAGE and MSG commands display the message on status line 25 in the format:

FROM port-number: message

Variant Forms of MSG

The following variant forms of the MSG command are supplied in new accounts and standard system accounts, but are not automatically distributed to existing user accounts. If these variants are not available in your account, you can copy them to your MD.

Their functionality of the variants is as follows:

MSG0 Displays the message on status line 25 in the format:

user: message

MSG2 Displays the message at the recipient's cursor position in the format:

system-time system-date FROM port-number user-id
message

MSG3 Displays the message at the recipient's cursor position, but does not sound the bell. The message format is:

message

MSG4 Allows you to save a list of recipients' port numbers. When you enter more than one addressee the software displays the numbers of all on-line ports and prompts:

Save port list (Y/N)

If you enter Y, the software prompts you with:

File and Item ID:

Enter the name of the file and item-id in which you wish to save the list of recipients' port numbers.

MSG4 displays the message on status line 25 in the format:

FROM port-number: message

MSG6 Displays the message on status line 25 in the format:

message

Comments

Messages can be sent to:

Message Length

Terminals that use status line 25 for receiving messages cannot display messages longer than 63 characters; other terminals are limited to 250 characters. The system truncates messages that are too long.

Message Display

If the receiving terminal is set up for a status line, the message displays on that line. If the terminal is not configured for a status line, the message displays at the cursor position.

Messages display at all specified ports except those that are logged off.

Clearing a Message

A message displayed on the status line can be cleared by executing the CLEAR-MSG command.

Sleeping Ports

A message is received by a SLEEPing port at the time of transmission.

Examples

:MESSAGE FINANCE Log off in 5 minutes for ACCOUNT-SAVE

In this example, only users logged onto the FINANCE account receive the message on the status line.

:MSG0 !34 Time to go for lunch

In this example, the message is sent only to port 34 at the cursor position.

:MESSAGE !2-30 Let me know if you have any problems

In this example, the message is sent to all database users with port numbers in the range 2 to 30 and appears on the status line.

:MESSAGE * Back-up in 15 minutes!! Please finish up and log off

In this example, the message is displayed on status line at all terminals logged on to the database.

:MSG4 * Backup 21.15!! Finish up and logoff

1016 130 135 136 140 143 145 237 256 386
Save port list (Y/N)? Y
File and Item ID: MSGLOG M9302112100

MSG4 saves the list of port numbers in item M9302112100 in file MSGLOG and sends the message to all listed ports, displaying the message on their status line.