The MWSEDIT Procedure Controlling workstation personalities
From "VS Procedure",  Access 87, June 1987
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The MESSAGE procedure I mentioned last month has been temporarily postponed due to possible differences of operation within different operating systems. I hope to clear up these issues and feature it soon. In the meanwhile, I have put together a utility to maintain a large numbers of workstation "personalities" using Wang's Multistation (MWS) utility. First, though, some background on MWS for those unfamiliar with this powerful utility.

What is a Multistation?

Wang's Multistation utility is designed to allow a single workstation to run several jobs simultaneously. When properly set up, a single user workstation can perform as if it were two, three, or four workstations, shifting from one "window" to another at will. In addition, MWS also allows personalized control of the workstation attributes and automation of repetitive keystrokes through use of the GLOSSARY language. A growing number of users have discovered the power and use Multistation even when only one window is available.

Multistation requires the user terminal to be configured as a special device (2256MWS or 4230MWS), rather than the usual 2256C or 4230 device number. When a user log onto the system on a Multistation, the system searches for a personality file that matches the user's ID; if found, this microcode is loaded into the workstation. If no personality file is found, a default file ('@STD') is loaded instead; thus, a user-specific personality usually requires a separate personality file for each user.

Workstation attributes and other aspects of the MWS workstation are normally controlled through the MWS personality editor, PERSON. Using PERSON, users can edit their workstation's personality. PERSON becomes inconvenient, however, when a system administrator must maintain a large number of individual microcode files for a number of users. This month's procedure aids in that task by allowing easy modification of the workstation attributes for an entire library of personality files.

Design goals and operation of MWSEDIT

The design goals for MWSEDIT were:

1. Allow easy maintenance and modification of the workstation attributes for existing "personalities".

2. Speed creation of new MWS files by copying existing versions.

3. Create a generic routine that might be modified to maintain other aspects of MWS files.

MWSEDIT is based largely on the WORKBNCH procedure featured in the December 1986 column. Like WORKBNCH, it locates all files matching the selection criteria (in this case, all files in a library) and presents them in menu form for selection. Unlike WORKBNCH, it uses the READVTOC subroutine rather than FIND to locate these file names. The procedure is shown in Figure 1.

The library to be edited is assumed to be 'MWS' on the system volume, as this is the normal location for Multistation files. Changes to this standard would require modifications to the contents of &FLIB and &FVOL; both are declared at the top of the procedure to help in this process.

The files in the MWS library are displayed in groups of twenty (see Figure 2); pressing (RETURN) brings up the next twenty, Note that the files are in VTOC order, not alphabetical. To select a file, the user tabs to the desired file name and presses the appropriate PF key.

If the EDIT option is selected, MWSEDIT determines the name of the file and displays the workstation attribute options menu (see Figure 3). Control then passes to CREATE, which creates a new version of the personality with the edited workstation attributes inserted at the proper place in the personality file. Finally, the original file is scratched and the work version inserted in its place.

The COPY option duplicates the selected microcode file, then calls @EDIT to set up the workstation attributes for the new file. Note that the output file name defaults to the input name.

Some of the finer points of the procedure:

1. The control section of the procedure is contained within the steps through @16, with subroutines to handle the details. This makes the logic more easily understood.

2. The @EDIT section uses the &VERIFY built-in function to validate responses to the items.

3. CREATE is used to prepare a near copy of the microcode file, substituting the eight characters related to workstation attributes. If this file is created successfully, the old file is scratched and the new file renamed into its place.

4. For simplicity, the @COPY option displays the file output screen with the input file name as the default. The user must change the file to another name. Note the CANCEL EXIT clause; this ensures that the procedure will abort if COPY is cancelled abnormally.

Variations and other items

Variations on MWSEDIT might include increasing the number of files to be displayed or adding an option to edit a different library. File name verification and other error checking might be valuable additions. More ambitious users might locate and edit other patch points in the personality file, such as the character set, uppercase foldover chart, accent combination table, or key layout. More advanced explorers might also learn how to control glossary interactions or window configuration. If you have any other approaches I'd like to hear from you.

By the way, a very functional addition to last month's start procedure system would be the name of the personality file to be loaded. This might be done by expanding the holding variable, &SETMAP, and assigning the MWS personality file to be loaded. Using this approach, it would be simple to assign a single personality file to a class of user.

I have concentrated in the last few months on items of interest to the systems administrator; next month's column will continue in that vein with a procedure that amasses data on the files in a library and allows you to select files from that data. See you next month.

Figure 1: The MWSEDIT Procedure

PROCEDURE MWSEDIT ********************************************************************** * * MWSEDIT - Editor for Multistation personalities * * This procedure was featured in the June 1987 ACCESS 87. It * allows modification of the workstation attributes of a large * number of Multistation personalities. * * Modify to your own needs by changing the input library and volume * (&FLIB and &FVOL) to the one used by your system; the initial * setting is for MWS on the system volume. The procedure extracts * the names of files in that library and presents them 20 at a time. * Note that the files are in VTOC order, not alphbetical. * * Due to the procedure's use of the &VERIFY and CALL built-in * functions, the user must have release 3.00.10 of the Procedure * interpreter (e.g. operating system 6.40 or better). * * Written by Dennis S. Barnes * ********************************************************************** DECLARE &FLIB STRING (08) INITIAL "MWS " DECLARE &FVOL STRING (06) DECLARE &FSTART INTEGER DECLARE &FRCVR STRING (160) [ Holds 20 files ] DECLARE &FFILES INTEGER DECLARE &RC INTEGER DECLARE &KEY, &ROW, &COL INTEGER DECLARE &RUNSTEP STRING (03) INITIAL "@ " DECLARE &MESSAGE STRING (78) * This variable is the offset from the row position displayed on the * selection screen. DECLARE &OFFSET INTEGER INITIAL 13 DECLARE &P INTEGER DECLARE &INFIL STRING (08) * Initial values for workstation attributes; reset if desired DECLARE &ITEM STRING (08) INITIAL "YYYNYNNN" DECLARE &VERNUMB INTEGER S00: ASSIGN &FSTART = -19 [ Start-up value; yields '1' ] ASSIGN &FRCVR = " " [ Clear file name holder ] EXTRACT &FVOL = SYSVOL * Get next 20 files; return to start if no more files S01: CALL @SEARCH IF &FRCVR = " " GOTO S00 S02: PROMPT PFKEY = &RUNSTEP (2,2), CURROW = &ROW, CURCOL = &COL CENTER BRIGHT LINE "Personality Editor";; CENTER "TAB to the file desired and press a key to perform"; CENTER LINE " any of the following tasks: ";; CENTER "<07> Edit personality <13> Copy personality ";; CENTER " Press (RETURN) to see the next 20 files"; CENTER " Press PF16 to exit MWSEDIT ";; CENTER TAB " ", &FRCVR(001,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(041,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(081,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(121,8); CENTER TAB " ", &FRCVR(009,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(049,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(089,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(129,8); CENTER TAB " ", &FRCVR(017,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(057,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(097,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(137,8); CENTER TAB " ", &FRCVR(025,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(065,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(105,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(145,8); CENTER TAB " ", &FRCVR(033,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(073,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(113,8), " ", TAB " ", &FRCVR(153,8);; * If proper PF key pressed, goes directly to that section; otherwise, * loops back to selection screen IF &LABEL (&RUNSTEP) GOTO &RUNSTEP GOTO S02 @0: GOTO S01 @7: CALL @GETFILE IF &INFIL <> " " CALL @EDIT GOTO S02 @13: CALL @GETFILE IF &INFIL <> " " CALL @COPY GOTO S02 @16: RETURN ********************************************************************** * Subroutines follow * ********************************************************************** @SEARCH: ASSIGN &FSTART = &FSTART + 20 ASSIGN &FRCVR = " " RUN READVTOC IN USERSUBS USING "F", &FLIB, &FVOL, &FSTART, 20, &FRCVR, &RC, &FFILES END ********************************************************************** @GETFILE: ASSIGN &P = ((&ROW - &OFFSET) * 8) - 7 IF &COL > 27 ASSIGN &P = &P + 40 IF &COL > 40 ASSIGN &P = &P + 40 IF &COL > 53 ASSIGN &P = &P + 40 ASSIGN &INFIL = &FRCVR(&P,8) END ********************************************************************** @EDIT: ASSIGN &MESSAGE = " " E01: PROMPT PFKEY = &KEY CENTER BRIGHT LINE "Personality Editor";; CENTER "Currently editing", BRIGHT &INFIL(1,*);; CENTER "Edit the following parameters & press (RETURN) to save"; CENTER "OR press PF16 to exit without modification.";; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(1,1), "Blinker Make blinking fields blink, not just bright"; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(2,1), "Clicker Click with each keystroke "; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(3,1), "Beeper Beep at errors "; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(4,1), "Auto tab-in TAB to next unprotected field before typing"; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(5,1), "Auto tab-out TAB to next unprotected field after typing "; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(6,1), "Status Display workstation status "; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(7,1), "Cursor-wrap At screen edges, wrap the cursor around "; CENTER UPPER &ITEM(8,1), "Type-ahead Accept keystrokes even if keyboard locked ";; CENTER BRIGHT &MESSAGE(1,*);; IF &KEY = 16 END ASSIGN &VERNUMB = &VERIFY(&ITEM,"YN") IF &VERNUMB = 0 GOTO E02 [ Entries are valid ] ASSIGN &MESSAGE = "Entries must be 'Y' or 'N' - please correct" GOTO E01 * Workstation attributes edited; create new personality file with * revised attributes E02: RUN CREATE [ in library on volume ] ENTER OUTPUT FILE = MWSWORK, LIBRARY = &FLIB, VOLUME = &FVOL, TYPE = C, RECSIZE = 2048, COMPRESS = NO, RECORDS = 2 ENTER INPUT 02 ENTER PAD POSITION = 1, LENGTH = 2048 ENTER INPUT FILE = &INFIL, LIBRARY = &FLIB, VOLUME = &FVOL ENTER FILE INPOS = 1, OUTPOS = 1, LENGTH = 256, START = 1, END = 1 ENTER INPUT 01 ENTER LITERAL STRING = &ITEM, POSITION = 257, LENGTH = 8 ENTER INPUT FILE = &INFIL, LIBRARY = &FLIB, VOLUME = &FVOL ENTER FILE INPOS = 265, OUTPOS = 265, LENGTH = 1784, START = 1, END = 1 ENTER INPUT 16 ENTER INPUT FILE = &INFIL, LIBRARY = &FLIB, VOLUME = &FVOL ENTER FILE START = 2, END = 2 ENTER INPUT 16 ENTER INPUT 16 ENTER EOJ 16 IF E02 = 0 GOTO E03 PROMPT ALARM = YES CENTER "CREATE ERROR!!";; CENTER "No file was created";; GOTO S02 * New personality created; scratch original copy E03: SCRATCH &INFIL IN &FLIB ON &FVOL RENAME MWSWORK IN &FLIB ON &FVOL TO &INFIL END ********************************************************************** @COPY: RUN COPY [ in library on volume ] CANCEL EXIT IS @16 ENTER INPUT FILE = &INFIL, LIBRARY = &FLIB, VOLUME = &FVOL ENTER OPTIONS O1: DISPLAY OUTPUT FILE = &INFIL, LIBRARY = &FLIB, VOLUME = &FVOL ENTER EOJ 16 ASSIGN &INFIL = (O1.FILE) CALL @EDIT END

Figure 2: Personality Editor - Main Screen

Personality Editor TAB to the file desired and press a key to perform any of the following tasks: <07> Edit personality <13> Copy personality Press (RETURN) to see the next 20 files Press PF16 to exit MWSEDIT * @STD * @STDFILE * DSBTEST * * @ALL * DSBSAVE * * * @WISCII * ADASTEST * * * KSF * JMP * * * DSB * DSBOLD * *

Figure 3: Personality Editor - Detail Screen

Personality Editor Currently editing DSBTEST Edit the following parameters & press (RETURN) to save OR press PF16 to exit without modification. N Blinker Make blinking fields blink, not just bright Y Clicker Click with each keystroke Y Beeper Beep at errors N Auto tab-in TAB to next unprotected field before typing Y Auto tab-out TAB to next unprotected field after typing N Status Display workstation status N Cursor-wrap At screen edges, wrap the cursor around N Type-ahead Accept keystrokes even if keyboard locked