SYSCODE: maintain system version records

Description

Generates, displays, or updates system code information (the information read by the VERSIONS utility). Information includes the copyright date, create date and time, version number, and the operating system in use.

Categories

Program Development

Related files

SYSCODE: Object file for program.

User Instructions

The SYSCODE utility allows program developers and system administrators to generate, display, or update SYSCODE headers. SYSCODE headers are sections of an object file that contain information on the program version but do not otherwise perform any function. The information contained includes the year of copyright, date and time of creation, and version numbers for the program and the operating system. This information can be extracted and reported with the Wang VERSIONS program.

Note: the SYSCODE program is intended for technical users working in a development environment. For those interested only in the information within a program, the Wang VERSIONS utility is suggested.

To use SYSCODE, enter the name of the object file at the INPUT screen and the processing option (GENERATE, DISPLAY, or UPDATE); an error will result if DISPLAY or UPDATE are specified and no SYSCODE information presently exists.

At the SYSCODE screen, enter or modify the copyright year, date and time, and version numbers. The AUTOTEST option will stop program execution and display a message if the program is used by an operating system version greater than the version number entered. When all entries are made, the file is re-linked to incorporate the SYSCODE information into the object file. When this process is completed, the user may exit or run again.

Programmer Instructions

SYSCODE headers are inserted into object files by specifying the information in the SYSCODE utility and then re-linking the program. During this process, SYSCODE builds a link module with the information entered and attempts to invoke the LINKER. New versions of the Wang LINKER do not work with SYSCODE.

INPUT       Press (RETURN) to continue or PF(16) to exit.

  FILE      (blank)     The name and location of the file to
  LIBRARY   (blank)     be processed.
  VOLUME    (blank)

  FUNCTION  GENERATE    The function to be performed.  May
                        also be DISPLAY or UPDATE.

  PREFIX    (blank)     The name of the SYSCODE prefix;
                        defaults to the first four characters
                        of the object file name.

SYSCODE     Press (RETURN) to continue, PF(01) to respecify
            input file, or PF(16) to exit program.

  CPYRIGHT  (year)      The year of copyright.

  DATE      (yy/mm/dd)  The date and time created.  Defaults
  TIME      (hh:mm)     to current values when FUNCTION =
                        GENERATE.

  UTILVERS  01.00.00    The version number for the program.

  SYSVERS   (value)     The operating system level
                        supported.  Defaults to the current
                        version.

  AUTOTEST  NO          Set to YES to test operating system
                        version as program is executed.

  TRAILER   NO          Set to YES to generate a TRAILER
                        (rather than the HEADER default).

EOJ         Press PF(01) to run again or PF(16) to exit
            program.

Example of use

Can be used by system developers to track versions of programs in use for diagnostic purposes. Once the SYSCODE header is installed, the VERSIONS utility will list the information at any time.

The AUTOTEST feature is also interesting, particularly if software is licensed to operating system levels or sensitive to such changes. If taken, AUTOTEST will check the version of the operating system before executing, aborting (with an appropriate message) if it is greater than that allowed by the SYSVERS field.

Comments

The header section of SYSCODE shows Wang Laboratories as the copyright owner. This text is inserted by the SYSCODE utility during processing; it can be removed or modified by patching the SYSCODE utility. (See EZPATCH for more information on patching files.)

To find programs equipped with SYSCODE headers, search object files for section SYSCODET using the SCANOBJ utility.