Name

dl.maint - Data librarian maintenance

Syntax

dl.maint

Description

(Throughout this manual entry, dl denotes the prefix to the Data Library’s location as stored in $/sys/pdl/dl.dir).

This program performs five major functions in relation to the data librarian program:

o

maintenance of the card catalog (dl/lib/dl.data), the program subdirectory (dl/lib/prog/*), and the program description subdirectory (dl/lib/desc/*).

o

maintenance of the library shelves (dl/lib/dl.vars). A maximum of 16 shelves are allowed.

o

maintenance of index files (dl/lib/link/*) that contain the names of all programs in the Data Library that are related to one another (see subheading on LINK FILES).

o

configuration of certain “preference” settings, such as the assignment of a librarian other than the system administrator, requiring a minimum baud rate for Data Library access, guest caller access limits, the maximum number of downloads allowed per session, upload filesize limit, and freespace (volume overhead) limit.

o

moving “archived” programs to offline storage, freeing up disk space.

Options supported for file-oriented maintenance are:

Edit

Edit the record displayed on the screen.

Delete

Delete the record, program and description from the Data Library.

Find

Find the record matching the program title entered. Using a “*” will instruct dl.maint to find all titles that are “on hold”.

Next

Display the next record in the Data Library.

Previous

Display the previous record in the Data Library.

Quit

Exit the maintenance subroutine and return to the maintenance menu.

Link Files


When the user downloads files placed on reserve the program will open the dl/lib/link/* file and search for any program/data files that are “related” to the selections placed on reserve. If related files are found the user will be given the option of including these “linked” files in the download.

For example, let’s assume that there is a program called EDITOR in the library that has associated documentation (EDITOR.DOCS) and will require the ShrinkIt program to “decompress” the program file. Since the user will need copies of EDITOR.DOCS and ShrinkIt to use the EDITOR program the librarian should add them to the dl/lib/link/* file using option #3 (Edit Link List) from the maintenance menu.

Notes

All information related to a record in the Data Library can be changed except for the program filename stored in the dl/lib/prog subdirectory. The program filename must remain unchanged in order for the link/support programs to work correctly!

All programs should be thoroughly tested before their status is changed from “on hold” to “available” so that pirated or non-working programs aren’t downloaded by users.

Even though a program has been “archived” (moved to offline storage) the card catalog entry will remain online. The entry must be deleted from the card catalog if you wish to remove all references to the program.

Important

If you intend to access dl.maint via dialup (remote) your telecommunications program must support some type of terminal emulation mode.

Files

dl/lib/dl.data
data definitions,
dl/lib/dl.vars
environment file,
dl/lib/prog/*
program files in the library,
dl/lib/desc/*
description files for catalog cards,
dl/lib/link/*
link file indexes.

See Also

dl(C)

Author

Jerry Hewett