HP OpenVMS systems documentation

This chapter describes the individual Product Description Language (PDL) statements and functions.

7.1 PDL Evolution

The POLYCENTER Software Installation utility is an integrated component of OpenVMS Version 6.1 and later. After its introduction, subsequent releases of the OpenVMS operating system have incorporated various enhancements to PDL statements and functions. It is likely that we will make further enhancements over time.

Earlier versions of the OpenVMS operating system do not support the new utility features provided in later versions of the operating system. This creates a challenge for the developer who must devise a kit that will install as expected in a variety of customer environments.

You can write a product description file based on the earliest version of OpenVMS at your customer sites. If you choose this approach, you must have or acquire knowledge about customer environments. It means you can use only the statements and functions (and their parameters and options) available for the earliest customer installed version of OpenVMS.

Another option you have is to require your customers to apply a software patch kit, available from Hewlett-Packard, that back ports utility functionality to earlier versions of OpenVMS. With this strategy, you can use the latest utility enhancements in your product installation.

Table 7-1 and Table 7-2 let you quickly see when new utility features were made available. Note that bug fixes are not shown unless they impact the behavior of the utility. For more information on a specific feature, see the appropriate section in this manual.

\\New option: interactive
New logical name: PCSI$DESTINATION\)

Table 7-1 Features by OpenVMS Version: Statements

PDL Statements	OpenVMS V7.1	OpenVMS V7.1-2(Alpha) OpenVMS V7.2(VAX)	OpenVMS V7.3
APPLY TO		New option: version above
BOOTSTRAP BLOCK			Obsolete: not available for layered products
ERROR	New option: abort	New behavior: performs action before the configuration dialog, when possible
EXECUTE ABORT		New statement
EXECUTE INSTALL...REMOVE		New option: interactive
EXECUTE POSTINSTALL		New option: interactive	New behavior: runs also on reconfigure operation
EXECUTE PRECONFIGURE		New statement
EXECUTE REBOOT		New statement
EXECUTE RELEASE		New option: interactive	Obsolete: new kits should use EXECUTE UPGRADE or other EXECUTE statements
EXECUTE START...STOP
EXECUTE TEST		New option: interactive New logical name: PCSI$DESTINATION
EXECUTE UPGRADE			New statement
FILE		New behavior: supports intraproduct conflict detection	New behavior: file from kit selected to resolve conflict on non-zero generation number tie
INFORMATION	New option: with helptext
MODULE		New behavior: supports intraproduct conflict detection	New behavior: module from kit selected to resolve conflict on non-zero generation number tie
OPTION	New option: with helptext
PATCH IMAGE			Obsolete: new kits should use FILE statement to replace file
PATCH TEXT			Obsolete: new kits should use FILE statement to replace file
SOFTWARE		New option: version above
UPGRADE		New option: version above

Table 7-2 Features by OpenVMS Version: Functions

Function	OpenVMS V7.1	OpenVMS V7.1-2(Alpha) OpenVMS V7.2(VAX)	OpenVMS V7.3
LOGICAL NAME		New function
SOFTWARE		New behavior: detects whether or not a patch or mandatory update kit has been installed New options: installed before installed after kit accessible version above
UPGRADE		New option: version above	New behavior: version range checking fully supported

7.2 PDL Conventions

The PDL conventions used are described in the Preface. However, the syntax descriptions in this chapter make significant use of several conventions, and they are worth repeating here:

• Brackets ([ ]) indicate optional elements. You can choose one, none, or all of the options.
• Braces ({ }) indicate a required choice of options; you must choose one of the options listed.
• The vertical bar (|) separates optional elements. It functions as a logical OR between two options, as in A | B , or A | B | C .
• Horizontal ellipsis points ( ... ) in examples indicate that the preceding item or items can be repeated one or more times, or that additional parameters, values, or other information can be entered.
• The semicolon (;) in syntax diagrams is required syntax.
• Angle brackets (<>) in syntax diagrams are required syntax.
• A double hyphen (- rest of the line is a comment.
• Unless otherwise indicated, extra space and tab characters may be used freely between syntax elements for the purposes of formatting and readability.
• A statement may span more than one line.