Displays a message at a system operator's terminal and optionally requests a reply. All messages are logged at the operator's console and in the operator's log file, if that file is initialized.

To use this command, you must start the operator communication process (OPCOM) at boot time by specifying the DCL command @SYS$SYSTEM:STARTUP OPCOM in the site-specific startup command file, SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP.COM.

Format

REQUEST message-text

Parameter

message-text

Specifies the text of the message to be displayed. The string can be up to 128 characters. If the string contains spaces, special characters, or lowercase characters, enclose it in quotation marks (" ").

Description

When you use the REQUEST command to send a message to an operator, the message is displayed at the operator terminals specified with the /TO qualifier.

If you specify the /REPLY qualifier, the message is assigned an identification number, so the operator can respond to the message. The system displays the following message:

%OPCOM-S-OPRNOTIF, operator notified, waiting...hh:mm:ss

When the operator responds to your request, the system displays a message such as the following:

%OPCOM-S-OPREPLY, message text entered by operator

If you request a reply, you cannot enter any commands until the operator responds. If you press Ctrl/C, the system displays the following message:

REQUEST - Enter message or cancel with ^Z REQUEST - Message?

At this time, you can either enter another message, or press Ctrl/Z to cancel the request. If you enter another message, that message is sent to the operator, and you must continue to wait for a reply.

All messages are logged at the central operator's console and in the system operator's log file, if that file is initialized.

Qualifiers

/REPLY

Requests a reply to the message and issues a unique identification number to which the operator sends the response. The system displays a message that the operator has been notified; you cannot enter any commands until the operator responds. If you press Ctrl/C before the operator responds, you can then enter another message to the operator, or press Ctrl/Z to cancel the request.

/TO=(operator[,...])

Specifies one or more operators to whom you want to send the message. Possible keywords are as follows:

CARDS	Sends the message to operators designated to respond to card reader requests.
CENTRAL	Sends the message to the central system operator.
CLUSTER	Sends the message to operators designated to respond to cluster-related requests.
DEVICES	Sends the message to operators who mount and dismount disks.
DISKS	Sends the message to operators who mount and dismount disk volumes.
NETWORK	Sends the message to the network operator.
OPER1 to OPER12	Sends the message to operators identified as OPER1 to OPER12.
PRINTER	Sends the message to operators designated to handle print requests.
SECURITY	Sends the message to operators designated to respond to security-related requests.
TAPES	Sends the message to operators designated to mount and dismount tape volumes.

Examples

$ PRINT/COPIES=2/QUEUE=LQ_PRINT  REPORT.OUT/FORM=LETTER
  Job REPRT (queue LQA1, entry 401) pending
$ REQUEST/REPLY/TO=PRINTER -
_$"Have queued job 401 as FORM=LETTER;  can you print it?"
%OPCOM-S-OPRNOTIF, operator notified, waiting...10:42:16.10
%OPCOM-S-OPREPLY, AFTER 11:00
 14-DEC-2001 10:25:32.40, request 3 completed by operator OPA0
      

In this example the PRINT command requests that multiple copies of a file be printed using a special paper (/FORM=LETTER). After queueing the job to the printer, the REQUEST command sends a message to the system operator.

The operator sends a reply after completing the request.

$ REQUEST/REPLY  "Are you there?"
%OPCOM-S-OPRNOTIF, operator notified, waiting...14:54:30.33
[Ctrl/C]
REQUEST-Enter message or cancel request with ^Z
REQUEST-Message?[Ctrl/Z]
%OPCOM-S-OPRNOTIF, operator notified, waiting... 14:59:01.38
%OPCOM-F-RQSTCAN, request was canceled
      

In this example the REQUEST command issues a message and requests a response. When no operator replies to the question, Ctrl/C is used to interrupt the request; then Ctrl/Z is used to cancel it.