Technical data

Managing Peripheral Devices
8.10 Managing a Card Reader (VAX Only)
8.10.1.2 Data Card Deck (VAX Only)
A data deck contains data that will be either read by a program or copied to a
file for later use. The process that reads the data deck is usually associated with
an interactive user at a terminal or with a batch job submitted by an interactive
user. Since the user and process already are logged in to the system, the first
card can contain any data the user specifies. Then, either the program must read
the exact number of cards supplied, or the last card must be an EOF card to
inform the program that this is the end of the data deck.
When a user wants a data deck to be read, you must make sure the user has
allocated the card reader. If the card reader is not allocated, the system tries to
submit the deck as a batch job and subsequently flushes the deck through the
reader, rejecting the job.
If the program does not read the exact number of cards (as with the COPY
command), the EOF card must be the last card in the deck, to inform the program
that this is the end of the deck. Without this card, the program waits indefinitely
for more cards, and the system prints ‘‘card reader off line’’ messages on the
operator’s terminal. If the card deck lacks an EOF card, you can type one on a
card punch and insert it at the end of the deck.
8.10.1.3 Setting Card Reader Translation Modes (VAX Only)
For the system to read input properly, the card reader must be set to the correct
translation mode—the same as the translation mode of the card punch that
prepares the deck. The system supports 026 and 029 card punches.
Make sure the following conditions exist so you can set the card reader to the
correct translation mode:
• The first card in the deck must be the translation mode card.
• You must know the mode in which the cards were punched.
To set the translation mode of the card reader for many decks of the same
type, use the SET CARD_READER command. This command is described in the
OpenVMS DCL Dictionary. By default, when the system is booted, the translation
mode is set to 029.
8.10.2 Running the Input Symbiont Interactively (VAX Only)
To run the input symbiont interactively and take card image input from an
OpenVMS Record Management Services (RMS) file, follow these steps:
1. Enter a command in the following format:
DEFINE/USER_MODE SYS$INPUT filename
For example:
$ DEFINE/USER_MODE SYS$INPUT SPECIAL_FILE.DAT
2. Enter the following command:
$ RUN SYS$SYSTEM:INPSMB
Running the input symbiont interactively requires the following access:
• CMKRNL privilege
• Read access to the UAF
• Write access to the default directory of the user
All messages are displayed to the terminal rather than to the card operator.
8–40 Managing Peripheral Devices