Introduction to Multics

Introduction to Multics

The purpose of this manual is to help you become familiar with the Multics system. This manual provides you with a basic introduction to Multics, a workbook that guides you through your first sessions at a terminal. The topics covered here are fundamental Multics concepts that are immediately useful to the new user. Many examples are included, illustrating both correct and incorrect ways of sending instructions to Multics.

The Multics operating system is referred to in this manual as either "Multics" or "the system". The term "computer" refers to the hardware on which the operating system runs.

CONTENTS

PART 1

Section 1 Introduction

The Multics System
Manual Conventions
Multics Conventions

Section 2 Entering and Leaving Multics

User Identification on Multics
Connecting the Terminal
     Logging In
     Logging Out
     Login/Logout Variations: Control Arguments

Section 3 Basic Multics Commands

Command Conventions
     Command Names
     Command Lines
     Stopping a Command
Argument Conventions
     The Standard Argument
     Pathname Arguments
     Control Arguments
     Default Arguments
Communicating with Other Users
     Message Commands
     Mail Commands
Help Commands
     The help Command
     The list_help Command

Section 4 Creating and Editing Text

Text Editing Command
The qedx Editor - Printing Terminals
     Creating Text
     Editing Text
     Saving Text
The emacs Editor - Video Terminals
     Creating Text
     emacs Requests
     Editing Text
     Saving Text
     Getting Help From Emacs

Section 5 Segments

Viewing Segments
The print Command
The dprint Command
Naming Segments
Segment Attributes
Deleting Segments

Section 6 Directories

Pathnames
Sharing Segments
Creating Directories
Changing Directories
Deleting Directories

Section 7 Access

Segment Access
Directory Access

Appendix A Glossary

Appendix B Command Descriptions

PART 2

Section 1 Introduction

Manual Conventions
Peripherals
     Terminals
     Card Readers
     Storage Devices
     Line Printers
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Input/Output Multiplexer (IOM)
Front-End Network Processor (FNP)
Computer Languages

Section 2 Multics Command Language

System and User-Written Commands
Commands Applied
Multiple Commands
Reserved Characters and Quoted Strings Iteration

Section 3 Active Functions

Active Functions as Substrings
     Nesting Active Functions
     Iteration of Active Functions
     Rescanning
Active Function Errors

Section 4 Important Command Language Features

Star Names
Equal Names
Concatenation
How Commands Can Be Interrupted

Section 5 Abbreviation and Argument Substitution

The abbrev Command
The do Command

Section 6 exec_com

Creating an exec_com Segment
     Argument Substitution
     Control Statements
     start_up.ec

Section 7 Additional Concepts

Online
Absentee
Storage System
Search Rules
Linking
Bound Segments
Archive Segments
Editor Macro

Appendix A Glossary

Appendix B Functional Breakdown of Selected Multics Commands

Selected Commands Listed by Function

Appendix C Functional Breakdown of Selected Active Functions

Reference to Active Function by Groups

Ab Lounger