To use any of the commands below, type the character enclosed in parenthesis at the SSDOT command prompt and press Enter.

(?) for help

Obtains context-sensitive help. It may be used at any time, from both the menu and from within commands.

list (j)obs

Presents you with a list of SSDOT jobs that are currently running in the background. You do not need to wait for the current database's build to finish before starting the build for another database. Suppose, for instance, that you started initializing a database called tdba. SSDOT would run this job in the background so that you could continue doing other work. If you then typed "j" and press Enter before the initialization was complete, SSDOT would show you this list:

---------- Active Jobs ---------- Initialize tdba [97/01/24 16:01:53]

Suppose you then went out for a cup of coffee, and the initialization process finished before you got back. If you then typed "j" and pressed Enter again, SSDOT would show you this list:

---------- Active Jobs ---------- Initialize tdba [97/01/24 16:21:24] (*FINISHED*, Exit Message = Okay)

Had an error occurred, the "Okay" in the above message would have been replaced by a brief message describing the error that occurred.

Now that the job has finished, and you know that it is finished, the job is removed from the jobs list. Thus, if you again typed "j" and pressed Enter, SSDOT would show you the following message:

---------- Active Jobs ---------- There are no active jobs.

(l)ist databases

Allows you to view a list of all databases registered within this SSDOT environment. The list shows only the abbreviated name of the database(s), not the database's full, human-readable name. Suppose two databases, tdba and icat, were currently registered in this SSDOT environment. By typing "l" and pressing Enter, you would see the following message:

The following databases are available ([*] = locked): tdba icat

When SSDOT is running a job in the background, it locks the database being worked on. A locked database is indicated in the list by a star [*] next to the name. This feature prevents other administrators from making changes to the database before the current job is complete. If tdba was locked, the list would look like this:

The following databases are available ([*] = locked): tdba[*] icat

(m)ain menu

Returns you back to the Main Menu screen.

(s)et current database

Allows you to set a current database with the "s" command. When you type "s" and press Enter, SSDOT will prompt for a registered database name. The current database will be used for future operations automatically as the target of all commands. You have the option of changing the current database, by typing "s," pressing Enter, and selecting a new name, or turning off this option entirely (refer to the (u)nset current database command below). The set command does not carry over from one SSDOT session to the next SSDOT session.

(u)nset current database

Allows you to turn off the database you set with the "s" command. To select a new current database, refer to the (s)et current database command above. Otherwise, SSDOT will prompt you for a database name every time you wish to perform a task

(v)iew database info

Displays database information that includes such things as the location of the executable files used to build the database, the location of database backup copies, etc.

When displaying database information, SSDOT will ask you for the name of the database, if you have not set a current database. SSDOT is asking for the registered database name, not the database long name. SSDOT then shows a page of information about the database. Refer to the Database Registration Information table for more information about the types of data stored for each database.

e(x)it SSDOT

Exits the SSDOT program. The program asks for final confirmation before exiting the program. Type "y" and press Enter to exit the program, or type "n" and press Enter to return to the SSDOT Main Menu screen.

Accept SSDOT default value

<CR>

SSDOT will accept the default value and automatically move onto the next prompt or begin the operation.

Delete and replace SSDOT default value

CTRL-U

The entire line is deleted. Enter the correct value and press Enter.

Change previous answer

Up-arrow key

By pressing the up-arrow key, SSDOT will prompt you for the previous answer again. You can press this key as many times as necessary to return to the question that needs a different answer. Change the default value and continue as usual.

Abort SSDOT operation

"x" followed by <CR>

SSDOT will prompt you to confirm that you really want to quit out of this option. To confirm, type "y" and press Enter; to return to the operation you were about to perform, type "n" and press Enter. You will be returned to the last SSDOT menu you used.

Quit SSDOT menu

"q" followed by <CR>

SSDOT will immediately stop displaying the current file and will prompt you to press the space bar to return to the previous menu or the next file listing.