TACL Programming I for NonStop Servers

This course teaches you the basics of writing support utilities in the Tandem Advanced Command Language (TACL). Through hands-on exercises, you will gain valuable experience in using the fundamental features of TACL programming. After completing this course, you will be able to write TACL macros and routines, use the TACL debugging facility, and write TACL code to interact with and control NonStop Server processes using the Inline facility.

Nach Abschluss des Seminars verfügen die Teilnehmer über folgende Kenntnisse: 
Write system management utility programs by learning to use the fundamental features of the TACL language

System programmers

Concepts and Facilities or familiarity with NonStop utility

Overview

• Course objective
• Schedule

Overview of TACL Features

• TACL as a command interpreter  
• Productivity tools and information aids

TACL VariablesT

• Obtaining information about variables using either commands or built-ins
• Using commands or built-in functions to create, initialize, modify, and eliminate variables
• The use of “frames” and variable management
• Lab exercise (30 minutes): Learn and understand how to logon and use defined function keys
• Practice using TACL interactively

Editing Variables

• Performing variable file I/O
• Performing global editing of a variable
• Performing line editing of a variable
• Performing character editing of a variable
• Locating the position of a string within a variable
• Extracting lines and characters from a variable
• Lab exercise (1 hour): Exercising variable editing

Writing Functions: Macros

• Macro functionality and syntax
• Parameter substitution
• Writing macros
• Using nested macros
• Lab exercise (30 minutes): Write a simple TACL macro

Writing Functions: #IF

• Write functions that use the TACL #IF |THEN| |ELSE| construct
• Making string comparisons
• Using #IF NOT
• Lab exercise (1 hour): Write a macro that accepts one or more arguments and uses #IF

Writing Functions: #LOOP

• Using the #LOOP |DO| |UNTIL| construct
• Using the #LOOP |WHILE||DO| construct
• Lab exercise (1 hour):Write a macro that uses a #LOOP construct

Writing Functions: #CASE

• Syntax and use of the #CASE construct

Debugging TACL Functions

• Using the TACL debugging facility to aid in getting functions to work properly
• Lab exercise (2 hours):
• Start and stop the debugger
• Set and clear breakpoints
• Display and modify the contents of a variable
• Single step through functions and resume execution
• Write a function that makes use of the #CASE built-in

Writing Functions: Routines

• Writing “Routine” type functions; using #ARGUMENT, #MORE AND #REST
• Describe the additional capabilities that routines offer that macros do not
• Describe the use of the built-ins: #MYSYSTEM #PROCESSORSTATUS, and #PROCESSORTYPE
• Lab exercise (2 hours):

                   – Modify TACL programs to use routine type functions

INLINE Processing

• Performing process I/O using the INLINE facility
• Controlling the display of process output
• Describe the use of #INLINEPREFIX, INLPREFIX, #INLINETO, and INLTO
• Lab exercise (1 hour)

          – Use the INLINE facility to interface with the PERUSE utility