RFC 409 (rfc409) - Page 2 of 8
Tenex interface to UCSB's Simple-Minded File System
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 409 TENEX INTERFACE TO SIMPLE-MINDED FILE SYSTEM December 1972 III. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS SMFs is invoked like any other subsystem --- by typing its name followed by a carriage return (CR). SMFS responds with the herald 'UCSB Archival System (ver n date)' followed by its prompt character '#'. Whenever SMFS types its prompt character, it expects the user to respond with a command ('?' will generate a list of all valid commands). The user selects a command by typing its first letter (here and throughout the exchange, upper- and lower-case alphabetics are interchangeable). SMFS acknowledges a command it recognizes by typing the remaining characters of the keyword, and rejects those it doesn't by typing '?'. If the command requires arguments, SMFS prompts the user for each one in turn by describing it in parentheses. If the argument is a keyword, SMFS will list the set of alternatives (separated by slashes). The user selects one by typing its first letter. Again, SMFS acknowledges a valid selection by completing it; if the user's response is in error, SMFS prompts for the parameter a second time. If the argument is not a keyword (e.g., a filename), the user enters an appropriate character string terminated by a CR. Commands with no predicate are simply confirmed by the user with a CR. Entering the last argument initiates execution of the command. In most cases, successfully executed commands illicit no explicit response (SMFS simply prompts for the next command). Unsuccessful commands illicit a diagnostic. IV. COMMAND EDITING Anytime a character string is called for, the following editing features are available to the user: control-A deletes the previous character control-X deletes the entire string Control-R retypes the string Anytime a filename (see Section V) is called for, the following additional editing features are available: control-W deletes the current field control-F recognizes the current field ESC recognizes all remaining fields Control-O aborts a command during specification or execution (some commands cannot be aborted once the final CR has been typed). White
