.chapter The VAX Phonebook System .IFNOT NBI .RM72 .LM5 .ENDIF NBI .ap .sthl ,0 .hl 1 Introduction The VAX PhoneBook System is implemented as a VAX NoteBook function. PhoneBook is accessed either as a foreign command (defined automatically by @SYS$SYSVPWFILES:SETVPWSYM.COM during the logon process), or via the VAX Professional Workstation. In addition the commands PLIST (for phone list), ALIST (for address list), and MLIST (for mailing list) are also defined which can be used to in the following way: .lit PLIST Enter interactive mode with PhoneBook. PLIST search_string Display all phone numbers belonging to entries with the specified name_string. ALIST search_string Display all phone numbers and addresses belonging to entries with the specified name_string. MLIST search_string Display addresses in mailing-list format. .end literal The following sections describe briefly how to use the various features of the VAX PhoneBook .HL 1 Retrieving an Address If the symbol ALIST is defined as a foreign command, the command .lit ALIST search-string .end literal will produce the output (if the search string is found) of the form .tp 7 .lit Last_name,First_name Phone # Ext Comment Company Address City, State Zip .end literal The Search-String may either be a last name or part of one or any valid unique identifier. If more than one entry match the search input all such entries will be displayed. For example, ALIST Downward might display .tp 7 .lit Downward, James (313)-769-8500 362 Resident DEC guru. KMS Fusion, Inc. 3941 Research Park Dr. Ann Arbor, Mi 48106 .end literal .HL 1 Retrieving a Phone Number If the symbol PLIST is defined as a foreign command the command .lit PLIST search-string .end literal will produce the output (if the search string is found) of the form .tp 3 .lit Last_name,First_name Phone # Extension Comment .end literal The Search-String may either be a last name or part of one or any valid unique identifier. If more than one entry match the search input all such entries will be displayed. For example, the command PLIST DOWNWARD might produce the output .tp 3 .lit Downward, James (313)-769-8500 362 Resident DEC guru. .end literal Note that the search string could also have been DEC or James and this record (with possibly others would have been displayed). .HL 1 Interactive Use In its interactive mode, PhoneBook displays a menu giving the user the option to: .b1 .tp 8 .lm+10 .list 0 .le;Add new phone numbers to the list. .le;Display phone numbers/addresses .le;Delete phone number entries. .le;Modify an existing phone number .le;Use a different PhoneBook .le;Exit. .end list .lm-10 Because the VAX PhoneBook system is implemented using the VAX NoteBook, the chapter on using the VAX NoteBook should be read. Interactive mode of the VAX PhoneBook is very easy and friendly to use. At each point that it it requesting input, you can use the keypad keys to get help. The PF1 key will display the keypad layout, and the PF2 key will display help information appropriate to the input being requested. The other keypad keys are described in the chapter on using NoteBook. .HL 2 Adding an Entry to the PhoneBook When you enter ADD mode PhoneBook prompts for the following information: .tp 12 .lit Last name 15 characters max First name 10 characters max Phone number (xxx)-nnn-mmmm 14 characters max Extension (xxxx) 4 characters max Company name 20 characters max Address 30 characters max City 15 characters max State 2 characters max ZIP 5 characters max Comment 40 characters max .end lit If the length of an input exceeds the maximum allowed length, PhoneBook will print a warning message and reprompt for input. If a RETURN is entered in response to the last name entry request, PhoneBook returns to the menu page. When an entry is completed, PhoneBook will display the entry in its entirety and ask if it is correct. If a Y[es] is answered, it will be entered in to the data file. A N[o] returns you to the 'Last Name:' input prompt. The Comment entry allows up to 40 characters of any additional information to be entered for each user. .HL 2 Deleting a PhoneBook Entry In Delete mode, you are prompted for the last name of an entry to delete. Each entry which matches the entered last name will be displayed together with a prompt asking if that entry should be deleted. If a Y[es] is answered the entry will be deleted. A ^Y during the delete process will wipe out all deletions made. All deletions become permanent if a RETURN is entered in response to the 'Last Name:' prompt. Deletion is much slower than adding or displaying entries since the entire file must be searched and re-written. .hl 2 Displaying Phone Numbers or Addresses In Display mode, the you enter a last name to display and choose whether or not to display the addresses also. Three display modes are possible: Phone list format, address list format, and mailing list format. The name string entered can be just the desired last name, part of the last name, a unique search string (ie a company name) or some combination of search strings, each separated by a vertical bar ("|") from the other search strings. Finally, you have the option of either displaying the information on your terminal, sending it for printing on the line printer, or saving it to a scratch file (SCRATCH.FIL) for inclusion in a document. .hl 2 Modifying a PhoneBook Entry In Modify mode, first you enter the last name to search for the correct record. The record is displayed and you are allowed to select that record or reject it. If you reject it, another record is searched for and the process is repeated until no more records are found matching the search string. If the record you want is found and selected, you are allowed to change each field by entering new data, or leave the field alone by typing carriage return. As the record is modified, the changes are displayed on the bottom of the screen. When the modifications are done, you are prompted to confirm that the modifications are correct. If you accept them, the record is updated and sorted if you changed the last for first name. .flags bold .enable bolding .hl 2 Use a Different PhoneBook Normally PhoneBook accesses SYS$LOGIN:PLIST.FIL. If you have a specialized list of phone numbers or addresses in an alternate PhoneBook file, it can be accessed with the *Use option. Be careful that any file entered with the *Use option is a correct PhoneBook file and not one created for use with some other NoteBook function. .HL 2 Exiting from PhoneBook If numbers have been added to the phone book, PhoneBook will sort the phone book list upon exiting. This takes a while. Be patient. Otherwise it will just close any open files and exit. .HL 1 Use of Search Strings When used to display phone numbers or addresses, PhoneBook either accepts a search string as part of the command line or prompts for a last name. At this point, either a simple last name (or part of one) or a complex search string may be entered. A complex search string consists of multiple search strings separated by vertical bars ("|"). For example if you know your phone book contains entries for several people named Smith and that the SMITH of interest works for KMS you might enter SMITH|KMS as the search string. Only the data for the entry with the last name Smith, and with the company KMS would be found. Likewise to list all people working for the same company (you forgot the person's name), enter the company name as the search string. .HL 1 The PhoneBook Data File The data for PhoneBook is kept in SYS$LOGIN:PLIST.FIL. SYS$LOGIN is the VMS symbol representing the home directory assigned to each user when they log on to the system. Alternate PhoneBook data files may be accessed via the *Use option.