02/21/84 assign_resource, ar Syntax: ar resource_type {-control_args} Syntax as active function: [ar resource_type {control_args}] Function: calls the Resource Control Package (RCP) to assign a resource to your process. Arguments: resource_type specifies the type of resource to be assigned. Currently, only device types can be designated. The -device control argument is used to name a specific device to assign. Other control arguments are used to indicate characteristics of the device to be assigned. The following device type keywords are supported: tape_drive disk_drive console printer punch reader special Control arguments: -comment STR, -com STR is a comment string that is displayed to the operator when the resource is assigned. If more than one string is required, the entire string must be in quotes. Only printable ASCII characters are allowed. Any unprintable characters (also tabs or new lines) found in this string are converted to blanks. -density N, -den N specifies the density capability characteristic of a tape drive. There can be more than one instance of this argument. A tape drive is assigned that is capable of being set to all of the indicated densities. The acceptable values for this argument are 200, 556, 800, 1600, and 6250. Note that the values permitted depend on the particular hardware on the system. -device STR, -dv STR specifies the name of the device to be assigned. If used, other control arguments that indicate device characteristics are ignored. If used with -long, a message containing the name of the assigned device is printed on your terminal; otherwise, no message is printed. If found several times on the command line, the last one specified overrides any previous ones. -line_length N, -ll N specifies the line length of a printer. Its value must be one that is found in the "line length" field of a printer PRPH configuration card. If this field is not specified on that type of card, this device characteristic is ignored for this printer. -long, -lg prints all the device characteristics of the assigned device. If not supplied, only the name of the assigned device is printed. -model N specifies the device model number characteristic. Only a device that has this model number is assigned. In order to find the model numbers that are acceptable, use the print_configuration_deck command. -number N, -nb N specifies the number of resources to assign. All the resources assigned have the device characteristics indicated by any other arguments passed to this command. If -number is not given, one resource is assigned. -speed N gives the speed of a tape drive. The acceptable values depend on the particular hardware on the system and can be 75, 125, or 200. -system, -sys specifies that you want to be treated as a system process during this assignment. If not used or if you do not have the appropriate access, then the RCP assumes that this assignment is for a nonsystem process. -track N, -tk N specifies the track characteristic of a tape drive. The value can be either 9 or 7. If both -track and -volume are not given, a track value of 9 is used when assigning a tape device. -train N, -tn N specifies the print train characteristic of a printer. -volume STR, -vol STR specifies the name of a volume. If possible, the device assigned is one on which this volume has already been placed. If this is not possible (e.g., the volume is on a device assigned to a process) any available, appropriate, and accessible device is assigned. -wait {N}, -wt {N} indicates that you want to wait if the assignment cannot be made at this time because the resources are assigned to some other process. The value N designates the maximum number of minutes to wait. If N minutes elapse and a resource is not yet assigned, an error message is printed. If N is not specified, it is assumed that you want to wait indefinitely. Notes: An assigned device still must be attached by a call to some I/O module. If a device is successfully assigned, the name of the device is printed. (If you request a specific device that is successfully assigned, the name of the device is not printed unless you ask for it.) Notes on active function: The active function returns either true if an assignment was successful or false if the resource is unavailable. Other errors are reported by active_fnc_error_. The -long control argument is not allowed. Use the list_resources command to obtain the name of the assigned device(s). ----------------------------------------------------------- Historical Background This edition of the Multics software materials and documentation is provided and donated to Massachusetts Institute of Technology by Group BULL including BULL HN Information Systems Inc. as a contribution to computer science knowledge. This donation is made also to give evidence of the common contributions of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bell Laboratories, General Electric, Honeywell Information Systems Inc., Honeywell BULL Inc., Groupe BULL and BULL HN Information Systems Inc. to the development of this operating system. Multics development was initiated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Project MAC (1963-1970), renamed the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in the mid 1970s, under the leadership of Professor Fernando Jose Corbato. Users consider that Multics provided the best software architecture for managing computer hardware properly and for executing programs. Many subsequent operating systems incorporated Multics principles. Multics was distributed in 1975 to 2000 by Group Bull in Europe , and in the U.S. by Bull HN Information Systems Inc., as successor in interest by change in name only to Honeywell Bull Inc. and Honeywell Information Systems Inc. . ----------------------------------------------------------- Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute these programs and their documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,provided that the below copyright notice and historical background appear in all copies and that both the copyright notice and historical background and this permission notice appear in supporting documentation, and that the names of MIT, HIS, BULL or BULL HN not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the programs without specific prior written permission. Copyright 1972 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Honeywell Information Systems Inc. Copyright 2006 by BULL HN Information Systems Inc. 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