:Info: Introduction: The Executive Forum system works with menus. The menu options refer to explanations of certain basic parts of Executive Forum. To get one of these explanations, just type the number of the menu option you want -- there is NO need to press the RETURN key (or the equivalent of carriage return on your terminal). You should start by going through all the options in this menu. To begin attending forum meetings, select the option to display the "Executive Forum" menu. :Info: Getting_To_Know_Your_Terminal: Getting To Know Your Terminal Your terminal has basically two parts, the screen and the keyboard. The screen looks much like a television, which is divided into three parts. The upper portion contains the menus you work from and status information, or a comment if you are replying to a comment. The middle portion displays explanations like this one, lists of various kinds, and comments made by you and others in meetings. The bottom portion is a one or two line help display with instructions on how to invoke general functions associated with the current activity. On your screen you will see a light that moves around. As this explanation was being displayed, this light moved ahead of each character as it was displayed. This light is in the form of a box or a little line that moves under the lines of text. This light is called the "cursor," and it marks your current position on the screen. When it is in the menu portion of the screen, you can select one of the menu options. When it is in the lower portion of the screen, it marks the place where anything you type will be displayed. The keyboard is much like the keyboard on a typewriter, except that there are a few extra keys. The terminal keyboard, like standard electric typewriter keyboards, has a carriage return key. On some keyboards it is labelled RETURN, on others CARRIAGE RETURN or CR, and on yet other keyboards it is labelled ENTER. One of the extra keys is the BREAK (or "BRK") key. It is often colored red because it is a kind of alarm key that you press to signal Multics to stop immediately and return the cursor to the menu. Most, but not all terminals have a series of extra keys called function keys. These are usually located along the top of your keyboard and are labelled F1, F2, etc. These keys work in Executive Forum only when the cursor is in the menu portion of the screen. They perform special functions in Executive Forum. Their functions are usually displayed at the bottom of the screen when they are applicable. If your keyboard does not have function keys, you can perform the function key operations by using the key marked "ESC" in combination with other keys (e.g., "ESC q"). Anytime you want to operate the "ESC" key, press and release it quickly, and then type the key you are using in combination with it. The last extra key you must learn is the one labelled "CTL". Like the ESC key, it is used in combination with other keys. Unlike the ESC key, the CTL key must be held down while typing the key to be used in combination with it. :Info: How_To_Exit_Executive_Forum: How To Exit Executive Forum When you are ready to stop attending meetings in Executive Forum, press function key F4 (or "ESC q" if your terminal does not have function keys). Before you execute this, be sure the cursor is in the menu portion of the screen. Otherwise, pressing F4 (or "ESC q") has no effect. If the cursor is not in the top menu, you must move it back before you can get out of Executive Forum. This can be done in several ways. You can finish what you are doing in the bottom portion of the screen, or you can press the BREAK (or "BRK") key, which aborts whatever you are doing in the bottom portion of the screen and returns the cursor to the top menu. :Info: How_To_Get_Help: How To Get Help The menu now displayed at the top of your screen provides the first stage of help with Executive Forum. It is the first menu you see when entering Executive Forum for the first time, although after this session, the first menu seen upon reentering is the one titled "Executive Forum." One of the options in that menu enables you to select the Getting Started menu, the one now being used, if you wish to go through any part of it again. When you are not working with the Getting Started menu, you can get help in four ways. The first is to use function key F1 (or "ESC ?" if you are not using function keys). You can use the F1 key whenever the cursor is in the menu at the top of the screen. After pressing it, you will be asked what specifically you want help with. If you want to know what one of the options in the menu does, type its number or letter, but do NOT press RETURN, and the explanation is displayed below the menu. To get an explanation of one of the function keys, press that function key, (again, do NOT press RETURN). If you inadvertently press RETURN when it is not called for, the system responds with a beep to notify you that an unexpected action occurred. Furthermore, if you inadvertently press RETURN while the system is displaying, or getting ready to display a message, and the message requires more than one screen to display, then you may find that some data is lost (scrolled off the top of the screen). In this case, you would have to request the information a second time. If you are using escape sequences instead of function keys, type the two character escape sequence (ESC followed by another character) that is used in place of the particular function key you want (as mentioned above, do NOT press RETURN). Finally, if you want to know about something other than a menu option or a function key, how to correct mistakes for example, you can respond to the request for the specific help desired by typing two question marks (??). That will get you a menu containing general information items from which you can choose the specific explanation you need. The second way of getting help is used when your cursor is not in the menu at the top of the screen. Whenever you are asked to supply information for an operation within a menu, you can type a single question mark (?) followed by RETURN to get an explanation of exactly what it is you are being asked for. Whenever you are asked to supply the name or number of some item from a list of names, meetings, or comments, you can display the list as a menu by typing two question marks (??) followed by RETURN. You can then select an item from that menu by typing the number or letter assigned to it, just as you select an option from a menu. Finally, help is available in the form of brief reminders at the bottom of the screen. The bottom line always displays keystrokes that can be used for certain functions that are relevant to the menu currently displayed. :Info: Responding_To_Prompts: Responding To Prompts A "prompt" is a system question (or request) for more information. When you select a menu option, the Executive Forum facility often replies with a prompt to ask you more specifically what you want to do. If, for instance, you were selecting a comment in a meeting, you would supply a number. Anytime you are prompted for a response while using Executive Forum, you can type a question mark (?) followed by RETURN to get an explanation of what you are being asked for. If your terminal is missing a key, check the documentation for the terminal emulator you are using to find the key or key sequence which maps to the missing key. For example, some keyboards do not have the DEL key which is used to discard info in response to the "MORE?" prompt. You would have to check the documentation and see which key or keys is equal to the "pad" character, ASCII 177. If you are asked to provide a number or name from an undisplayed list, you can display a menu by responding with two question marks (??) followed by RETURN. If you wish to correct a response to a prompt, you can use the same keystrokes you use when editing a comment. Since responses are made on a single line, not all of the editing-comment controls are applicable. Those that are, are listed below. When using control keystrokes that employ the CTL key, hold the CTL key down while typing the associated character. With keystrokes that use the ESC key, press and immediately release the ESC key followed by the associated character key. No space is required after the CTL or ESC key and the associated character key. CTL f moves the cursor right one character. ESC f moves the cursor right one word. CTL e moves the cursor to the end of the line. CTL a moves the cursor to the beginning of the line. CTL b moves the cursor left one character. ESC b moves the cursor left one word. CTL d deletes the one character the cursor is under or covering. ESC d deletes one word to the right of the cursor. BACKSPACE deletes one character to the left of the cursor (the DEL key also does this). ESC BACKSPACE deletes one word to the left of the cursor (ESC DEL also does this). CTL k erases all text between the cursor and the end of the line. @ erases all text between the cursor and the beginning of the line. CTL Y retrieves any piece of erased text, longer than one character, and inserts it at the current cursor position. :Info: How_To_Correct_Typos: How To Correct Typos Typing mistakes are inevitable, so the Executive Forum system provides a number of ways for you to change what was typed. Whenever you are either typing a response to a prompt or entering comments, you can move the cursor to different points in the text and erase, change, or add to what was typed. This is done with keystrokes that use either the ESC or CTL key. When using the CTL key, hold it down while you type the associated character key. When using the ESC key, press and release it before typing the the associated character key. Listed below are the keystrokes that can be used, both in changing a response to a prompt and when working in the comment editor. CTL f moves the cursor right one character. ESC f moves the cursor right one word. CTL e moves the cursor to the end of the line. CTL a moves the cursor to the beginning of the line. CTL b moves the cursor left one character. ESC b moves the cursor left one word. CTL d deletes the one character the cursor is under or covering. ESC d deletes one word to the right of the cursor. BACKSPACE deletes one character to the left of the cursor (the DEL key also does this). ESC BACKSPACE deletes one word to the left of the cursor (ESC DEL also does this). CTL k erases all text between the cursor and the end of the line. @ erases all text between the cursor and the beginning of the line. CTL Y retrieves any piece of erased text, longer than one character, and inserts it at the current cursor position. :Info: Getting_Around_The_Menus: Getting Around The Menus When you enter Executive Forum, the first menu displayed is the one titled "Executive Forum" (except the very first time you use the system, when the Getting Started menu is displayed). The Executive Forum menu lets you select meetings to attend; personalize certain aspects of Executive Forum; and select the Getting Started menu. The F3 function key is one of several function keys used for getting around in Executive Forum. F3 is used to display the previous menu at the top the screen. The F2 function key (or "ESC f") displays the Executive Forum menu. The F6 (or "ESC 1") and F7 (or "ESC h") function keys are used to display, respectively, the next and the previous portions of a menu that is being displayed in the bottom portion of the screen. Usually, the menus in the bottom portion of the screen are lists of names, subjects, or comments that can be quite long, longer than can be displayed on the screen at one time. The BREAK (or "BRK") key can be used to return the cursor to the menu at the top of the screen anytime you are working in the space beneath that menu. :Info: The_2_Attending_Menus: The 2 Attending Menus There are two ways to read comments in meetings (by entry number or subject) and each has a menu designed for its specific approach. The entry number menu for attending meetings treats each comment in the meeting separately, so you select, read, and reply to comments by number. The subject oriented menu, by contrast, groups comments by subject, so you select, read, and reply to comments by subject. In the latter menu, entry numbers are referred to, but almost all options in the menu process comments according to subject groups. You can choose which you want to use when attending meetings by selecting the "Read Comments by Subject" option in the Personalize Executive Forum menu. The approach you choose is used for all meetings you attend, though you can change the approach used whenever you wish. If you make no choice, the entry subject-oriented approach is used. (Default) :Info: What_Are_Eligible_Meetings: What Are Eligible Meetings Eligible meetings are meetings that you are eligible to attend. All meetings have lists of people or projects who are eligible to attend them. Some meetings are "public," which means that everyone can attend them. To be eligible for a meeting, you must have your name, or the name of the project you work under, on the eligible list, or the meeting must be public. :Info: What_Are_Attended_Meetings: What Are Attended Meetings Attended meetings are meetings that you have attended and have not resigned from. You can attend any eligible meeting, and once you attend, that meeting is placed on your personal meeting list. It remains on that list until you remove it. :Info: What_Are_Changed_Meetings: What Are Changed Meetings A changed meeting is a meeting on your list of attended meetings that contain comments that you have not yet read. :Info: What_Is_The_Current_Comment: What Is The Current Comment The current comment is the comment or group of comments that the menu options operate on when they are selected. The current comment or comments is always indicated by a number or other specification displayed near the top of the Attending Meeting menu, and there are options in that menu that enable you to specify which comments are to be current. :Info: Selecting_The_Current_Comment: Selecting The Current Comment Both Attending Meeting menus contain options that enable you to specify which comment or comments is to be current. The Attending Meeting menu that works with comments according to the number by which they are listed in the meeting has the following options available for selecting the current comment. The "Select ... Next Comment" option makes the next highest numbered comment in the meeting the current one. "Select ... Next Unread Comment" option makes the next highest comment that you have not yet read, the current comment. The "Select ... Comment(s)" option is the most flexible because it enables you to specify exactly which comment or group of comments to make current. You can specify comments by number or by keyword. Numbers for different comments must be separated by space (e.g., 14 23 25). To specify by keyword, you use one of the following (short names are in parentheses): all (a), first (f), last (l), new, next (n), previous (p), highest, allref, (aref), firstref (fref), lastref (lref), nextref (nref), priorref (pref), restref (rref), search (s). If you use the Attending Meeting menu that works with comments in a meeting according to the subject they are grouped by, the following options are available for selecting the current comment. But unlike the number-oriented menu, you can have only one current comment at a time. The "Next Subject with Unread Comments" option finds the first comment in the list of comments that you have not yet read and makes that comment and its subject current. The "Select Subject" option enables you to select another subject to be the current subject. Finally, the "Select/Display Comment Number" option enables you to select a current comment by number, rather than by subject. Since only one comment at a time can be current, you can select a comment only by number. Keywords cannot be used. :Info: Entering_Comments: Entering Comments You can enter comments in a meeting anytime you are attending that meeting. To do so you use the "Start New Discussion" and "Reply to Current Comment" options in the Attending Meeting menu. When you make a comment with the "Start New Discussion" option, you are asked to specify a subject for the comment. When you comment using the "Reply to Current Comment" option, the subject of your comment is automatically the same as that of the so-called current comment. The "current" comment is always indicated by number near the top of the Attending Meeting menu. It is the comment or group of comments that the menu options operate on when they are selected. There are options in the Attending Meetings menu that enable you to specify which comments are to be current. When you select one of the options for making a comment, a text editor is set up on your screen so that you can type in and edit your comment. When you are finished and wish to enter the comment, type "ESC q". This keystroke and others that are appropriate to typing and editing are listed at the bottom of the screen for your convenience. :Info: Personalizing_The_System: Personalizing The System The Personalize Executive Forum menu lets you set several aspects of Executive Forum to work the way you want them to. First of all, you can specify whether you want to read comments in meetings by subject or by comment number. You can also arrange to use escape sequences instead of function keys, to display certain information in menu form, to remove the menu from the upper portion of the screen while working in the editor, and to have messages processed by your own message handler. Finally, you can arrange to go to Multics command level while attending meetings in Executive Forum. :Info: Multics_Command_Level_Mode: Multics Command Level Mode You can arrange the Executive Forum system to let you leave the system temporarily to go to Multics command level and then return to the place from which you left. This is done by selecting the "Multics Command Mode" option in the Personalize Executive Forum meeting. If you choose to have this function available, it is connected to function key F8. If you use escape sequences instead of function keys, command level mode is activated by the "ESC e" sequence. :Info: Changes_Between_Version_1_And_2: Changes Between Version 1 And 2 The principle changes between version 1.0 of Executive Forum (distributed with Multics Release 11) and version 2.0 (distributed with Multics Release 12) are the implementation of the subject oriented "Attending Meeting" menu and the "Personalization" menu. Refer to the "The 2 Attending Menus" option of the "Getting Started" menu or "General Help Topics" menu for an explanation of the subject oriented "Attending Meeting" menu. The "Personalizing The System" option of those two menus contains an explanation of how to personalize Executive Forum. The control arguments that were used to control personalization options are obsolete. They still work in MR12 but their use will result in a warning message. The only control arguments that are not obsolete are -force (-fc) and -no_force (-nfc). Another major change is the ability to select a disjoint set of comments while in the entry order "Attending Meeting" menu. This may be done by either enumerating the set in response to the "What comment(s) do you wish to select" prompt (i.e., "6 28 496" or by entering the keyword "search"). If "search" is entered you are prompted for the text to search for. If there are currently multiple comments selected, then the search is applied ONLY to those comments. If there is currently only one comment selected then all the comments in the meeting are searched. A "?" response to either prompt provides more help. In order to improve selection from a "Choices" menu (i.e., the menu of meeting names) the "ENTER NAME" option now appears as the last option on each submenu instead of only on the last submenu. The "General Help Topics" menu was moved from the bottom of the screen to the top. Finally, whenever you use a new version of Executive Forum you receive a warning message. In addition, an option on the "General Help Topics" menu can be selected to describe the differences between the previous version of Executive Forum and the current version. ----------------------------------------------------------- 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. Copyright 2006 by Bull SAS All Rights Reserved