README.VMS for xmgr -- 27-Jun-1997

Rolf Niepraschk (niepraschk@ptb.de)
John Hasstedt (John.Hasstedt@sunysb.edu)

1. Introduction

 Rolf has ported xmgr to VMS with assistance from John.

  We have compiled it with the following combinations:
     VMS VAX V5.5      DECC V5.2/V4.0(*)  UCX        (Rolf) 
     VMS Alpha V6.2    DECC V5.0          UCX        (Rolf) 
     VMS VAX V6.2      DECC V5.5          Multinet   (John)
     VMS Alpha V6.2    DECC V5.5          Multinet   (John)

(*) pars.c and missing_math.c were compiled with DECC V4.0 because of
    compiler bugs.

 There is a bug in DECC V5.5 on VAX.  When compiling pars.c, it produces the
 error:

    %VCG-F-BUGCHECK, Compiler bug check during middle end phase.
                    Submit an SPR with a problem description.
                    At line number 10926 in y.tab.c.

 The problem is related to the two dots in the file name of a #line statement.
 The bug was not in DECC V5.0 and is supposed to be fixed in DECC V5.6.  If you
 have DECC V5.5 on VAX, you can remove all the #line statements from pars.c; we
 have included a command file to do this ([.vms]prep_pars.com).

 On Alpha, you can compile xmgr with either /FLOAT=G_FLOAT or /FLOAT=IEEE (on
 VAX, you cannot use IEEE).  Using IEEE should allow you to exchange binary
 save files with other machines that use IEEE; however, we have not gotten this
 to work.  Using G_FLOAT should allow you to exchange binary files with the
 VAX.  We recommend using the ascii save if you want to exchange files between
 machines with different architectures.

 You need mms or mmk to compile it.  You can get mmk from

     ftp://ftp.madgoat.com/madgoat/mmk.zip

2. Compilation

 Edit make.conf in the top directory for your own settings.  Make.conf_vms is
 an example.  The distributed file uses mosaic to view the help, but you can
 specify a different browser if you want.  Then do the following:

    set default [.src]
    mms   ! or mmk; add /macro=g_float=1 on Alpha for G floating point

3. Installation

 Define a symbol for the executable like

  $ xmgr :== $ disk:[path]xmgr

 Define the following locicals

  $ define GR_HOME "/disk/dir1/dir2/xmgr/" 
  ! the path of the directotry [.doc] (unix-like)

 optional:

  $ define GR_HELPVIEWER "www-browser %s" 
  ! for netscape look at the original make.conf

  $ define GR_PS_PRSTR  " "print/name=""from XMGR""/delete/queue=your_queue"  
  ! the /delete qualifier is recommended

4. Test

  $ set default [.examples]
  $ @dotest.vms

 The file contains a test where it tries to load test.xdr.  This test fails
 on both VAX and Alpha if you have Multinet.  If you have UCX, it gives an
 error of "Oops! Got SIGSYS..." on the VAX.  It will work on Alpha if you
 compiled with IEEE format.  This is a binary file; you should be able to
 read binary files you create, but you may not be able to read binary files
 created on other machines.

5. Bugs

 Please send bug reports to the xmgr mailing list.
