MS-DOS/UNIX Directory Commands Simulated in VAX/VMS

Although the VMS operating system is superior to MS-DOS, and rivals (sometimes surpassing) the capabilities of UNIX...the directory navigation commands are quite cumbersome.

Such commands in MS-DOS or UNIX are shorter and less complicated, and therefore it would be wonderful if the same commands existed in VMS.

Well, by adding the following to your VMS account, you can navigate almost as easily as on your home computer (in DOS mode, of course.)

(NOTE: The "simulation" is not 100%, so be cautious of some syntax that hasn’t been implemented and the fact that no verification is performed when change directories (CD)).

After you have finished adding and changing the necessary files, either log out and log back in, or reactivate the login script by typing: @LOGIN

Create the following files in the root directory of your VMS account. Use any text editor you wish (EDT, EVE, or PICO – the editor from PINE).

CD.COM 

! this command file simulates the DOS/UNIX CD command
!$ set verify
$ username = f$user()
$ subdir = "[."+p1+"]"
$ IF P1 .EQS. "" THEN GOTO CDNON
$ if P1 .EQS. ".." THEN GOTO CDPARENT
$ if p1 .eqs. "." then GOTO CDNON
$ if p1 .eqs. "\" then GOTO CDROOT
$ if p1 .gts. " " then GOTO CDDIR
$ exit

$ CDNON:    ! CD no parameters or  CD .
$ show default
$ GOTO FIN

$ CDPARENT:  ! step back to parent
$ set def [-]
$ GOTO FIN

$ CDROOT:   ! step back to root
$ set def 'username'
$ GOTO FIN

$ CDDIR:    ! change to directory below
$ set def 'subdir'
$ GOTO FIN

$ FIN:   ! FINISH command file
$ set prompt = 'f$directory()" >"
$ EXIT
 MD.COM 
! this command file simulates the DOS/UNIX MD command
!$ set verify
$ username = f$user()
$ subdir = "[."+p1+"]"
$ IF P1 .EQS. "" THEN GOTO MDNON
$ if p1 .lts. " " then GOTO MDNON
$ goto MDNEW
$ exit

$ MDNON:    ! MD no parameters
$ write sys$output "Cannot create directory without name "
$ GOTO FIN

$ MDNEW:    ! change to directory below
$ create/directory 'subdir'
$ GOTO FIN

$ FIN:   ! FINISH command f ile
$ set prompt = 'f$directory()" >"
$ EXIT
 RD.COM 
! this command file reduces the protection and deletes a subdirectory
$ if p1 .eqs. "" then EXIT    ! no parameter
$ dirname = p1+".dir;*"
$ set prot=(s:rwed,o:rwed,g,w) 'dirname'
$ del 'dirname'
And add the following to the LOGIN.COM file in your account. If the file does not exist, create it.

Modify the process name to be any personal name you wish to have displayed in the user list, and change the value of [?????????] to your username, example: [j_smith].

Additions to LOGIN.COM 

$ cd=="@[?????????]cd.com"
$ rd=="@[?????????]rd.com"
$ md=="@[?????????]md.com"

$ SETPROTOFF=="SET PROT=(S:RWED,O:RWED,G,W)"
$ SETPROTON=="SET PROT=(S:RWED,O:RWED,G:RW,W:RW)"
$ SETPROTONE=="SET PROT=(S:RWED,O:RWED,G:R,W:R)"
$ SETPROTEDIT=="SET PROT=(S:RWED,O:RWED,G:RWE,W:RWED)"
$ SETPROTJUSTSEE=="SET PROT=(S:RWED,O:R,G,W)"

$ set process/name="My Vax Account"
Have fun!