System files

System files

The system file is the highest-level file in the D3 file hierarchy.

The system file or MDS contains the file-pointers to every account in the database. Entries in the system file define user master dictionaries. The master dictionary pointers are either D-pointers (file definition) or Q-pointers (file synonym). The item-IDs of such items are the user names that the user enters when the system prompts the user to logon. Such items are created with the create-account command.

The system file always includes these standard accounts:

SQL The SQL account should never be modified manually (for example, running a sel-restore or account-restore from an older tape). Otherwise, some SQL tables may become inaccessible. Also, because the SQL account is now in the FSI, restoring the VME from an old tape or from the original data set, brings an SQL account inside the VME. If it becomes necessary to restore the VME in this manner, delete this VME SQL account with the delete-account command and then run the QS.UPD utility again.
SYSPROG or DM Contains the system-level files and utilities for use by system managers.

These accounts contain the initial files used in the maintenance and operation of the system, and they are the only accounts needed to maintain the system.

  • abs file
    The abs file contains information about the binary executable object module, which is the D3 System.
  • accounts file
    The accounts file contains a history of computer usage by user.
  • backgrounds file
    The backgrounds file contains data for each background process submitted for execution. The item-ID is a user specified string to uniquely identify the background job.
  • Binary files (system files)
    Binary files are used to access binary items through the OSFI. It is possible to access binary items as if they were normal D3 items, using AQL, BASIC, FlashBASIC, and so on.
  • block-convert file
    The block-convert file contains the instructions used by the TCL command block-print to display enlarged characters.
  • bp file
    The bp file contains BASIC source programs for system utilities.
  • bulletin file
    The bulletin file contains company messages to display at logon time.
  • cap-file File
    The cap-file file captures the screen output from the converse command. The item-ID used consists of *port.number.
  • captcl file
    The captcl file captures the screen output from the capture-on command. The item-ID used consists of account.name*port.number.
  • clashes file
    The clashes file holds invalid items removed from the master dictionary by the update-md program. Each account updated gets its own data section in the clashes file. The command, lf dm,clashes, displays these data sections.
  • country file
    The country file defines the postal codes of countries, as part of the zip code processing code.
  • devices file
    The devices file contains an item for every terminal or printer device recognized by the D3 System. The actual escape sequences produced by @ functions in BASIC and PROC are defined within these device drivers.
  • devs file
    The devs file defines the various devices in the system.
  • dm-bp pointer
    The dm-bp file is a Q-pointer for the bp file on the dm account.
  • errmsg pointer
    The errmsg file is a Q-pointer to the errors file.
  • errors file
    The errors file contains system error and log-msg messages used to determine how the system is functioning.
  • File-of-files file (VME)
    The file named file-of-files contains statistical information for each file on the system. Whenever a file is created, restored, or deleted, this file is updated.
  • FileOfFiles file (FSI)
    The file named FileOfFiles contains statistical information for each file in the FSI. Whenever a file is created, restored, or deleted, this file is updated.
  • fonts file
    The fonts file contains downloadable printer fonts.
  • funckeys file
    The funckeys file contains preset function key definition items and is used with the TCL set-func command.
  • gsym file
    The gsym file is the global symbol file in the dm account.
  • Host operating system files
    Through the OSFI, it is possible to access host operating system files as if they were D3 items, using AQL, BASIC, FlashBASIC, and so on. This section describes the format of the Q-pointer, the file structure and the access rules.
  • hosts file
    The hosts file defines file system connections to remote environments.
  • hotkey.all file
    The hotkey.all file specifies the name of a FlashBASIC or BASIC subroutine to execute according to the rules described under Hot Key Commands.
  • iomap-file file
    The iomap-file file defines the one-to-one keyboard input and output translation used by the set-iomap command.
  • jobs file
    The jobs file contains data for each phantom job submitted for execution.
  • kb.fk File
    The kb.fk file sets the keyboard for UNIX.
  • kb.pc file
    The kb.pc file maps the keyboard.
  • keyboards file
    The keyboards file contains keyboard definitions and translations.
  • logoffs file
    The logoffs file contains a snapshot of the where status of the pib and the process status of the process id before ’logging off’ and after. This file is updated by the TCL commands logoff and reset-user.
  • Master dictionary file
    The master dictionary file contains commands, Procs, Macros, Menus, connectives, default attribute-defining items, file-defining items (both local (D-pointers) and synonym (Q-pointers)) and cataloged FlashBASIC programs.
  • mds file
    The mds file is the highest level file in the D3 file structure and resides on the dm account.
  • messages file
    The messages file contains messages used by system processes to convey information to the user.
  • newac file
    The newac file contains all of the master dictionary file items that are copied to each new D3 account.
  • object.queue file
    D3 shares FlashBASIC object code between all processes running a given program. While this vastly decreases memory requirements, it also opens the possibility of one user compiling a program while another user is concurrently running that same routine. This circumstance tends to produce random, unexplainable aborts that can be difficult to track on large systems.
  • peqs file
    The peqs file is a super Q-pointer used to access print jobs.
  • pibs file
    The pibs file contains device specifications for each port.
  • pointer-file file
    The pointer-file file is the default file that contains items from save-list commands.
  • resizing file
    The resizing file contains information about files currently being resized.
  • restore-errors file
    The restore-errors file contains errors that occurred during a restore.
  • runtime-errors file
    The runtime-errors file contains information about any runtime errors that occur during the execution of a BASIC or FlashBASIC program.
  • state file
    The state file lists the states, counties, and provinces of various countries as part of the zip code processing code.
  • tcl-stack file
    The tcl-stack file keeps a record of all commands issued from TCL.
  • tv.log file
    The tv.log file records t-verify errors when the option is chosen to verify the tape during a file-save.
  • upgrade.file file
    The upgrade.file contains the BASIC programs, verbs and error messages that are used by the nt_upgrade procedure.
  • users file
    The users file contains specific data relevant to each individual authorized user on the system.
  • var File
    The var file is a pseudo file that maps to the user’s TCL shell variables.
  • vi.dump file
    The vi.dump file is created and used by the verify-index process as a temporary work file. It is created as a DX-pointer, so it is not saved during backup.
  • words file
    The words file contains all the valid words used by the Update processor spelling checker. This file resides on the dm account. An index must be created for attribute 0 of the words file in order to activate the spelling checker.
  • wsym file
    The wsym file, used by the x option of the op command, contains the results of counting each word in a document, along with the page number and line number of each word.
  • xp file
    The xp file contains the BASIC subroutines for extended precision arithmetic.
  • zcf file
    The zcf file (zip code) is used as part of the zip code processing code.