OpenVMS System Users Guide

ALPHA Introduction: Login, EVE and EMAIL

• Login Procedure
• Access To Confidential Information
• How To Log On The ALPHA System
• How To Log Off The ALPHA System
• Password Security
• EVE - full-screen text editor
• Overview of EVE editing commands
• Creating text files
• Creating files to be used as messages to send via EMAIL
• EMAIL - electronic mail
• Creating, sending, reading and deleting messages
• Using EVE within EMAIL
• Extracting messages to create files to be edited in EVE
• Signature Files
• Mail Distribution Lists

Access To Confidential Information

• If you have access to student records, be mindful of the confidentiality of student records and the student's right to privacy.
• Do not share confidential information with a non-District employee.
• Do not allow a non-District employee to use your username and password.
• Do not allow another employee to use your username and password.
• If another employee needs access to student records and does not currently have access, their manager should request access for them.
• Remember to always log off the system when you walk away from your computer.

How To Log On To The ALPHA System

• Access is available via TELNET using QVT. QVT is a terminal emulation program and should be listed on your Windows NT desktop in the Start menu as "Alpha Connection."
• Users off-campus can TELNET to alpha.cerritos.edu
• After making a connection, your username and password will be requested.

Username: [Enter your username]

Password: [Enter your password]

• When you type your password, the characters will not be displayed

How To Log Off The ALPHA System

• To log off the ALPHA, type "0" at the "Job: " prompt
• Use zero not the letter O

Password Security

• Do not give your password to anybody
• If you are asked for your password, please refer them to your manager or Information Technology
• Do not write your password on a note and attach it to your monitor
• Change your password on a monthly basis
• Passwords are a minimum of six characters and a maximum of 32 characters
• Passwords cannot have embedded spaces
• Avoid names or words that can be readily associated with you

To Change Your Password

• Type "PASSWORD" at the "Job: " prompt
• You will be asked to enter your old password
• You will be asked to enter your new password twice
• The characters will not be displayed as you type
  

  Old Password:
  New Password:
  Verification:

• EVE, a text editor, is used to create text files
• text files can be transferred and read on any computer
• a text file can be a report, memo, personal notes, a mail distribution list, a mail signature file, etc…
• a text file can be a document in HTML for use on the Web
  
• Microsoft Word is a word processor
• used by an author to produce reports, letters, notes, memos
• all documents are stored in a special (proprietary) format
• the word processor has special functions built-in to assist the author in being more productive
• WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) screen format
• Documents can also be saved as HTML for use on the Web
  
• Microsoft FrontPage98 is a web publishing tool
• used to create documents and publish the documents on the World Wide Web
• documents are stored in an open, non-prorietary format known as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
• documents can contain links to other documents located locally or remotely somewhere on the Internet
• documents can include embedded images, sound files, digital video clips and other multimedia effects
• WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) screen format

When you are creating a text file in the EVE text editor you will need to name the file, here are some simple rules to use when naming a text file:

• a complete file name is made up of a name and an extension
• the name and the extension are separated by a "." (filename.ext)
• OpenVMS file names do not allow for embedded spaces
• hyphens and underscores are allowed (my-file.ext, new_file.ext)
• attempt to give your files descriptive names
• use extensions such as .TXT, .MEM, .DOC, .RPT, or .NOTES
• a memo to Sally might be named SALLY.MEM
• a to-do list might be called TODO.LIST
• attempt to be as descriptive as possible (you may want to find the file in the future)

Type "EVE" at the "Job: " prompt

Use the EVE text editor to:

• create text files
• create email messages
• create a signature file for use with EMAIL
• create text files to be sent as messages in EMAIL
• create and manage a mail distribution list
• create lists, memos, reports, documents, personal notes, etc...
• you are free to save your work and return to editing as time allows (as long you remember the file name!)

The following EMAIL commands all use EVE:

• "SEND"
• "REPLY"
• "REPLY/EDIT/EXTRACT"
• "READ/EDIT"
• "CURRENT/EDIT"
• "EDIT filename.txt"

EVE Basics: The One Page Guide to EVE

• start EVE using "EVE" at the "Job: " prompt
• type your message, report, memo, notes or distribution list
• use the arrow keys to move around in the buffer
• use the DELETE key to remove any unwanted text
• use Ctrl-Z to name your file, write it to disk and exit EVE
• use DO QUIT to exit EVE and not write the file

EVE Buffers

• Buffers are locations in memory where text is stored
• A buffer is created when a file is loaded into EVE
• When a buffer is written to disk, a file is created
• EVE allows many buffers to be open at a single time
• Buffer names mirror file names (in all cases except one)

Buffer MAIN

• When you start EVE from MASTER (without designating a file name), the default buffer MAIN is opened
• you can create your document in buffer MAIN but when you exit EVE or attempt to write the buffer to disk to create a file, EVE will require a file name
• get in the habit of writing the file to disk on a periodic basis (this is known as an "intermediate save")
• buffer MAIN's name does not change after a write (the one exception to the rule about file names and buffer names)

DO key

• the DO key is the Enter key on the 10-key keypad

DO HELP

• gives access to help on all the EVE commands

DO HELP KEYS

• gives a listing of all the EVE key definitions

DO HELP KEYPAD

• displays the definition of the keypad

DO HELP {eve command}

• displays help on the requested command

Electronic Mail

• Type "EMAIL" at the "Job: " prompt
• EMAIL will respond with the "EMAIL> " prompt
• Help is available by typing "HELP"
• Help is available on specific topics by typing "HELP" followed by a topic keyword

• EMAIL> HELP
• EMAIL> HELP GETTING_STARTED
• EMAIL> HELP KEYPAD
• EMAIL> HELP SEND
• EMAIL> HELP DELETE
• EMAIL> HELP MOVE
• EMAIL> HELP EDIT
• EMAIL> HELP DIR
• EMAIL> HELP MOVE
• EMAIL> HELP SELECT

Basic MAIL Commands

At the "EMAIL>" prompt you have many options:

• SEND
• READ
• REPLY
• FORWARD
• EXTRACT file_name.ext
• DIRECTORY
• DIR
• DIRECTORY folder_name
• DIR folder_name
• DELETE
• HELP
• MOVE folder_name
• SELECT folder_name
• HELP
• EXIT
• Ctrl-Z

Information About Folders

Electronic mail messages are stored in folders.

There are three default folders:

• NEWMAIL
• MAIL
• WASTEBASKET

A folder will exist only if it contains at least one mail message.

All new, unread messages are automatically placed in the NEWMAIL folder.

When you read a new mail message and do NOT delete it, the message is marked as read and is moved over to the MAIL folder.

This also occurs when you EXIT or SELECT another folder or when you refresh your NEWMAIL folder ( DIR/NEW ).

The WASTEBASKET folder only exists if there are messages deleted in the current EMAIL session. Messages read in any folder and DELETEd are moved to the WASTEBASKET folder. You can SELECT the WASTEBASKET folder and access the messages in the WASTEBASKET folder. All messages marked for deletion in the WASTEBASKET folder are permanently removed when you EXIT EMAIL or when you PURGE deleted messages.

New folders are created using the MOVE command.

• When reading a message, MOVE the message to a folder
• If you attempt to MOVE a message to a non-existent folder, you will be asked if you want to create the new folder

Examples:

EMAIL> MOVE new-folder-name

EMAIL> MOVE project98

EMAIL> MOVE info

SEND [use EVE to create your message]

SEND filename.ext [send this file as your message]

SEND/EDIT filename.ext [use EVE, begin with this file]

EMAIL> SEND

TO: [enter the username(s) of the persons]

CC: [enter the names of the persons to be CCed]

Subject: [enter a subject or title for the message]

Multiple persons can be sent the same the message. Separate each e-mail address using a coma.

TO: jsmith, bjones, cwhite

After entering the subject text, EVE will be launched and you can create your message. Use Ctrl-Z to exit EVE and send your message. Use DO QUIT to exit EVE and NOT send your message

RETURN key [default READ of next message]

READ 12 [read message 12 in the current folder]

12 [read message 12 in the current folder]

READ/EDIT 12 [read message 12 using the edit]

READ OLDMAIL [change folder to OLDMAIL, read message 1]

NEXT [read next message]

BACK [read previous message]

CURRENT [re-read current message from beginning]

READ/NEW [read any new/outstanding messages]

You must be reading a message to initiate a REPLY. The REPLY command dialog does not ask for TO: but will ask for CC:

REPLY [reply to the current message]

REPLY/EXTRACT [include current message in reply]

REPLY filename.ext [use filename.ext as reply message]

You must be reading a message in order to use FORWARD.

FORWARD the current message to another person and attach a message.

FORWARD [forward the current message]

FORWARD/EDIT [use EVE to add a note to the message]

FORWARD/NOSIG [do not attach your signature file]

You must be reading a message to initiate REDISTRIBUTE.

REDISTBUTE [Re-sends current message]

The DIRECTORY command changes the current selection set.

DIR [directory of current folder]

DIR/FROM=username [...of messages from this user]

DIR/SINCE=date [...of messages since a date]

DIR/BEFORE=date [...of messages before a date]

DIR/NEW [...of new messages]

DIR/SUBJECT=text_stuff [...with subjects containing text_stuff]

DIR folder [...of messages in folder folder]

The EXTRACT command allows you to save a message to a text file in your current directory.

EXTRACT filename.ext [extracts the current message]

EXTRACT/APPEND filename.ext [appends to existing file]

EXTRACT/ALL filename.ext [extracts current selection set]

When you delete a message it is placed in the WASTEBASKET.

Deleted messages can be un-deleted by SELECTing the WASTEBASKET folder and MOVEing the message to another folder.

DELETE [delete the current message]

DELETE 6 [delete message 6]

DELETE 7, 10, 32 [delete messages 7, 10, 32]

DELETE 12-20 [delete messages 12 through 20]

A PURGE is done when you EXIT EMAIL.

PURGE [empty the WASTEBASKET]

PURGE/RECLAIM [empty WASTEBASKET, reclaim space]

You must be reading a message to initiate a MOVE

MOVE folder_name

[moves current message to folder folder_name]

MOVE/ALL folder_name

[moves current selection set to folder folder_name]

 

SELECT folder_name

[makes folder folder-name the current selection set]

Internet Mail

• EMAIL can send and receive local and off-campus messages
• The Internet is an International network of computer networks
• The campus network is connected to the Internet
• E-mail from off-campus can be sent directly to your user account
• Our Internet domain name is cerritos.edu
• Your Internet address is "username@cerritos.edu"

Junk mail is a fact of life on the Internet. Just delete it.

You may get mail from individuals asking you to forward junk mail. Examples are…

• Chain lettters: "Little Tommy Smith is in the hospital and is dying of (fill-in-the-blank-illness). To cheer up Tommy, add your name to the following message and forward it to ten of your email friends."
• Bogus Virus Alerts: "If you get a message titled 'Good Times' do not open it, it will delete the contents of your hard disk. Share this message with everyone you know…"

Do not forward chain letters or bogus virus alerts. Just delete it.

Use EVE to create a file named SIG.TXT. In the SIG.TXT file include the information you wish to have attached to outgoing messages. Examples are your name, phone number, FAX number, USPS address, web URL, etc…

At the EMAIL prompt use the following command to let EMAIL know you have a signature file and that you want it included on each message you send:

EMAIL> SET SIGNATURE sys$login:sig.txt

Each time you SEND, FORWARD, REPLY, etc…the signature file will be attached to your message.

A local distribution list is a text file containing e-mail addresses. It resides in your OpenVMS directory.

Use EVE to create your distribution list. The distribution list should be named with a file extension of .DIS such as GROUP.DIS or COMMITTEE.DIS. Each e-mail address should be on a separate line in the file.

To invoke the distribution list in EMAIL, at the SEND prompt prefix the distribution list name with a @ .

EMAIL> SEND

TO: @committee

The file extension does not have to be used at the "To:" prompt.

This page is Bobby Approved.Last Update:  July 20, 2004