F.1 Using MODL

The MODL system provides a command-oriented interface, which makes MODL behave like other command-oriented utilities such as MAIL. In order to invoke MODL, enter the MODL command:

   $ modl       Manager for Organized Distribution Lists   MODL>

MODL responds with a prompt. At the prompt you may enter one of the following:

• A MODL command. A command begins with a command verb and may require some parameters. If a parameter is omitted, MODL will prompt for it. See Section F.2 for a description of MODL commands.

• A Open VMS command. If the line you enter begins with a dollar sign ( $), MODL assumes the rest of the line contains an OpenVMS command. The command is executed.

• A blank line. A blank line is ignored.

• A CTRL/Z. When CTRL/Z is pressed, MODL exits. The CTRL/Z is equivalent to the EXIT command.

Lines entered at the MODL> prompt may contain comments. A comment begins with an exclamation point ( !); the exclamation point and the rest of the line are ignored:

    MODL> modl add manager shubin ! Phred Shubin got promoted.

You can also use MODL to execute a single command and then immediately exit. If, at the DCL prompt, you include a command following the MODL verb, MODL executes the command and then immediately exits without beginning an interactive session.

    $ modl...