B From:	VAXUUM::DYER         "Frankie say `Relax'" 15-JAN-1985 11:31 To:	ED,HELENE,RAY,WILL' Subj:	Your favorite program and mine...   < From:	AMBER::CHABOT       "l s chabot"   15-JAN-1985 11:25   To:	DDB,PAMELA,VAXUUM::DYER - Subj:	pass along if you haven't seen this yet   B From:	AMBER::EIRIKUR      "Eirikur Hallgrimsson" 10-JAN-1985 11:30
 To:	SWTEAM5 Subj:	A day in the life... (Running a program on VMS)   , From:	REGINA::LOMICKAJ     10-JAN-1985 11:12 To:	AMBER::EIRIKUR> Subj:	If you haven't seen it yet, re-distribute to your group.  . From:	RANI::GLANTZ          9-JAN-1985 13:54  ? To:	KRYPTN::BLACK, REGINA::GLASSON, REGINA::LOMICKAJ, LEICHTERJ  Subj:	FIXED IN NEXT RELEASE     - 	    A Day in the Life of the Image Activator   1 	as recounted to Stanley Rabinowitz on 7-Jan-1985   6 MONITOR:	Good morning sir!  I am your command language; 		interpreter today.  That was a flawlessly executed LOGIN.  		How may I help you today?   ( USER:		Good morning to you too computer.2 		I think today I want to do some data retrieving.  < MONITOR:	A wonderful choice sir!  A finer day it couldn't be: 		for looking over your data.  How will you have it today?$ 		Sunny side up?  Once over lightly?  > USER:		I think I'll use DATATRIEVE.  Would you kindly activate 		DATATRIEVE please?  2 MONITOR:	Most certainly sir!  An excellent choice!' 		One moment while I image-activate it.   = MONITOR:	Oh, image activator: would you please image-activate 8 		that DTR32 image that I notice on SYS$SYSTEM?  My user$ 		desires to play with it a bit now.  8 IMAGE ACTIVATOR: No problem.  Shouldn't take but a jiff.  	 		<pause>    MONITOR:	Any problems?  D IMAGE ACTIVATOR: No sir, not a one.  It's just that I'm surprised to2 		see that DTR32 is composed of 21 image sections.2 		Quite an unusual number for a VMS utility.  Most4 		images only have 3 or 4 sections.  This one really7 		sets a record!  But no problem - I just \love/ to map 7 		in all these sections.  After all - that's my primary  		purpose in life.  	 		<pause>   A IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Well, that should do it.  They're all mapped in.   & MONITOR:	Then we can start her up now?  @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Well not quite.  I just noticed that this image4 		invokes some shared images.  Oh well, I guess I'll5 		have to go image-activate them too.  At least we'll 6 		only have to activate those images that this program 		really needs.   0 MONITOR:	How many shared images does it require?  = IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Oh mi gosh!  It references 15 shared images! & 		Another record!  I can't believe it! 		Oh well, here goes...   B IMAGE ACTIVATOR: The first one it wants is DTRSHR.  That should be 		an easy one.  	 		<pause>   ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Oh no! Not another one. That's two in one day! $ 		DTRSHR.EXE uses 20 image sections!  + MONITOR:	Have you enough room for them all?   J IMAGE ACTIVATOR: No sweat. This is a virtual memory machine. And this disk. 		I/O is real fast.  I'll have it in a minute.  	 		<pause>   @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: There. Now on to the other shared images.  Next3 		comes CDDSHR.  Guess it's important that we share  		all this data.   MONITOR:	Yup.  What next?   > IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Now we'll need a database manager, so I guess6 		we'll just have to go off and image-activate DBMSHR,! 		the database management system.    MONITOR:	Sounds reasonable.   & USER:		How's it coming there computer?  1 MONITOR:	No sweat.  It'll be just another moment.   / IMAGE ACTIVATOR: And now we'll activate RDBSHR.   A MONITOR:	But I thought you just brought in your database manager?   G IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Yes, but this one is the \relational/ database system. " 		It's a whole different ballgame.   MONITOR:	Well, hurry it along.  A IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Okay. Next comes RDMSHR, the relational database 
 		manager.  . MONITOR:	But how does that differ from RDBSHR?  B IMAGE ACTIVATOR: I don't know.  I just activate 'em.  They tell me 		to image-act and I image-act.   6 MONITOR:	Well, I hope that's it for database managers.  @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Not quite. There's still RDBBSHR.  This company6 		specializes in its excellent collection of managers.  ' MONITOR:	Great! I guess that's it then.   ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Not on your life! Do you think our user merely 3 		wants to look at relationships?  What if he wants  		to sort his data?    MONITOR:	Oh.  B IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Didn't think of that did you?  I guess we'll just$ 		have to go image-activate SORTSHR.   MONITOR:	I guess so.  0 USER:		But I don't plan to do any sorting today.* 		I just wanted to prepare a short report.  6 IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Sorry. SORTSHR comes with this image. 		It's a free option.    MONITOR:	What next?   ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Hmm.  Looks like a request to bring in COBRTL,  		the COBOL run-time library.   < MONITOR:	Why would they want that?  Is DATATRIEVE written in 		COBOL?  E IMAGE ACTIVATOR: No, but the COBOL run time library has many precious 8 		gems of useful routines that one might wish to call..., 		Guess, I'll just go image-activate it now.  < MONITOR:	Good thing you don't also need the FORTRAN run-time 		library too.  B IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Now you've done it! You've given me the evil eye.4 		Either that or I just got up out of the wrong side3 		of the bed this morning.  Here look at this: this - 		image is also requesting FORRTL and LIBRTL. ( 		OH! and now look: It wants MTHRTL too!  ; MONITOR:	You never know when our user might want to do some 1 		computation.  He might need to compute some arc , 		cosines you know.  Better safe than sorry.   USER:		What's taking so long?   > MONITOR:	(still trying to be pleasant) We're almost there now.. 		Shant be much longer.  After all, you want a! 		user-friendly system don't you?   < IMAGE ACTIVATOR: That's right.  I guess that's why I've been1 		instructed to image activate LBRSHR.  You never 4 		know when the user might request some on-line help4 		so we've got to have our librarian ready to answer 		his questions.  > MONITOR:	That's nice.  I'm sure our user will appreciate that.  @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: And oh yeah - we'll need SCRSHR too, the screen2 		package.  Only the best on \this/ system.  Can't. 		let our user make do without fancy graphics!  9 MONITOR:	A wonderful thought.  But will SCRSHR be enough?   @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: No. you're right of course.  We'll also have to0 		bring in EDTSHR.  SCRSHR is only the low level1 		graphics.  EDTSHR will really let our user edit  		his data in style.  6 USER:		But I wasn't planning to change the data today. 		Just one simple report...   ; MONITOR:	Keep your shirt on.  When this image finally comes $ 		up, it will really blow your mind.  ; MONITOR:	But image activator, will EDTSHR really be enough? ' 		Isn't the big thing these days forms?   ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Right you are monitor, baby.  Guess we'll need 2 		FDVSHR, the forms management system.  Won't take6 		but another moment. (sigh) I think that was the last 		one.  > MONITOR:	Great! Then I can report back that we're ready to go?  : IMAGE ACTIVATOR: One second. Let me make one last check...    MONITOR:	Never pays to be hasty.  ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Ah nuts! Some of these new images that we just - 		activated are requesting further attention. / 		It looks like they too want to activate other  		shared images.  > MONITOR:	Don't we have enough images?  That's been 16 already!  : IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Well, security is an important issue too.* 		Wouldn't want our user to lose any data.3 		Look here: CDDSHR wants us to bring in SECURESHR. 7 		Guess I'll just have to image-activate another one...   1 USER:		(getting impatient) What's taking so long?   ; MONITOR:	We're putting all the pieces together for you now.  		Shouldn't be much longer.   = USER:		Putting them together?  Doesn't it come all assembled?   A MONITOR:	Not to worry.  There's no extra charge for installation.   G IMAGE ACTIVATOR: There.  And now what?  Look at this: CDDSHR also wants 5 		us to activate LIBRTL, the common run-time library.   0 MONITOR:	But didn't you already activate LIBRTL?  9 IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Right on baby!  Let me just look around.   	 		<pause>   H IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Oh there it is.  We have it mapped into memory already., 		I guess I'll just throw this request away.  5 MONITOR:	Do you get many of these redundant requests?	  H IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Yeah, they happen all the time. Nothing to worry about.: 		You get used to it.  Look here, SCRSHR wants LIBRTL too;6 		and so does SORTSHR, and COBRTL, and FORRTL, and ...  $ MONITOR:	Well hurry it along please.  2 IMAGE ACTIVATOR: ... and FDVSHR and MTHRTL and ...6 		Oh and look at this duplicate request for LBRSHR and' 		RDMSHR and RDBBSHR and VMSRTL and ...1  : MONITOR:	VMSRTL?  I don't remember seeing that one before. 		What is it and who wants it?  F IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Oops, you're right.  I almost overlooked this request5 		by RDBSHR.  It's easy to overlook this one; it's soX1 		small.  Only contains a few transfer vectors...   2 MONITOR:	Guess it should be easy to activate then?  @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: On the contrary.  This one attempts to activate7 		the entire RTL!  Imagine that.  Oh well. That's life.G7 		Fortunately, I've already brought in most of the RTL. 1 		Let's see now, what else will we need?  Oh yes,s4 		BASRTL.  Can't imagine how we overlooked that one.   MONITOR:	Is that it then?e  C IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Yup. That's it.  She's all here.  You can go starti	 		her up!e  . USER:		(pounding on keyboard) Where's my data!  7 MONITOR:	Please use voice input sir! Those CTRL/T's areI/ 		MOST annoying.  They cause the most insidious	1 		asynchronous traps to interrupt what I'm tryingO( 		to do.  We're starting your image now.   USER:		It's about time.a  2 MONITOR:	There. How's that?  Lovely data isn't it?  + USER:		I wouldn't know.  Where's my prompt?   + MONITOR:	I don't know. Let me look into it.e  * MONITOR:	Control unit, where's his prompt?  = CONTROL UNIT:	We're executing instructions as fast as we can!t 		Oh my god! An exception!  ' MONITOR:	An exception! Is that serious?   D CONTROL UNIT:	My mistake; it's not a hardware exception, it's merely: 		a software exception.  Looks like the program signalled.   MONITOR:	Why'd it do that?  B CONTROL UNIT:	Well, this program is naturally user friendly, so it1 		wants to start up by printing a welcome messagem 		on the terminal.  # MONITOR:	So why doesn't it do that?G  9 CONTROL UNIT:	Well the message is in a message file, sir.    MONITOR:	Well get it!g  = CONTROL UNIT:	That's what we're trying to do.  You'll have to 2 		check with the system message handling facility.  		It takes care of those things.  ; SYSTEM:		Ah, I have the message request now.  I'll have theG 		message in a moment.  ! MONITOR:	Well, how do you get it?	  < SYSTEM:		No sweat, we'll just image activate the appropriate 		message section.  @ IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Oh no.  I thought I had a deserved rest coming.  ) SYSTEM:		Sorry, just a little bit longer.t   USER:		WHERE'S MY PROMPT!!!!!   5 MONITOR:	Keep your pants on.  Just be glad you're not & 		trying to activate any subprocesses.  ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Okay, one last time.  Which message section do	 		you need activated?   8 SYSTEM:		I'm not sure.  Let's try DBMMSG. DBMSHR alerted 		us to this one.e  E IMAGE ACTIVATOR: (struggling) Okay. There it is. I've image-activatedr	 		DBMMSG.h  ; SYSTEM:		Sorry. It wasn't in that one. Try CDDSHR's messagew( 		section, CDDEXC.  Maybe it's in there.    IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Okay. (grumble)  4 SYSTEM:		Nope. It wasn't there either.  Try RDMSMSG.  D IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Look. I'm getting tired of this.  Couldn't you just2 		give me the complete list of message sections to0 		activate?  I'll keep bringing them in until we/ 		find that damn message.  Exactly what messagen 		are we looking for?   7 SYSTEM:		Not sure yet, all I have is a number, but it'sd6 		probably something like "Welcome to VAX DATATRIEVE".   IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Well...   SYSTEM:		Well what?O  1 IMAGE ACTIVATOR: That list of message sections...a  D SYSTEM:		Oh yeah.  Well RDBSHR wants RDBMSGS, and not to be outdone,: 		RDBBSHR wants RDBBMSGS, not to be confused with RDBMSGS,8 		and DTRSHR wants DTRMSGS, and SORTSHR wants SHRIMGMSG,< 		and lots of other guys are asking for SHRIMGMSG also - but; 		I'm too smart for them.  I'll just get it once and no onel  		will ever know the difference.   IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Working...   E SYSTEM:		And don't forget FDVMSG.  The message might be in there too.    MONITOR:	OH NO!t   SYSTEM:		What is it?  # IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Are you all right?I   MONITOR:	An interrupt!   IMAGE ACTIVATOR: An interrupt?  * MONITOR:	That's what I said, an interrupt.* 		Image activator: stop what you're doing.  > IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Why?  Just when I was getting the hang of it.  # MONITOR:	The user has typed CTRL/Y.:  ? IMAGE ACTIVATOR: Okay, everything has been suspended.  Can I goO 		to sleep now?   ; MONITOR:	No, you better stick around in case the user wantsR9 		to continue.  And notify the exit routines to stand by.t: 		And the rundown procedures.  Also, I need moral support.6 		Maybe if I flash a dollar sign in front of his eyes, 		he'll stop looking so angry.  2 USER:		Computer, I'm really getting tired of this.    MONITOR:	But we were so close...   USER:		A likely story.  , MONITOR:	Well what can I do for you instead?  4 USER:		I still want my report.  Let's try some other 		way of retrieving my data.  : MONITOR:	A wonderful idea sir!  A finer day it couldn't be: 		for looking over your data.  How will you have it today?$ 		Sunny side up?  Once over lightly?   USER:		How about SCRAMBLED?Y  : MONITOR:	No problem sir.  Wait one moment while I activate 		ENCRYPTSHR...e  . the curtain falls as the dance begins again...    
 	The players:    	DTR32		VAX DTR V3.1 	DTRSHR		VAX DTR V3.1t 	CDDSHR		CDD T3.1-0s 	DBMSHR		VAX DBMS V2.2-3 	RDBSHR		03-06 	RDMSHR		Rdb/VMS T1.1 ' 	RDBBSHR		03-05		also known as RDBBSTUBy 	SORTSHR		V04-000A 	COBRTL		V04-000 	FORRTL		V04-000 	LIBRTL		V04-000 	MTHRTL		V04-000 	FDVSHR		FMS V2.2o 	LBRSHR		V04-000 	SCRSHR		V04-000 	EDTSHR		V04-000 	SECURESHR	V04-000 	VMSRTL		V04-000 	BASRTL		V04-000 	DTRMSGS		03-05s 	CDDEXC		CDD T3.1-0a 	DBMMSG		03-03 	RDMSMSG		03-05  	RDBMSGS		03-06  	RDBBMSGS	03-05: 	SHRIMGMSG	V04-000 	FDVMSG		V2.1-003h  > 	for a grand total of 27 shared images and 153 image sections.    Posted:	Tue 8-Jan-1985 14:48 EST To:	ROGER_W,@STAFF    Posted:	Tue 8-Jan-1985 16:41 EST To:	@FRIENDS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                