HELP DELETE — VMS 5.0
The DELETE commands perform the following functions:
o Delete one or more files from a mass storage disk volume (see
File).
o Delete queue characteristic definitions established by the
DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command (see /CHARACTERISTIC).
o Delete one or more entries from a printer or batch job queue (see
/ENTRY).
o Delete form definitions established by the DEFINE/FORM command
(see /FORM).
o Delete records from the breakin database (see /INTRUSION_RECORD).
o Delete key definitions established by the DEFINE/KEY command (see
/KEY).
o Delete a specific print or batch queue and all the jobs the queue
contains (see /QUEUE).
o Delete symbol definitions from a local or global symbol table
(see /SYMBOL).
Additional information available:
/CHARACTERISTIC/ENTRY/FORM/INTRUSION_RECORD/KEY
/QUEUE/SYMBOL
File
Deletes one or more files from a mass storage disk volume.
Format:
DELETE file-spec[,...]
Additional information available:
ParametersCommand QualifiersExamples
Parameters
file-spec[,...] Specifies the names of one or more files to be deleted from a mass storage disk volume. The first file specification must contain an explicit or default directory specification plus a file name, a file type, and a version number; subsequent file specifications must contain a version number. You can use wildcard characters in any of the file specification fields. If you omit the directory specification or device name, the current default device and directory are assumed. A semicolon followed by no file version number, by a version number of 0, or by one or more spaces in the version number of a file specification results in the deletion of the latest version of the file. To delete more than one file, separate the file specifications with commas or plus signs.
Command Qualifiers
Additional information available:
/BACKUP/BEFORE/BY_OWNER/CONFIRM/CREATED/ERASE
/EXCLUDE/EXPIRED/LOG/MODIFIED/SINCE
/BACKUP
/BACKUP Selects files according to the dates of their most recent backup. This qualifier is relevant only when used with the /BEFORE or /SINCE qualifier. Use of the /BACKUP qualifier is incompatible with /CREATED, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED. /CREATED is the default.
/BEFORE
/BEFORE[=time] Selects only those files that are dated before the specified time. You can specify either an absolute time or a combination of absolute and delta times. You can also use the keywords TODAY, TOMORROW, and YESTERDAY. If no time is specified, TODAY is assumed.
/BY_OWNER
/BY_OWNER[=uic] Selects one or more files only if their owner user identification code (UIC) matches the specified owner UIC. If the /BY_OWNER qualifier is specified without a UIC, the UIC of the current process is assumed.
/CONFIRM
/CONFIRM
/NOCONFIRM
Controls whether a request is issued before each individual DELETE
operation to confirm that the operation should be performed on that
file.
When the system issues the prompt, you can issue any of the
following responses:
YES NO QUIT
TRUE FALSE <CTRL/Z>
1 0 ALL
<RET>
You can use any combination of upper- and lowercase letters for word
responses. Word responses can be abbreviated to one or more letters
(for example, T, TR, or TRU for TRUE). Affirmative answers are YES,
TRUE, and 1. Negative answers are NO, FALSE, 0, and <RET>. QUIT or
CTRL/Z indicates that you want to stop processing the command at
that point. When you respond with ALL, the command continues to
process, but no further prompts are given. If you type a response
other than one of those in the list, the prompt will be reissued.
/CREATED
/CREATED Selects files based on their dates of creation. This qualifier is relevant only when used with the /BEFORE or /SINCE qualifier. Use of the /CREATED qualifier is incompatible with /BACKUP, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED. /CREATED is the default.
/ERASE
/ERASE /NOERASE When you simply delete a file, the area in which the file was stored is returned to the system for future use. The data that was stored in that location still exists in the system until new data is written over it. With the /ERASE qualifier, the storage location is overwritten with a system specified pattern so that the data no longer exists. By default, no erasing is done to the storage location when a file is deleted.
/EXCLUDE
/EXCLUDE=(file-spec[,...]) Any files that match the listed file specification(s) are excluded from the DELETE operation. If you specify only one file, you can omit the parentheses. The file specification can contain a directory specification, but you cannot include the device in the file specification(s) you supply with the /EXCLUDE qualifier. Wildcard characters are supported for file specifications. However, you cannot use relative version numbers to exclude a specific version.
/EXPIRED
/EXPIRED Selects files according to the dates on which they will expire. This qualifier is relevant only when used with the /BEFORE or /SINCE qualifier. Use of the /EXPIRED qualifier is incompatible with /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /MODIFIED. /CREATED is the default.
/LOG
/LOG /NOLOG Controls whether the DELETE command displays the file specification of each file after its deletion. By default, the DELETE command does not display the names of files after it deletes them.
/MODIFIED
/MODIFIED Selects files according to the dates on which they were last modified. This qualifier is relevant only when used with the /BEFORE or /SINCE qualifier. Use of the /MODIFIED qualifier is incompatible with /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /EXPIRED. /CREATED is the default.
/SINCE
/SINCE[=time] Selects only those files that are dated after the specified time. You can specify either an absolute time or a combination of absolute and delta times. You can also use the keywords TODAY, TOMORROW, and YESTERDAY. If no time is specified, TODAY is assumed.
Examples
1. $ DELETE COMMON.SUM;2
The DELETE command deletes the file COMMON.SUM;2 from the current
default disk and directory.
2. $ DELETE *.OLD;*
The DELETE command deletes all versions of files with file type OLD
from the default disk directory.
3. $ DELETE/CONFIRM/SINCE=TODAY [MALCOLM.TESTFILES]*.OBJ;*
DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]AVERAG.OBJ;1, delete? [N]:Y
DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;4, delete? [N]:N
DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;3, delete? [N]:N
DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;2, delete? [N]:N
DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]WEATHER.OBJ;3, delete? [N]:Y
The DELETE command examines all versions of files with file type OBJ
in the subdirectory [MALCOLM.TESTFILES], and locates those that were
created or modified today. Before deleting each file, it requests
confirmation that the file should be deleted. The default
response---N---is given in square brackets.
4. $ DELETE DALLAS"THOMAS SECRET"::DISK0:[000,000]DECODE.LIS;1
This DELETE command deletes the file DECODE.LIS;1 from the directory
[000,000] on device DISK0 at remote node DALLAS. The user name and
password follow the remote node name.
/CHARACTERISTIC
Deletes the definition of a queue characteristic that was previously
established with the DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command. The
/CHARACTERISTIC qualifier is required.
Format:
DELETE/CHARACTERISTIC characteristic-name
Additional information available:
Parameters
characteristic-name Specifies the name that was assigned to the characteristic by a DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command.
/ENTRY
Deletes one or more job entries from a queue. The /ENTRY qualifier
is required.
Format:
DELETE/ENTRY=(entry-number[,...]) queue-name[:]
Additional information available:
Parameters
entry-number[,...] Specifies the entry number of the job to be deleted from the queue. The /ENTRY qualifier requires at least one entry-number parameter. The parameter specifies the entry number(s) of one or more jobs to be deleted from a single printer or batch queue. If you specify only one entry number, you can omit the parentheses. queue-name[:] Specifies the name of the queue where the job(s) are located. The queue name can refer either to the queue to which the job was submitted or to the queue where the job is executing.
Examples
1. $ PRINT/HOLD ALPHA.TXT
Job ALPHA (queue SYS$PRINT, entry 110) holding
.
.
.
$ DELETE/ENTRY=110 SYS$PRINT
The PRINT command queues a copy of the file ALPHA.TXT in a HOLD
status, to defer its printing until later. The system displays the
job name, entry number, name of the queue in which the job was
entered, and the status. Later, the DELETE/ENTRY command requests
that the entry be deleted from the queue SYS$PRINT.
2. $ PRINT CHAPTER8.MEM
Job CHAPTER8 (queue SYS$PRINT, entry 25) pending on queue
LPA0
.
.
.
$ SHOW QUEUE SYS$PRINT
Printer queue SYS$PRINT, on LPA0:
Jobname Username Entry Blocks Status
------- -------- ----- ------ ------
CHAPTER7 SMITH 24 274 Pending
CHAPTER8 SMITH 25 976 Pending
$ DELETE/ENTRY=25 SYS$PRINT
The PRINT command submits the file CHAPTER8.MEM to the generic
printer queue SYS$PRINT. Later, user Smith finds he needs to edit
the file again before printing it. Using the SHOW QUEUE command, he
verifies that the job is still pending and that the entry number for
the job is 25. Then he issues the DELETE/ENTRY command to delete
the job from the queue.
/FORM
Deletes the definition of a form type for printer or terminal queues
that was previously established with the DEFINE/FORM command. The
/FORM qualifier is required.
Format:
DELETE/FORM form-name
Additional information available:
Parameters
form-name Specifies the name that was assigned to the form by a DEFINE/FORM command.
/INTRUSION_RECORD
Removes an entry from the breakin database.
Format:
DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD source
Additional information available:
Parameters
source
Entry to be removed from the breakin database.
Examples
1. $ DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD TTC2: This command removes all intrusion records generated by the breakin attempts on TTC2. No username is specified because none of the login failures occurred for valid users. 2. $ DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD GALAXY::HAMMER This command removes all intrusion entries generated from node GALAXY for user HAMMER.
/KEY
Deletes key definitions that have been established by the DEFINE/KEY
command. The /KEY qualifier is required.
Format:
DELETE/KEY [key-name]
Additional information available:
ParametersCommand QualifiersExamples
Parameters
key-name Specifies the name of the key whose definition you want to delete.
Command Qualifiers
Additional information available:
/ALL
/ALL Specifies that all key definitions in the specified state be deleted. If you use the /ALL qualifier, do not specify a key name. If no state is specified, all key definitions in the current state are deleted. Use the /STATE qualifier to specify one or more states.
/LOG
/LOG /NOLOG Controls whether messages are displayed indicating that the specified key definitions have been deleted. The messages are displayed by default.
/STATE
/STATE=(state-name[,...]) /NOSTATE Specifies the name(s) of state(s) for which the specified key definition(s) are to be deleted. If you specify only one state name, you can omit the parentheses. State names can be any appropriate alphanumeric string. If you omit the /STATE qualifier or use /NOSTATE, key definitions in the current state are deleted.
Examples
1. $ DEFINE/KEY PF3 "SHOW TIME" /TERMINATE
%DCL-I-DEFKEY, DEFAULT key PF3 has been defined
(<PF3>)
$ SHOW TIME
15-APR-1984 14:43:59
.
.
.
$ DELETE/KEY PF3
%DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF3 has been deleted
(<PF3>)
$
The DEFINE/KEY command defines the PF3 key on the keypad to perform
the SHOW TIME command. Later, you use the DELETE/KEY command so
that the PF3 key no longer has a definition. Now when you press
that key, only the system prompt appears.
2. $ DELETE/KEY/ALL
%DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF1 has been deleted
%DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF2 has been deleted
%DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF3 has been deleted
%DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF4 has been deleted
$
This example assumes that you had defined keys PF1 through PF4 in
the default state. The DELETE/KEY command deletes all key
definitions in the current state, which is the default state.
/QUEUE
Deletes the specified queue. The /QUEUE qualifier is required.
Format:
DELETE/QUEUE queue-name[:]
Additional information available:
Parameters
queue-name[:] Specifies the name of the queue to be deleted.
Examples
1. $ INITIALIZE/QUEUE/DEFAULT=FLAG/START LPA0
.
.
.
$ STOP/QUEUE/NEXT LPA0
$ DELETE/QUEUE LPA0
The first command initializes and starts the printer queue LPA0.
Later, when you decide to delete that queue, first stop the queue
with the STOP/QUEUE/NEXT command. Then delete the queue by issuing
the DELETE/QUEUE command.
/SYMBOL
Deletes a symbol definition from a local or global symbol table or
deletes all symbol definitions in a symbol table. The /SYMBOL
qualifier is required.
Format:
DELETE/SYMBOL [symbol-name]
Additional information available:
ParametersCommand QualifiersExamples
Parameters
symbol-name Specifies the name of the symbol to be deleted. Symbol names can have from 1 to 255 characters. By default, the DELETE/SYMBOL command assumes that the symbol is in the local symbol table for the current command procedure. The symbol-name parameter is required unless /ALL is specified.
Command Qualifiers
Additional information available:
/ALL
/ALL Specifies that all symbol names in the specified symbol table be deleted. If you do not specify either /LOCAL or /GLOBAL, all symbols defined at the current command level are deleted.
/GLOBAL
/GLOBAL Indicates that the symbol name is to be deleted from the global symbol table of the current process.
/LOCAL
/LOCAL Indicates that the symbol name is to be deleted from the local symbol table of the current command level. The default is /LOCAL.
/LOG
/LOG Indicates that an informational message, listing the symbol(s) being deleted, be displayed. By default, no informational messages are displayed.
Examples
1. $ DELETE/SYMBOL/ALL
The DELETE/SYMBOL command deletes all symbol definitions at the
current command level.
2. $ DELETE/SYMBOL/LOG FOO
%DCL-I-DELSYM, LOCAL symbol FOO has been deleted
The DELETE/SYMBOL command deletes the symbol FOO from the local
symbol table for the current process. In addition, the /LOG
qualifier causes an informational message, listing the symbol being
deleted, to be displayed.
3. $ DELETE/SYMBOL/GLOBAL PDEL
The DELETE/SYMBOL command deletes the symbol named PDEL from the
global symbol table for the current process.