Copyright 1995-2016 by Kevin G. Barkes

All rights reserved. This article may be duplicated or
redistributed provided no alterations of any kind are
made to this file.

This edition of DCL Dialogue is sponsored by Networking
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for OpenVMS systems. Contact our website
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raise productivity! Be sure to mention DCL Dialogue!


DCL DIALOGUE

Loose Ends

Origially published December, 1995

By Kevin G. Barkes


During December, I always try to clean off my desk and tie
up loose ends so that I can start the new year with a
metaphorical clean slate. You'll note I said "try"... last
year went so well I mailed my 1995 KGB calendars
in March.

But I shan't give up. Let's take a deep breath and dive
right in:

FREE PC?

I can't get Digital to take my money.

More accurately, I can't get Digital Financial Services
(actually GE Leasing) to take any action on consummating a
recent leasing deal.

As reported in last month's stirring episode, I obtained a
loaded Intel machine from Digital @ PCs Compleat, minus a
few parts and the accompanying paperwork from the leasing
company, Digital Financial Services.

PCs Compleat was right on the stick, and promptly shipped
the missing items. I should also note that the machine was
configured flawlessly and ran perfectly out of the box.

The remaining problem? I can't get Digital Leasing to send
me the paperwork on the deal. Whenever I call, the efficient
and courteous Digital Leasing person promises to get back to
me the next day. But she never does.

I've had the machine for more than a month now, and the last
time I rattled Digital Leasing's chain was about a week ago.
Sooner or later PCs Compleat is going to want to get paid
and Digital Leasing will call me to ask why I haven't sent
in the equipment acceptance letter. But in the meantime, I'm
having fun playing with a new machine which so far has cost
me nothing. Who knows? Maybe I've fallen between the cracks,
and my pitifully small lease is too tiny to warrant the
attention of mighty Digital Leasing.

I just hope getting service isn't as difficult.

STUPID DCL TRICK

If you're tired of the DECterm windows on your workstation
sporting such dull appellations as "DECterm 1", "DECterm 2",
etc., this little bit of code will hit the spot. It allows
you to put meaningful text into the DECterm banner line and
the associated icon in the icon box:

$! Define escape character:
$ ESCAPE[0,8] = 27
$! To change the icon name:
$ write sys$output escape,"]2L;","Icon Text Here",escape,"\"
$! To change the banner name:
$ write sys$output escape,"]21;","Banner Here",escape,"\"

INTO THE SUNSET:

This is the last DCL Dialogue column. I've had a marvelous
run, since August of 1986, and the experience has been very
rewarding and extremely satisfying. But due to personal
reasons, I have to pack it in. My sincere thanks to Cardinal
Business Media and especially its predecessor, Professional
Press, for giving me space every month and the opportunity
to speak my mind without restraint.

But before I go, here are a few last comments and
observations:

-The computer industry has been unduly influenced by the
trade press, and vice versa. One brain-dead article by an
intern working for ComputerWorld or InfoWorld can be picked
up by the Wall Street Journal, given undue credence, and
wreak havoc for months. Take what you read with a grain of
salt. As Erwin Knoll said, "Everything you read in the
newspapers is absolutely true, except for that rare story of
which you happen to have first-hand knowledge."

-Don't throw away your VAX system just because everyone else
is platform jumping. Take a realistic look at your costs and
if someone presents you with figures for migrating, triple
the migration cost and knock maybe 10 percent off your
present maintenance figures.

-I don't believe in wholesale disk defragmentation. In those
situations where fragmentation is a problem, then get a
defragger. Otherwise, save the money and buy yourself a good
doc set.

-Speaking of documentation, always get paper. Online doc is
okay, but when you've accidentally screwed up some arcane
sysgen parameter and you can't get the system to boot, that
shiny CD-ROM ain't nothing more than a frisbee.

-The Internet is greatly overrated, and the World Wide Web
is probably the greatest time sink ever invented. When I
need fast answers, I turn to a commercial service like
CompuServe. You get what you pay for. (Comment added
4/12/99: Sadly, there are no more places like the CompuServe
VAX forum. One CompuServe abandoned its text-based
interface, the subscribers fled and, well, you know the
rest. Otherwise, I stand behind my original statements.)

-There is no reason why Hollywood can't make a good
computer-oriented film. I've been watching Max Headroom
reruns on the SciFi Channel for the past few weeks, and they
did a pretty decent job at it. Poor Max was just about a
decade ahead of his time.

-Yes, I know the computer effects on Max Headroom and a
number of other shows were done with Amigas. Get over it,
will you?

-If you can, start your own business and work for yourself.
Job security is an illusion and corporate loyalty an
oxymoron. Look at Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert. Pac
Bell axed him a few months ago, and gave not one whit about
the accompanying bad press.

-Never install version 1 of anything; read/new resets your
mail count to 0; never use /NOCRC on backups; and remember
UICs are octal.

It's been real.

*******************

Kevin G. Barkes is an independent consultant who wishes a
happy holiday season and new year to all. Kevin lurks on
comp.os.vms and can be reached at kgbarkes@gmail.com.