tcl.verb.classes

divide TCL commands into three different categories according to how they are invoked:

'TCL1' verbs typically require only the verb and a <return>. Most verbs, however, allow options. The common denominator to TCL1 verbs is that they do not affect files, with the exception of the 'create-file', 'clear- file', 'steal-file', 'move-file', 'rename-file' and 'delete-file' verbs.

Some examples of TCL1 verbs include 'who', 'time' and 'ovf'.

'TCL2' verbs require a filename, and usually a list of one or more item-ids. The only time that they do not require a list of item-ids is when a list is active. 'Active lists' are created by verbs such as 'select', 'sselect', 'qselect', and 'get-list'.

Examples of TCL2 verbs:

u entity 1000

In this example, an item called '100' is requested from the file called 'entity'.

u entity 1000 1001 1002

This example requests multiple items from the file. In TCL2 commands, each item-id is separated from the next by a space.

u entity *

In TCL2 commands, '*' (asterisk) is a special symbol used to request 'all' items in a file.

:select entity = '100]'
1 items selected.
:u entity<return>

In this final form, a select list is built with the 'select' verb. Note that the item-id list does not have to be specified.

Access verbs: The third, and final class of verbs are Access verbs.

These are, by far, the most sophisticated of all verbs and require at minimum a verb and a filename.

Examples of Access commands:

sort customers by name name address csz lptr

sselect invoices with no payment.amount by date

sselect orders by ship.date