Python for OpenVMS
Welcome to the Python programming language running on the OpenVMS
operating system.
This is the 'General Manual'.
It contains all sorts of information. Other documentation is in
the 'Installation Manual',
the 'Reference Manual' and
the 'Demoes Manual'.
For information about Python, please refer to its homepage at:
Information about the OpenVMS operating system can be found at:
Please note:
This text is/was originally written in HTML format so it can be viewed
with a browser. The '.HTML' files are also converted by a tool named
HTML2RNO to '.RNO' files.
Those are then processed by the RUNOFF text-formatter
(which comes with the OpenVMS operating system) to produce '.MEM' or '.LNI'
files which can be printed. So, some things may look strange when this
documentation is viewed with a browser or read as a text file, but now
you know why.
Python for OpenVMS has been configured with as much builtin modules as possible.
Here is a list as of 28-FEB-2000:
>>> print sys.builtin_module_names
('__builtin__', '__main__', 'array', 'audioop', 'binascii', 'cPickle',
'cStringIO', 'cmath', 'errno', 'imageop', 'imp', 'marshal', 'math', 'md5',
'new', 'operator', 'parser', 'pcre', 'posix',
'pyvms',
'regex', 'rgbimg', 'rotor', 'select', 'sha', 'signal', 'socket', 'soundex',
'strop', 'struct', 'sys', 'time', 'timing',
'vms_brkdef',
'vms_ciadef',
'vms_dcdef',
'vms_dmtdef',
'vms_dvidef',
'vms_fabdef',
'vms_fscndef',
'vms_initdef',
'vms_jpidef',
'vms_kgbdef',
'vms_lbr',
'vms_lckdef',
'vms_lib',
'vms_libdtdef',
'vms_lnmdef',
'vms_mail',
'vms_maildef',
'vms_mntdef',
'vms_namdef',
'vms_ossdef',
'vms_prcdef',
'vms_prvdef',
'vms_pscandef',
'vms_quidef',
'vms_rabdef',
'vms_rsdmdef',
'vms_sjcdef',
'vms_smg',
'vms_smgdef',
'vms_statedef',
'vms_sys',
'vms_trmdef',
'vms_uaidef',
'vms_xaballdef',
'vms_xabfhcdef',
'vms_xabitmdef',
'vms_xabkeydef',
'vms_xabprodef')
Beginning with version 1.5.2-V005 the 'vms_lbr' and the
'vms_mail' modules are no longer enabled by default - see
'configuration: builtin modules' for how
to re-enable them if wanted.
Beginning with version 1.5.2-V007 the 'vms_smg' module exists,
but is not enabled by default.
Please note:
None of the nonVMS-related modules have been thoroughly tested.
Python for OpenVMS consists of the following elements:
- the original Python distribution stored in the directory tree
[PYTHON.PYTHON-1_5_2...]
- some files that have been changed for OpenVMS
e.g. [.MODULES]TIMEMODULE.C
- files that implement the interfaces to OpenVMS routines
(e.g. VMS_LIB.C). Take a look in the
'reference manual' under
'modules'.
- additional files that implement / provide enhanced functionality that
is not available on (some versions of) OpenVMS (e.g. utime() )
- a number of data files that describe OpenVMS version-related information,
item codes, bitmasks and constants (VMSD*.DAT)
- command procedures to ease translation (e. g. VMSDEF related data files)
and compilation
- examples and documentation
I have tried to keep the original directory tree unchanged as much as possible.
Additional files are located in the [.VMS...] sub-tree.
No changes have been sent back to have them included into the original source.
Version numbers / file names
The
current
release
of Python for OpenVMS is version
1.5.2-V007.
The filename layout is as follows:
- PYTHON1_5_2.ZIP
- This is the original
Python distribution,
version 1.5.2, just in a re-packaged file.
Note that the
Python documentation
is separate.
- PYTHON-1_5_2-V007typ.ZIP
- An OpenVMS specific file. That looks like:
- 1_5_2
- based on Python version 1.5.2
- V007
- OpenVMS port - version 7, full kit. It will be incremented for each new
release. If the Python version increments (e.g. to 1.5.3) then the version
number of the next OpenVMS port will reset to V001 again.
An update kit's version looks like:
- V001U4
- a kit that contains updates from version 001 (including 002 and 003)
to 004.
- typ
- Type of the kit:
- SRC
- The
Python for OpenVMS source kit.
Documentation is embedded in HTML format. You can first build Python and
then convert the HTML to other formats - see
the page
'installing and building'
in the 'Installation Manual'.
- DOC
- This file contains pre-build
Python for OpenVMS documentation.
A documentation kit (the ".TLB" file) is always complete.
- OBJ_arch
- This file contains
precompiled objects code.
arch can be 'ALPHA' or 'VAX'.
Download sources are listed in the
Installation Manual.
As of 05-AUG-2000 'Python for OpenVMS' is still a 'hobby' project of mine
(Uwe Zessin) which I do for my own pleasure in my spare time.
(go to: table of contents,
index,
prev: The Python for OpenVMS copyright,
next: access to the Python for OpenVMS documentation
)
05-AUG-2000 ZE.