1 SYSMSG

The NSWC utility SYSMSG is used to read a SYSTEM MESSAGE created by the SGS
Group.  These messages are used to communicate information about temporary
events in the system's operation which may affect you.  Examples are impend-
ing system downages, unavailability of a printer or other peripheral, etc.

Information of more permanent nature is usually communicated via MAIL messages
to ALL_USERS.

Whenever you interactively login, the SYSMSG utility automatically runs.  If
there is no current system message, a message indicating so will be displayed.

When the message is longer than one screen, SYSMSG pauses after each screen.
You can enter a CARRIAGE RETURN to continue, or the UP-ARROW to back up to
a previous screenfull of message.  You can also enter CONTROL/W to refresh
the screen.

At the end of the message, SYSMSG also pauses.  You can enter a CARRIAGE
RETURN to continue the login process, or UP-ARROW or CONTROL/W.

If you like, you can also configure SYSMSG so that once you read a message,
the message is not repeated on subsequent logins.  To do this:

	1. Make sure you have read the current system message

	2. Create a file  SYS$LOGIN:SYSMSG.CONTROL.  This file can be empty.

From this point on, when SYSMSG executed at login time pauses at the end of
the message, you will have an additional option:  if you enter the PF1 key
(also known as the GOLD key) then the message will not be displayed on future
logins until the message changes.  One exception:  if the message's author
marks a message as being "critical", then you will not be given the option
of entering GOLD to suppress the message.
!
2 System Manager Information
!
The system message is the file HERE:SYSMSG.CURRENT.  Lines
should not be longer than 79 characters.

Any lines may contain comments, which are not displayed.  The portion of a
line including and following the characters "!!" is a comment.  If the
string "!!" occurs in columns 1-2, then that entire line is not displayed
(e.g. no blank line appears there).

If a line is exactly four characters and contains the exact characters
"Exit" (case-sensitive), then this line and all following lines will be
ignored.  This allows the storage of notes, or past or future messages
in the file.

If any line contains the characters "CRITICAL" (case-sensitive), then the
message is considered critical, and users cannot suppress it by entering PF1
or GOLD.

Messages are suppressed if the user has a file SYS$LOGIN:SYSMSG.CONTROL and
the modification date on this file is newer than the modification date of
the system message file.
