Parameter

The DEFINE command defines a new parameter in the parameter file.

 DEF[INE] parm =  M, "text" [,"desc"]
 DEF[INE] parm =  C, "def"  [,"desc"]
 DEF[INE] parm =  N, rmin, rmax, rdef [,"desc"]

 parm    - up to 8 character parameter name
 M,C,N   - parameter type (Message, Character, Numeric)
 "text"  - up to 64 character text message
 "desc"  - optional 32 character prompt/descriptor
 "def"   - zero to twelve character default string
 rmin    - minimum real value
 rmax    - maximum real value
 rdef    - default real value

If the parameter already exists, it will be assigned the new definition. Note that this changes the value of the parameter back to the assigned default.

The PACPRM.EAS procedure is normally used to build new PRM.PRM files, and consists of a group of procedures in the F$PCIHOME()/pro directory such as DEFKERNE.EAS. These procedure contain a DEFINE statement for each parameter in the PRM.PRM file.

Example:

 DEFINE FILE = C, "", "Database File Name"
 DEFINE DBIC = N,-99999,99999,100000,"Database Input Channel List"