User's Guide

GETDRIVE

Get and open a tape drive

Function:

Get and open a tape drive. The specified comment is sent to the operators console and the operator replies with the drive name that the tape is mounted on and the tape id. The drive name and tape id are returned in the TAE variables DRIVE and TAPEID.

Parameters:

COMMENT
Description of tape. A text string sent to the operator's terminal. COMMENT consists of two pieces of information:

  1.  Tape library storage location ID number 
  2.  Short description of the tape

The operator uses this text to find the tape to be mounted; therefore, COMMENT should be as descriptive as possible. Including both the ID number and a short description gives the operator a double check to ensure that the correct tape is mounted.

SKIPNUM(0)
Number of files to skip. The number of files on tape to skip.

TAPEDENS(&$TPDENS)
Tape density. The density of the tape in bytes per inch. The default is defined by the TAE global $TPDENS and the list of valid densities are defined by the TAE global $TPVAL. TAPEDENS will be ignored when reading or updating an existing tape.

ACCOPT(READ)
Access option. The type of access that the tape is to be opened for.

  = READ:   Open tape for read
  = WRITE:  Open tape for write
  = UPDATE: Open tape for update

REWOPT(REWIND)
Rewind option. Option to rewind the tape on open or leave the tape at the current position.

  = REWIND:  Rewind the tape
  = NOREW:   Don't rewind the
             tape

DRIVE
Tape drive. The drive name that the operator mounted the tape on is returned in the TAE variable defined by this parameter.

TAPEID
Tape ID. The tape ID of the mounted tape is returned in the TAE variable defined by this parameter.

Examples:

  1. LAS> getdrive comment="please mount tape mm1210" drive=drive tapeid=tapeid

    The operator is requested to mount tape MM1210. The name of the drive that the tape was mounted on and the tape id are returned in the TAE variables DRIVE and TAPEID.

  2. LAS> getdrive comment="please mount tape 10728" skipnum=2 tapedens=6250 rewopt=norew accopt=write drive=drive tapeid=tapeid

    The operator is requested to mount tape 10728. The tape is mounted with a density of 6250 bpi for write access and two files on tape are skipped. The name of the drive that the tape was mounted on and the tape id are returned in the TAE variables DRIVE and TAPEID.

Description/Algorithm:

The operator is requested to mount a tape described by COMMENT. The tape is mounted with the desired tape density and access and the specified number of files are skipped. The name of the drive that the tape was mounted on and the tape id are returned in TAE variables.

Nonfatal Error Messages:

    None.

Fatal Error Messages:

  1. [getdrive-fatal] Fatal error encountered

    A fatal error was encountered during processing. Processing is terminated. The error message that is displayed immediately preceding this message is the specific error that was encountered.

User Notes:

  1. TAPEDENS will be ignored when reading or updating an existing tape.

  2. GETDRIVE is usually run from a procedure PDF for processing multiple files to or from a tape.

  3. RELDRIVE must be run before exiting TAE to release the tape drive for other users.