/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb Symbol Assign, String Assign, Examples  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

   1.   $ TIME := SHOW TIME
        $ TIME
          15-APR-1987 11:55:44

   The symbol TIME is equated to the command string SHOW TIME.  Because
   the  symbol  name appears as the first word in a command string, the
   command interpreter automatically substitutes  it  with  its  string
   value and executes the command SHOW TIME.

   2.   $ STAT := $DBA1:[CRAMER]STAT
        $ STAT

   This example shows how to define STAT as  a  foreign  command.   The
   symbol  STAT  is  equated to a string that begins with a dollar sign
   followed by a file specification.  The command  interpreter  assumes
   that the file specification is that of an executable image, that is,
   a file with a file type of EXE.   Thus,  the  symbol  STAT  in  this
   example becomes a synonym for the command:

        $ RUN DBA1:[CRAMER]STAT.EXE

   When you subsequently type STAT, the  command  interpreter  executes
   the image.

   3.   $ A = "this is a big     space."
        $ SHOW SYMBOL A
          A = "this is a big     space."
        $ B := 'A'
        $ SHOW SYMBOL B
          B = "THIS IS A BIG SPACE."

   This example compares  the  assignment  and  the  string  assignment
   statements.  The symbol A is defined using the assignment statement,
   so lowercase letters and multiple spaces are retained.  The symbol B
   is  defined  using  the  string assignment statement.  Note that the
   apostrophes are required;  otherwise, the symbol name B  would  have
   been  equated  to  the  literal  string A.  However, when symbol A's
   value is  assigned  to  symbol  B,  the  letters  are  converted  to
   uppercase and multiple spaces are compressed.