Library /sys$common/syshlp/sda.hlb FORMAT  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

         FORMAT [/TYPE=block-type] location

     Displays the formatted contents of a VAX/VMS control block which
     begins at the address specified by the expression "location".
     Most blocks include a byte that indicates the block type.

     Associated with each type of block is a set of symbols with a common
     prefix.  Each symbol's name describes a field within the block, and
     the value of the symbol represents the offset of the field within
     the block.

     If the block-type byte contains a valid block type (and/or subtype),
     SDA retrieves the symbols associated with that type of block
     (see $DYNDEF) and uses their values to format the block.  If the
     block-type byte does not contain a valid block type, you must use
     the /TYPE qualifier to format the block.

     For a given block type, all associated symbols have the form

 	<block type>$<type>_<name>

     where type is one of the following:

 	B	Byte
 	W	Word
 	L	Longword
 	Q	Quadword

 	A	Address
 	C	Constant
 	G	Global Longword
 	T	Counted ASCII string (up to 31 characters)

     If SDA cannot find the symbols associated with the block type
     specified in the block-type byte or by the /TYPE qualifier, it
     issues this message:

 	No <block type> symbols found to format this block

     Use the READ command to obtain additional symbol definitions.

  Additional Information (explode) :

• /TYPE=block-type