VMS Help SET, DEFAULT  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    Sets your default device and directory specifications. The new
    default is applied to all subsequent file specifications that do
    not explicitly include a device or directory name.

    When you change the default device assignment, the system equates
    the specified device with the logical name SYS$DISK.

    Format

      SET DEFAULT  [device-name[:]][directory-spec]

1 - Parameters

 device-name[:]

    Specifies the name of the device you want to go to.

 directory-spec

    Specifies the name of the directory you want to go to. A
    directory name must be enclosed in brackets ([ ]).  Use the minus
    sign (-)  to specify the next higher directory from the current
    default.

    On Alpha systems, if the length of the resulting default
    directory specification exceeds 255 characters, the SET DEFAULT
    attempts to replace the default directory string with a generated
    directory specification. If this happens, then in addition to
    the normal syntax check, the entire path to that specification,
    including the device, is verified and must exist for the call to
    succeed.

    On Alpha systems, if the process parse style is set to extended,
    then the directory specification may include a directory ID
    (DID).

    You must specify either the device-name parameter or the
    directory-spec parameter. If you specify only the device name,
    the current directory is the default for the directory-spec
    parameter. If you specify only the directory name, the current
    device is the default for the device-name parameter.

    You can use a logical name but it must constitute at least the
    device part of the specification. When you use a search list
    logical name as the parameter, the logical name is not translated
    by the SET DEFAULT command. Instead, the SET DEFAULT command
    retains the logical name so that OpenVMS Record Management
    Services (RMS) is able to access the entire search list. If you
    enter the SHOW DEFAULT command, the search list logical name
    is displayed as the default device, along with its equivalence
    strings.

2 - Examples

    1.$ SET DEFAULT [TANNER]

      The SET DEFAULT command in this example changes the default
      directory to [TANNER]. The default disk device does not change.

    2.$ SET DEFAULT $FLOPPY1:[MOREAU.MEMOS]

      The SET DEFAULT command in this example sets your default to
      the MOREAU.MEMOS subdirectory on $FLOPPY1.

    3.$ SET DEFAULT $FLOPPY1:

      The SET DEFAULT command in this example sets the default device
      to $FLOPPY1. The directory name does not change.

    4.$ SET DEFAULT [-]

      The SET DEFAULT command in this example changes the default
      directory to the parent directory of the one you are
      currently in. For example, if the current directory is
      $FLOPPY1:[NIELSEN.MEMOS], this command sets your default to
      $FLOPPY1:[NIELSEN]. If you are in $FLOPPY1:[NIELSEN], this
      command sets your default to the master directory on the disk-
      $FLOPPY1:[000000].

    5.$ SAVEDEF = F$ENVIRONMENT("DEFAULT")
      $ SET DEFAULT [122001.ZAMORA.APP10]
          .
          .
          .
      $ SET DEFAULT  'SAVEDEF'

      The command procedure in this example uses the F$ENVIRONMENT
      lexical function to save the current default directory in
      the symbol named SAVEDEF. The SET DEFAULT command changes
      the default directory 122001.ZAMORA.APP10. Later, the symbol
      SAVEDEF is used to restore the original default directory.

    6.$ SHOW DEFAULT
      WORK:[TOP]
      $ DEFINE X WORK:[TOP.SUB1],WORK:[TOP.SUB2]
      $ SET DEFAULT X
      $ SHOW DEFAULT
      X:[TOP]
      $ DIRECTORY

      Directory WORK:[TOP.SUB1]

      KUDOS.TMP;1

      Total of 1 file.

      Directory WORK:[TOP.SUB2]

      KUDOS.TMP;1

      Total of 1 file.

      Grand total of 2 directories, 2 files.
      $ DIRECTORY []

      Directory WORK:[TOP]

      KUDOS.TMP;1           NETSERVER.LOG;2

      Total of 2 files.

      In this example, the default directory is WORK:[TOP]. X is then
      defined to be a search list consisting of two subdirectories.
      When the SET DEFAULT X command is entered, the search list (X)
      is equated with the logical name SYS$DISK and is entered into
      the disk field. The subsequent SHOW DEFAULT command shows both
      the search list and the current default directory, followed by
      the expanded search list.

      If a DIRECTORY command is entered, the directories searched are
      those contained in the logical name X; however, if the current
      default directory specification ([]) is explicitly entered, the
      current default directory, rather than SYS$DISK, is searched.

    7.$SET PROCESS/PARSE_STYLE=EXTENDED
      $SET DEFAULT WORK:[11,1,0]
      $SHOW DEFAULT
      WORK:[11,1,0]
      $DIRECTORY

      Directory WORK:[11,1,0]

      X.X;1

      Total of 1 file.

      On Alpha systems, the SET DEFAULT command in this example uses
      a directory ID (DID) in the directory specification.

    8.$SET PROCESS/PARSE_STYLE=EXTENDED
      $SET DEFAULT -
      WORK:[.LONG_DIRECTORY_NAME_AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]
      $SET DEFAULT -
      WORK:[.LONG_SUBDIRECTORY_NAME_BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB]
      $SET DEFAULT -
      WORK:[.LONG_SUBDIRECTORY_NAME_CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC]
      $SET DEFAULT -
      WORK:[.LONG_SUBDIRECTORY_NAME_DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD]
      $SET DEFAULT -
      WORK:[.LONG_SUBDIRECTORY_NAME_EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE]
      $SHOW DEFAULT
      MDA0:[15,1,0]
      $SET DEFAULT [-]
      %RMS-F-DIR, error in directory name
      $SET DEFAULT [.TEST]
      $SHOW DEFAULT
      MDA0:[15,1,0.TEST]

      On Alpha systems, because the total length of the default
      directory string would exceed 255 characters in this example, a
      Directory ID is used in the directory specification. When the
      default directory string is replaced with a Directory ID, it is
      not possible to use the minus sign to specify the next higher
      directory.