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

    Controls access to local and global symbols in command
    procedures.

    Format

      SET SYMBOL

1 - Qualifiers

 1.1 - /ALL

       /ALL (default)

    Specifies that the values of the /SCOPE qualifier pertain both
    to the translation of the first token on a command line and to
    general symbol substitution.

    The /ALL qualifier is incompatible with the /GENERAL or the /VERB
    qualifier.

 1.2 - /GENERAL

    Specifies that the values of the /SCOPE qualifier pertain to the
    translation of all symbols except the first token on a command
    line.

    The /GENERAL qualifier is incompatible with the /ALL or the /VERB
    qualifier.

 1.3 - /SCOPE

       /SCOPE=(keyword,...)

    Controls access to local and global symbols. Lets you treat
    symbols as being undefined. Possible keywords are as follows:

    NOLOCAL    Causes all local symbols defined in outer procedure
               levels to be treated as being undefined by the current
               procedure and by all inner procedure levels.

    LOCAL      Removes any symbol translation limit set by the current
               procedure level.

    NOGLOBAL   Causes all global symbols to be inaccessible to the
               current procedure level and to all inner procedure
               levels unless otherwise changed.

    GLOBAL     Restores access to all global symbols.

 1.4 - /VERB

    Specifies that the values of the /SCOPE qualifier pertain
    to the translation of the first token on a command line as a
    symbol before processing only. It does not affect general symbol
    substitution.

                                   NOTE

       Caution must be used if the SET SYMBOL/VERB/SCOPE command
       is used more than once in a command procedure. Because
       DCL uses the translation behavior when looking for a
       label or subroutine, execution may be different running
       in one mode than in another. Compaq recommends that the
       SET SYMBOL/VERB/SCOPE command be used once as part of
       the command procedure setup and left in that mode for the
       duration of the procedure.

    The /VERB qualifier is incompatible with the /ALL or the /GENERAL
    qualifier.

2 - Examples

    1.$ SET SYMBOL/SCOPE=NOLOCAL

      In this example, all local symbols defined in outer procedure
      levels are now undefined for the current procedure level and
      all inner procedure levels.

    2.$ SET SYMBOL/SCOPE=NOGLOBAL

      In this example, all global symbols are now inaccessible to the
      current procedure level and all inner procedure levels unless
      otherwise changed.

    3.$ NOW :== SHOW TIME
      $ !
      $ NOW
         3-NOV-2001 11:48:58
      $ !
      $ SET SYMBOL /VERB /SCOPE=NOGLOBAL
      $ NOW
      %DCL-W-IVVERB, unrecognized command verb-check validity and spelling
       \NOW\
      $ !
      $ SHOW SYMBOL NOW
        NOW == "SHOW TIME"

      This example demonstrates the use of the /VERB qualifier.

      The symbol NOW is assigned to the SHOW TIME command. The
      next line shows the default behavior, where DCL attempts to
      translate the first string on the command line (NOW). Because
      NOW translates to the SHOW TIME command, this is used instead
      of NOW.

      The SET SYMBOL command on the next line changes the behavior
      so that DCL does not attempt a translation. When NOW is
      subsequently entered, DCL uses the string NOW as the command
      verb and cannot find it in the command table. This results in
      the error message.

      Notice that the scoping of the verb translation has no effect
      on general symbol translations, as demonstrated by the SHOW
      SYMBOL command in the example.