VMS Help DCE, About This Help Library Important, Navigation Hints  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

  USING WILDCARD CHARACTERS:

  Wildcard characters (* and %) are useful at the DCL ($) prompt or
  the "DCE Subtopic?" prompt.  For example, to see the RPC application
  routines, enter the following command:

     $ HELP DCE_RPC  Application_R*

  To see all the DCE threads application routines, enter the following
  command:

     $ HELP DCE_THREADS App*

  To directly access information about a routine, for example the
  routine rpc_binding_free, enter the following command:

     $ HELP DCE_RPC Application_Routines rpc_binding_free

  You can shorten the syntax of the previous command to either of
  the following formats:

     $ HELP DCE_RPC Appl* rpc_binding_free

  or

     $ HELP DCE_RPC * rpc_binding_free

  However, you will get quicker response to direct routine queries if you
  use the full syntax of the command.

  Note that the user and administrative information such as rpccp is
  available at the top level as follows:

     $ help dce_rpc rpccp

  ACCESSING MESSAGES:

  To access message information enter a command with underscore (_)
  characters connecting key words, as shown in the following example:

    $ help dce_idl idl_m  *interface_cannot_import*

  DCE

    IDL_Messages(rpc7)

      A_nonlocal_interface_cannot_import_a_local_interface

          Explanation: The [local] interface attribute implies that the
          interface is not part of an RPC application, but is used only to
          generate header files.  This causes IDL to suppress any
          errors specific to RPC that the interface uses as part of an
          RPC application.

          User Action: Remove the [local] attribute from the imported
          interface definition.  The imported interface does not need a
          UUID unless the interface defines an operation and you
          compile it independently.

  ACCESSING HELP SUBTOPICS FROM LONG LISTS:

  You can access subsections of help topics that contain long lists
  of additional information even while the "press RETURN to continue..."
  prompt is displayed.  For example, when you enter the following
  command the system displays a long list of the message topics
  available:

     $ help dce_idl idl_message

  You may need to press RETURN several times before the system displays
  the message that you want.  When the exact message topic is
  displayed you can access it quickly, however. Enter the
  correct message text at the "press RETURN to continue..." prompt,
  as shown in the following example:
     .
     .
     .
     A_maybe_operation_cannot_have_out_parameters_or_a_function_result
     A_min_is_parameter_must_have_the_in_attribute
     A_min_is_variable_must_be_a_small,_short,_or_long_integer
     A_nonlocal_interface_cannot_import_a_local_interface
     A_parameter_must_have_either_or_both_the_in_and_out_attributes
     .
     .
     .
     press RETURN to continue... *interface_cannot_import*

  Workstation users may find it easier to use the window cut-and-paste
  feature to enter long strings containing underscore (_) characters.