Updated: May 5, 1999
	Commands
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	abbrev (ab)	command abbreviation
	accept_messages (am)	allow interactive messages
	add_name (an)	add a name to a directory entry
	add_search_paths (asp)	add a search path to a search list
	add_search_rules (asr)	add a search rule
	adjust_bit_count (abc)	set segment's bit count to include last char
AF	after (af)	return characters of a string after a specified argument
	answer	run a command and answer its questions
	apl (v2apl)	invoke APL language interpreter
	archive (ac)	combine segments
AF	archive_table (act)	return a list of segments in an archive
	assign_resource (ar)	assign a resource to the user process
	attach_audit (ata)	attach an I/O switch that keeps a copy in a multisegment file
	attach_lv (alv)	attach a logical volume to the user process
AF	before (be)	return characters of a string before a specified argument
AF	binary (bin)	return translation of an argument to binary base
	bind (bd)	produce an object segment from multiple object segments
AF	bool	perform boolean operations on arguments
AF	branches	return list of branches in a directory
AF	calc	perform simple calculations
	calendar	produce printable calendar
	cancel_abs_request (car)	remove absentee request from queue
	cancel_cobol_program (ccp)	cancel COBOL program from current run unit
	cancel_daemon_request (cdr)	remove I/O daemon request from queue
	cancel_resource (cnr)	cancel reservations made with the reserve_resource command
	cancel_retrieval_request (crr)	remove retrieve request from queue
	canonicalize (canon)	ensure that segment contents are in canonical form
AF	ceil	return smallest decimal number larger than its argument
	change_default_wdir (cdwd)	change default working directory
	change_error_mode (cem)	change verbosity of default error handler
	change_wdir (cwd)	change working directory
	check_iacl	list directory entries with ACLs that don't match initial ACL
	check_info_segs (cis)	list help segments that have changed (source)
	close_file (cf)	close a multisegment file
	cobol	invoke COBOL compiler
	cobol_abs (cba)	enter absentee request to compile a COBOL program
AF	collate	return 128-character collation string
AF	collate9	return 512-character collation string
	compare	compare two segments in binary mode
	compare_ascii (cpa)	compare two segments in ASCII
AF	contents	return contents of a segment
	convert_characters (cvc)	translate characters in a segment
	copy (cp)	make a copy of a segment
	copy_acl	copy ACL of one directory entry to another
	copy_cards (ccd)	copy card image segments from system pool
AF	copy_characters (cpch)	return string with N copies of argument
	copy_dir (cpd)	copy directory
	copy_file (cpf)	copy multisegment file
	copy_iacl_dir	copy initial ACL for dirs of one directory entry to another
	copy_iacl_seg	copy initial ACL for segs of one directory entry to another
	create (cr)	create a segment
	create_data_segment (cds)	create an object segment with data definitions
	create_dir (cd)	create a directory
	cumulative_page_trace (cpt)	trace a program and display its paging actions
	damaged_sw_off (dsf)	turn off a directory entry's damaged switch
	damaged_sw_on (dsn)	turn on a directory entry's damaged switch
AF	date	return the date
AF	date_compiled (dtc)	return the date an object segment was compiled
AF	date_time	return date and time
AF	day	return day number
AF	day_name	return day name
	debug (db)	invoke low level debugger
AF	decat	return portions of an input string
AF	decimal	return an argument converted to decimal mode
	decode	decrypt an enciphered file
AF	default	return default values if none suppled
AF	default_wdir (dwd)	return default working directory
	defer_messages (dm)	hold printing of interactive messages
	delete (dl)	delete a directory entry
	delete_acl (da)	delete an ACL entry
	delete_dir (dd)	delete a directory
	delete_iacl_dir (did)	delete a directory initial ACL entry
	delete_iacl_seg (dis)	delete a segment initial ACL entry
	delete_message (dlm)	delete a held interactive message
	delete_name (dn)	remove a name from a directory entry
	delete_search_paths (dsp)	delete a search path from a search list
	delete_search_rules (dsr)	delete a ready message
	detach_audit (dta)	detach an audit I/O switch
	detach_lv (dlv)	detach a logical volume
p	dial (d)	connect a terminal to a running process
AF	directories (dirs)	return a list of directories
AF	directory	return directory portion of a pathname
	discard_output (dco)	run a command and discard its output
	display_audit_file (daf)	display an audit file
	display_cobol_run_unit (dcr)	list programs in the current COBOL run unit
	display_pl1io_error (dpe)	display most recent PL/I I/O error
AF	divide	return result of division
AF	do	execute a command, substituting arguments
	dprint (dp)	enter an I/O daemon print request in queue
	dpunch (dpn)	enter an I/O daemon card punch request in queue
AF	dump_segment (ds)	display a segment in ASCII
	echo	type input arguments
	edm	invoke ASCII text editor
	emacs	invoke ASCII text editor
	encode	encrypt a segment into enciphered form
p	enter (e)	log in as an anonymous user
	enter_abs_request (ear)	enter a request for absentee processing in queue
	enter_retrieval_request (err)	enter a request for file retrieve in queue
p	enterp (ep)	log in as an anonymous user, with password
AF	entries	return list of entries in a directory
AF	entry	return entry name portion of a pathname
AF	equal	test if two strings are equal
AF	equal_name	return a pathname constructed according to the equal convention
	exec_com (ec)	execute a list of commands from a segment
AF	exists	test if a file exists
	expand_cobol_source (ecs)	expand COBOL source
	fast	invoke the FAST (BASIC) subsystem
	file_output (fo)	redirect standard_output I/O switch to a multisegment file
AF	files	return a list of multisegment files in a directory
AF	floor	return the largest decimal number less than an argument
AF	format_line (fl)	return a formatted line
	fortran (ft)	invoke FORTRAN compiler
	fortran_abs (fta)	enter a request for absentee FORTRAN compilation in queue
	gcos (gc)	invoke GCOS simulator
AF	general_ready (gr)	change format of ready message
AF	get_pathname (gpn)	return pathname of an active segment
	get_quota (gq)	display storage quota for a directory
	get_system_search_rules (gssr)	get system ready messages
AF	greater	test if one argument is greater than another
p	hangup	hang up without logging in
AF	have_mail	test if a mailbox is empty
p	hello	repeat system greeting message
	help	display system information files (source)
AF	hexadecimal (hex)	return argument converted to hexadecimal base
AF	high	return string of \177 characters
AF	high9	return string of \777 characters
AF	home_dir (hd)	return home directory pathname
AF	hour	return hour
	how_many_users (hmu)	display number of users logged in
	if	execute command line if a condition is met
	immediate_messages (im)	allow interactive messages to print
	indent (ind)	prettyprint PL/I source
AF	index	return location of one string in another
AF	index_set	return list of integers
	initiate (in)	assign a segment a segment number (make it known)
AF	io_call (io)	configure and operate on process's I/O switches
AF	last_message (lm)	return last interactive message text
AF	last_message_sender (lms)	return last interactive message sender
AF	last_message_time (lmt)	return last interactive message time
AF	length (ln)	return length of argument
AF	less	test if one argument is greater than another
	line_length (ll)	set terminal line length
	link (lk)	create a link
AF	links (nonbranches)	return list of links in a directory
	list (ls)	list a directory's contents
	list_abs_requests (lar)	list absentee request queue
	list_accessible (lac)	list directory entries accessible by a user
AF	list_acl (la)	display a directory entry's ACL
	list_daemon_requests (ldr)	list I/O daemon request queue
	list_help (lh)	list system help files (source)
AF	list_iacl_dir (lid)	display a directory's initial ACL for directories
AF	list_iacl_seg (lis)	display a directory's initial ACL for segments
	list_not_accessible (lnac)	list directory entries not accessible by a user
	list_ref_names (lrn)	list reference names for initiated segments (source)
	list_resource_types (lrt)	list types in a resource definition type table
	list_resources (lr)	list a process's assigned resources
	list_retrieval_requests (lrr)	list file retrieve request queue
p	login (l)	create a process for a user
	logout	destroy a user process and release terminal connection
AF	long_date	return long date
AF	low	return string of \000 characters
AF	lower_case	return argument mapped to lower case
AF	ltrim	return argument with blanks trimmed on left
AF	lv_attached	test if a logical volume is attached to the process
AF	manage_volume_pool	manage volume pool, assign and release scratch tapes
AF	master_directories (mdirs)	list master directories
AF	max	return largest value
	memo	invoke reminder management tool
	merge	invoke general merge tool
	merge_ascii (ma)	merge ASCII segments
AF	min	return smallest value
AF	minus	return result of subtraction
AF	minute	return minute
AF	mod	return result of mod function
p	modes	set terminal modes before login
AF	month	return month
AF	month_name	return month name
	move (mv)	move a directory entry to a new directory
	move_abs_request (mar)	move absentee request to new queue
	move_daemon_request (mdr)	move I/O daemon request to new queue
	move_dir (mvd)	move a directory to a new directory
	move_quota (mq)	move quota between directories
AF	msfs	return list of multisegment files
AF	nequal	test if arguments are unequal
	new_fortran	invoke new FORTRAN compiler
	new_proc	end this process and create a new one attached to this terminal
AF	ngreater	test if one argument is not greater than another
AF	nless	test if one argument is not less than another
	no_save_on_disconnect	set switch to discard process on hangup
AF	nondirectories (nondirs)	return list of non-directory entries
AF	nonfiles	return list of non-multisegment file entries
AF	nonmsfs	return list of non-multisegment file entries
AF	nonnull_links (nnlinks)	return list of non-null link entries
AF	nonsegments (nsegs)	return list of non-segment entries
AF	nonzero_files (nzfiles)	return list of nonzero multisegment file entries
AF	nonzero_msfs (nzmfsfs)	return list of nonzero MSF entries
AF	nonzero_segments (nzsegs)	return list of nonzero multisegment file entries
AF	not	return negation of its argument
AF	null_links	return list of null link entries
AF	octal (oct)	return argument represented in octal base
AF	on	execute a command line and catch signals
AF	or	return logical OR of arguments
	overlay (ov)	create segment that superimposes input segments
	page_trace (pgt)	trace paging activity
AF	path	return pathname of argument
AF	picture (pic)	return argument converted according to a picture
	pl1	invoke PL/I compiler
	pl1_abs (pa)	enter request for absentee PL/I compilation in queue
AF	plus	return result of addition
	print (pr)	display segment or multisegment file on terminal
AF	print_attach_table (pat)	display process's I/O switch attachments
	print_auth_names (pan)	display sensitivity levels and compartments
	print_default_wdir (pdwd)	display default working directory
	print_mail (pm)	display mail in a mailbox
	print_messages (pm)	display interactive messages in a mailbox
	print_motd (pmotd)	display message of the day (source)
	print_proc_auth (ppa)	display process's sensitivity level and compartments
	print_request_types (prt)	display list of I/O daemon request types
	print_search_paths (psp)	display search paths
	print_search_rules (psr)	display ready messages
	print_wdir (pwd)	display working directory
	probe (pb)	invoke high-level symbolic debugger
AF	process_dir (pd)	return process directory pathname
	profile (pf)	execute a program and count each statement's execution
	program_interrupt (pi)	re-enter interactive program after QUIT
	progress (pg)	execute a program and indicate progress
	qedx (qx)	invoke ASCII text editor
AF	query	ask question in an exec_com
AF	quotient	return result of division
	read_mail (rdm)	read mailbox
	ready_off (rdf)	turn off ready message
	ready_on (rdn)	turn on ready message
	release (rl)	release suspended execution after QUIT
	rename (rn)	rename a directory entry
	repeat_query (rq)	reprint last query
	reprint_error (re)	display last error
	reserve_resource (rsr)	reserve resource for process
	resolve_linkage_error (rle)	specify object segment and entrypoint to use after linkage error
	resource_usage (ru)	display account's system resource quotas and usage (source)
AF	response	returns answer to a question
AF	reverse (rv)	returns a string in reversed order
AF	reverse_after (rvaf)	returns same as after, but in reverse order
AF	reverse_before (rvbe)	returns same as before, but in reverse order
AF	reverse_index (rvindex)	returns same as index, but in reverse order
AF	reverse_search (rvsrh)	returns same as search, but in reverse order
AF	reverse_verify (rvverify)	returns same as verify, but in reverse order
AF	rtrim	returns argument with blanks trimmed on right
	run	run a command in an isolated environment
	run_cobol (rc)	run a COBOL program
	runoff (rf)	format document for printing
	runoff_abs (rfa)	enter a request for absentee runoff formatting in queue
	safety_sw_off (ssf)	turn off a directory entry's safety switch
	safety_sw_on (ssn)	turn on a directory entry's safety switch
	save_on_disconnect	set switch to preserve process on hangup
AF	search	return leftmost position of specified chars in an argument
AF	segments (segs)	return a list of segments in a directory
	send_mail (sdm)	send an electronic mail message
	send_mesage (sm)	send an interactive message
	send_mesage_acknowledge (sma)	send an interactive message, request ack
	send_mesage_express (smx)	send an interactive message if user accepting
	send_mesage_silent (sms)	send an interactive message, no errors
	set_acl	set the ACL of a branch
	set_bit_count (sbc)	set a segment's bit count
	set_cc	set FORTRAN carriage control
	set_fortran_common (sfc)	set a process's FORTRAN COMMON storage
	set_iacl_dir (sid)	set a directory's initial ACL for directories
	set_iacl_seg (sis)	set a directory's initial ACL for segments
	set_search_paths (ssp)	set search paths
	set_search_rules (ssr)	set ready messages
AF	severity	return the exit status of the last command
p	slave	make a terminal available for use by another process
	sort	invoke general sort facility
	sort_seg (ss)	sort an ASCII segment
	start (sr)	restart interrupted execution after QUIT
	status (st)	display a directory entry's file system attributes
	stop_cobol_run (scr)	stop the current COBOL run unit execution
	stop_run	discard the current run environment
AF	string	return concatenation of all arguments
AF	strip	return filename argument with suffix removed
AF	strip_entry (spe)	return entryname argument with suffix removed
AF	substr	return specified substring of argument
AF	suffix	return last component of filename argument
AF	system	display system administration parameters
	tape_archive (ta)	maintain an archive of files on tape
p	terminal_type (tt)	set terminal type before login
	terminate (tm)	make a segment unknown
	terminate_segment (tms)	make a segment unknown given segment number
	terminate_refname (tmr)	make a segment unknown given its reference name
	terminate_single_refname (tmsr)	make a single reference name unknown
AF	time	return the time
AF	times	return result of multiplication
	trace	execute a command and trace subroutine calls
	trace_stack (ts)	display call history of interrupted execution
AF	translate	return replacement of some chars by others in argument
AF	trunc	return decimal value of argument with fraction truncated
	truncate (tr)	discard data in a segment past a given location
	unassign_resource (ur)	unassign a resource assigned to the process
AF	underline	return a value with underlining
AF	unique	return a unique character string
	unlink (ul)	remove a link from a directory
AF	upper_case	return an argument mapped to upper case
AF	user	display user registration parameters
AF	verify	return the location of first character of argument not in a list
	vfile_adjust (vfa)	adjust length parameters of a multisegment file
	vfile_status (vfs)	display file system attributes for a multisegment file
	volume_dump_switch_off (vdsf)	turn off a directory entry's volume dump switch
	volume_dump_switch_on (vdsn)	turn on a directory entry's volume dump switch
	walk_subtree (ws)	execute a command on every entry inferior to a directory
	where (wh)	use search rules to find a file (source)
	where_search_path (wsp)	use a specified search list to find a file
	who	display the names of users logged in (source)
AF	working_dir (wd)	return current working directory
AF	year	return year
AF	zero_segments (zsegs)	return a list of segments with zero bit count

NOTES "AF" indicates that the command could also be called as an active function on a shell command line, by enclosing the command name in brackets. For example, ioa_ [date] This required special coding in the command to see if it was called as an active function and if so, to return a string value instead of writing on standard_output. "p" indicates a "pre-login" command. You could issue these commands when you first connected your terminal to the system. These commands were not implemented as separate programs, but rather as fixed request tokens interpreted by the Answering Service. There were several more such commands: 963, 938, and MAP for three. This is by no means all of the commands available on Multics. This edition of AW17 was full of typos and omissions. This list includes only Standard Service System (SSS) commands. These were the commands documented for general use. In addition, there were other libraries of commands: system and project administrator commands operator commands system developer tools author-maintained commands unbundled commands, including those related to MRDS, compose, etc. obsolete commands still used by many users Understand that this is a snapshot as of 1980. Commands were added, and others superseded or moved to non-SSS libraries, throughout the evolution of Multics. For example, sometime in the 1980s, dprint was replaced by enter_output_request (eor), a more symmetrical name. The dprint command continued to work, but was deprecated. thvv@multicians.org