The SPI Program

The program SPI optionally creates, updates, or initializes the disk files and magnetic tapes utilized by the SPA program.

To start the SPI program, one issues the command within the operating system shell truein % spi SFILE where SFILE is the name of the SPA data file. If SFILE is not on the command line, the SPI startup script will prompt you for the name of the SFILE. If the file does not exist, then the script prompts the user to quit or create the file. A carriage return begins the initialization of the file by prompting the user for yes/no answers to various questions.

If creating a new file, an I/O error message is issued with regards to record 1 and stating that the SFILE is unreadable. Ignore this and answer YES to whether you wish to initialize the file. If the SFILE was created with an older version of the program, an error message is printed and the user is prompted to update the data file. If initializing a file previously created by the present version of the program or proceeding from the creation or updating of a file, the user is prompted by several questions regarding the degree of initialization.

1. DO YOU WISH TO MAKE A DIAGNOSTIC DUMP OF THE SFILE ? YES OR NO

   The diagnostic dump is mostly for debugging purposes. Information regarding the present state of the directories, function constants, and data is written to the file logical unit 10, In general, one answers NO to this question.

2. SHALL WE INITIALIZE FUNCTION CODES ? YES OR NO The values for parameters which provide the necessary limits to the program as well function definitions are reset to the known values hardcoded in the SPI program. One generally answers NO to this question unless SPA does not recognize its function names. Answering YES to this question will erase all synthetic functions.
3. SHALL WE INITIALIZE FUNCTION CONSTANTS ? YES OR NO The function constants in the five function blocks are reset to the default values hardcoded in the SPI program. It does not harm data. One generally answers NO to this question unless the default function fails to restore the default function values.
4. DO YOU WISH TO PREPARE A BLANK TAPE ? YES OR NO Unless you are preparing a blank 1/2" magnetic tape, answer NO.
5. DO YOU WISH TO COPY A TAPE ? YES OR NO Used to copy data files from one data tape to another. Unless the system has two tape drives available, this function will not be implimented.
6. SHALL WE INITIALIZE ANY DATA FILES ? YES OR NO Prompts for initialization of SPA data files. Unless the system contains both raw and reduced data files, this prompt will not be issued.
   1. SHALL WE INITIALIZE DISK FILE S ? YES OR NO Answering YES to this question will DESTROY ALL DATA previously stored in the SFILE. If this is the end result you wish, it may be safer to simply create a new disk file. One generally answers NO to this question unless the SPA directory routines are hopelessly confused.
   2. SHALL WE INITIALIZE DATA FILE T ? YES OR NO Answering YES to this question will DESTROY ALL RAW DATA. Unless the system contains a raw data file, this prompt will not be issued.
7. SHALL WE INITIALIZE ALL TAPE FILES ? YES OR NO The SFILE contains a copy of the directory of the last SPA tape mounted. Initializing tape files simply removes the copy of the tape directory from the disk SFILE. The directory of the tape can be read back into the SFILE by mounting a tape with the TAPE function. Nevertheless, one generally answers NO to this question unless the SPA tape routines are hopelessly confused.

After the questions have been answered, the program performs the requested tasks and quits with an exit message.