OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

Updated: 11 December 1998

OpenVMS System Manager's Manual

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5.11 Choosing Languages, and Date and Time Formats

You can specify languages other than English. From the list that the system manager defines, users can later select a language that they want to display.

You can also select the time and date formats for many SHOW commands from a predefined list or define new time and date formats.

Note

The SHOW TIME command does not include this feature because the SHOW TIME command is processed completely by DCL, which does not have access to the LIB$ routines necessary to format the output.

In addition, the SHOW commands for batch and print operations were modified to include, in the default time-stamp, seconds as well as hours and minutes. These new features were not previously documented.

For example, rather than 15-JAN-1998 10:16:25.14, you can use a different format, such as the following one:

$ SHOW USERS OpenVMS User Processes at JANUARY 15, 1998 10:16 AM Total number of users = 7, number of processes = 11 Username Node Interactive Subprocess Batch MCDERMOT ARD26B 1 PASTERNAK ARD26B - 2 1 . . .

Later, users can override the system defaults set up by the system manager and select their own date and time formats.

Steps to Change Languages, and Dates and Times

For languages other than English or date/time formats other than the defaults, you must complete these steps.

Note

Compaq recommends that you include these steps within the command procedure SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM.

Define the logical name SYS$LANGUAGES (plural) to specify the list of languages the users on your system might want to use. (If the language is English, skip this step.)
Invoke the command procedure SYS$MANAGER:LIB$DT_STARTUP.COM, which:
- Defines output formats you can use to customize the display of dates and times
- Loads support for languages other than English that you define with the SYS$LANGUAGES logical
Define date and time formats for the system using either:
- User-defined formats
- Predefined formats

5.11.1 Specifying Languages Other Than English

Note

Help/Message language variants might become available in a future release of OpenVMS or on a per-country basis.

You use the SYS$LANGUAGES (plural) logical to define a list of languages other than English. (From this list, users can later select a language to be displayed on their processes, as explained in Section 5.11.4.)

Because English is the default language and must therefore always be available, English spellings are not taken from logical name translations; rather, they are looked up in an internal table.

For example, to specify the French, German, and Italian languages, you must define SYS$LANGUAGES:

$ DEFINE SYS$LANGUAGES FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN

To add another language, for example, FINNISH, you must add FINNISH to the definition of SYS$LANGUAGES and execute the command procedure again.

5.11.2 Invoking LIB$DT_STARTUP.COM

The SYS$MANAGER:LIB$DT_STARTUP.COM command procedure defines the possible choices for the following logicals:

SYS$LANGUAGES
The system loads the languages you have selected using the SYS$LANGUAGES (plural) logical.
Users can later select their own choice of languages by defining the SYS$LANGUAGE (singular) logical, as explained in Section 5.11.4.
LIB$DT_FORMAT
The system loads output formats that you can then use to specify default system formats.
Users can later define their own formats, as explained in Section 5.11.4.

To invoke the command procedure, enter the following command:

$ @SYS$MANAGER:LIB$DT_STARTUP

If the translation of SYS$LANGUAGES fails, then English is used. If the translation of LIB$DT_FORMAT or any logical name relating to format fails, the OpenVMS standard ($ASCTIM) representation of the date and time is used, that is, dd-mmm-yyyy hh:mm:ss.cc.

5.11.3 Defining System Default Date and Time Formats

To define default date and time formats, you can use either user-defined formats, which are shown in Table 5-6, or predefined formats, which are shown in Table 5-7 and Table 5-8.

To select a format for a date, time, or both, you must define the LIB$DT_FORMAT logical name using the following logicals:

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_nnn, where nnn ranges from 001 to 040
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_nnn, where nnn ranges from 001 to 020

The order in which these logical names appear in the definition of LIB$DT_FORMAT determines the order in which they are output. A single space is inserted into the output string between the two elements if the definition specifies that both are output. For example, to define systemwide formats:

$ DEFINE/SYSTEM LIB$DT_FORMAT LIB$DATE_FORMAT_006, LIB$TIME_FORMAT_012

This definition causes the date to be displayed systemwide in the specified format, followed by a space and the time in the specified format. For example:

13 JAN 97 9:13 AM

Section 5.11.4 explains how users can select their own date and time formats to be displayed for their process.

5.11.3.1 Defining Your Own Format

To define your own format, define LIB$DATE_FORMAT_nnn and LIB$TIME_FORMAT_nnn, using the mnemonics shown in Table 5-6. Replace nnn with a number of your choice.

Note

For user-defined formats, Compaq recommends that you use values of _500 and above for _nnn.

Table 5-6 Format Mnemonics
Date Explanation

!D0 Day, Zero-Filled

!DD Day, No Fill

!DB Day, Blank-Filled

!WU Weekday, Uppercase

!WAU Weekday, Abbreviated, Uppercase

!WC Weekday, Capitalized

!WAC Weekday, Abbreviated, Capitalized

!WL Weekday, Lowercase

!WAL Weekday, Abbreviated, Lowercase

!MAU Month, Alphabetic, Uppercase

!MAAU Month, Alphabetic, Abbreviated, Uppercase

!MAC Month, Alphabetic, Capitalized

!MAAC Month, Alphabetic, Abbreviated, Capitalized

!MAL Month, Alphabetic, Lowercase

!MAAL Month, Alphabetic, Abbreviated, Lowercase

!MN0 Month, Numeric, Zero-Filled

!MNM Month, Numeric, No Fill

!MNB Month, Numeric, Blank-Filled

!Y4 Year, 4 Digits

!Y3 Year, 3 Digits

!Y2 Year, 2 Digits

!Y1 Year, 1 Digit

Time Explanation

!H04 Hours, Zero-Filled, 24-Hour Clock

!HH4 Hours, No Fill, 24-Hour Clock

!HB4 Hours, Blank-Filled, 24-Hour Clock

!H02 Hours, Zero-Filled, 12-Hour Clock

!HH2 Hours, No Fill, 12-Hour Clock

!HB2 Hours, Blank-Filled, 12-Hour Clock

!M0 Minutes, Zero-Filled

!MM Minutes, No Fill

!MB Minutes, Blank-Filled

!S0 Seconds, Zero-Filled

!SS Seconds, No Fill

!SB Seconds, Blank-Filled

!C7 Fractional Seconds, 7 Digits

!C6 Fractional Seconds, 6 Digits

!C5 Fractional Seconds, 5 Digits

!C4 Fractional Seconds, 4 Digits

!C3 Fractional Seconds, 3 Digits

!C2 Fractional Seconds, 2 Digits

!C1 Fractional Seconds, 1 Digit

!MIU Meridiem Indicator, Uppercase

!MIC Meridiem Indicator, Capitalized (mixed case)

!MIL Meridiem Indicator, Lowercase

**Table 5-6 Format Mnemonics**
Date	Explanation
!D0	Day, Zero-Filled
!DD	Day, No Fill
!DB	Day, Blank-Filled
!WU	Weekday, Uppercase
!WAU	Weekday, Abbreviated, Uppercase
!WC	Weekday, Capitalized
!WAC	Weekday, Abbreviated, Capitalized
!WL	Weekday, Lowercase
!WAL	Weekday, Abbreviated, Lowercase
!MAU	Month, Alphabetic, Uppercase
!MAAU	Month, Alphabetic, Abbreviated, Uppercase
!MAC	Month, Alphabetic, Capitalized
!MAAC	Month, Alphabetic, Abbreviated, Capitalized
!MAL	Month, Alphabetic, Lowercase
!MAAL	Month, Alphabetic, Abbreviated, Lowercase
!MN0	Month, Numeric, Zero-Filled
!MNM	Month, Numeric, No Fill
!MNB	Month, Numeric, Blank-Filled
!Y4	Year, 4 Digits
!Y3	Year, 3 Digits
!Y2	Year, 2 Digits
!Y1	Year, 1 Digit
Time	Explanation
!H04	Hours, Zero-Filled, 24-Hour Clock
!HH4	Hours, No Fill, 24-Hour Clock
!HB4	Hours, Blank-Filled, 24-Hour Clock
!H02	Hours, Zero-Filled, 12-Hour Clock
!HH2	Hours, No Fill, 12-Hour Clock
!HB2	Hours, Blank-Filled, 12-Hour Clock
!M0	Minutes, Zero-Filled
!MM	Minutes, No Fill
!MB	Minutes, Blank-Filled
!S0	Seconds, Zero-Filled
!SS	Seconds, No Fill
!SB	Seconds, Blank-Filled
!C7	Fractional Seconds, 7 Digits
!C6	Fractional Seconds, 6 Digits
!C5	Fractional Seconds, 5 Digits
!C4	Fractional Seconds, 4 Digits
!C3	Fractional Seconds, 3 Digits
!C2	Fractional Seconds, 2 Digits
!C1	Fractional Seconds, 1 Digit
!MIU	Meridiem Indicator, Uppercase
!MIC	Meridiem Indicator, Capitalized (mixed case)
!MIL	Meridiem Indicator, Lowercase

5.11.3.2 Using Predefined Formats

Table 5-7 lists all predefined date format logical names, their formats, and examples of the output generated using those formats. The mnemonics used to specify the formats are listed in Table 5-6.

Table 5-7 Predefined Output Date Formats
Date Format Logical Format Example

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_001 !DB-!MAAU-!Y4 13-JAN-1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_002 !DB !MAU !Y4 13 JANUARY 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_003 !DB.!MAU !Y4 13.JANUARY 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_004 !DB.!MAU.!Y4 13.JANUARY.1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_005 !DB !MAU !Y2 13 JANUARY 98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_006 !DB !MAAU !Y2 13 JAN 98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_007 !DB.!MAAU !Y2 13.JAN 98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_008 !DB.!MAAU.!Y2 13.JAN.98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_009 !DB !MAAU !Y4 13 JAN 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_010 !DB.!MAAU !Y4 13.JAN 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_011 !DB.!MAAU.!Y4 13.JAN.1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_012 !MAU !DD, !Y4 JANUARY 13, 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_013 !MN0/!D0/!Y2 01/13/98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_014 !MN0-!D0-!Y2 01-13-98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_015 !MN0.!D0.!Y2 01.13.98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_016 !MN0 !D0 !Y2 01 13 98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_017 !D0/!MN0/!Y2 13/01/98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_018 !D0/!MN0-!Y2 13/01-98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_019 !D0-!MN0-!Y2 13-01-98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_020 !D0.!MN0.!Y2 13.01.98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_021 !D0 !MN0 !Y2 13 01 98

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_022 !Y2/!MN0/!D0 98/01/13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_023 !Y2-!MN0-!D0 98-01-13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_024 !Y2.!MN0.!D0 98.01.13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_025 !Y2 !MN0 !D0 98 01 13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_026 !Y2!MN0!D0 980113

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_027 /!Y2.!MN0.!D0 /98.01.13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_028 !MN0/!D0/!Y4 01/13/1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_029 !MN0-!D0-!Y4 01-13-1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_030 !MN0.!D0.!Y4 01.13.1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_031 !MN0 !D0 !Y4 01 13 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_032 !D0/!MN0/!Y4 13/01/1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_033 !D0-!MN0-!Y4 13-01-1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_034 !D0.!MN0.!Y4 13.01.1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_035 !D0 !MN0 !Y4 13 01 1998

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_036 !Y4/!MN0/!D0 1998/01/13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_037 !Y4-!MN0-!D0 1998-01-13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_038 !Y4.!MN0.!D0 1998.01.13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_039 !Y4 !MN0 !D0 1998 01 13

LIB$DATE_FORMAT_040 !Y4!MN0!D0 19980113

**Table 5-7 Predefined Output Date Formats**
Date Format Logical	Format	Example
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_001	!DB-!MAAU-!Y4	13-JAN-1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_002	!DB !MAU !Y4	13 JANUARY 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_003	!DB.!MAU !Y4	13.JANUARY 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_004	!DB.!MAU.!Y4	13.JANUARY.1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_005	!DB !MAU !Y2	13 JANUARY 98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_006	!DB !MAAU !Y2	13 JAN 98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_007	!DB.!MAAU !Y2	13.JAN 98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_008	!DB.!MAAU.!Y2	13.JAN.98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_009	!DB !MAAU !Y4	13 JAN 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_010	!DB.!MAAU !Y4	13.JAN 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_011	!DB.!MAAU.!Y4	13.JAN.1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_012	!MAU !DD, !Y4	JANUARY 13, 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_013	!MN0/!D0/!Y2	01/13/98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_014	!MN0-!D0-!Y2	01-13-98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_015	!MN0.!D0.!Y2	01.13.98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_016	!MN0 !D0 !Y2	01 13 98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_017	!D0/!MN0/!Y2	13/01/98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_018	!D0/!MN0-!Y2	13/01-98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_019	!D0-!MN0-!Y2	13-01-98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_020	!D0.!MN0.!Y2	13.01.98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_021	!D0 !MN0 !Y2	13 01 98
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_022	!Y2/!MN0/!D0	98/01/13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_023	!Y2-!MN0-!D0	98-01-13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_024	!Y2.!MN0.!D0	98.01.13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_025	!Y2 !MN0 !D0	98 01 13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_026	!Y2!MN0!D0	980113
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_027	/!Y2.!MN0.!D0	/98.01.13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_028	!MN0/!D0/!Y4	01/13/1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_029	!MN0-!D0-!Y4	01-13-1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_030	!MN0.!D0.!Y4	01.13.1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_031	!MN0 !D0 !Y4	01 13 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_032	!D0/!MN0/!Y4	13/01/1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_033	!D0-!MN0-!Y4	13-01-1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_034	!D0.!MN0.!Y4	13.01.1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_035	!D0 !MN0 !Y4	13 01 1998
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_036	!Y4/!MN0/!D0	1998/01/13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_037	!Y4-!MN0-!D0	1998-01-13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_038	!Y4.!MN0.!D0	1998.01.13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_039	!Y4 !MN0 !D0	1998 01 13
LIB$DATE_FORMAT_040	!Y4!MN0!D0	19980113

Table 5-8 lists all predefined time format logical names, their formats, and examples of the output generated using those formats.

Table 5-8 Predefined Output Time Formats
Time Format Logical Format Example

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_001 !H04:!M0:!S0.!C2 09:13:25.14

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_002 !H04:!M0:!S0 09:13:25

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_003 !H04.!M0.!S0 09.13.25

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_004 !H04 !M0 !S0 09 13 25

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_005 !H04:!M0 09:13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_006 !H04.!M0 09.13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_007 !H04 !M0 09 13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_008 !HH4:!M0 9:13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_009 !HH4.!M0 9.13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_010 !HH4 !M0 9 13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_011 !H02:!M0 !MIU 09:13 AM

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_012 !HH2:!M0 !MIU 9:13 AM

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_013 !H04!M0 0913

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_014 !H04H!M0m 09H13m

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_015 kl !H04.!M0 kl 09.13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_016 !H04H!M0' 09H13'

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_017 !H04.!M0 h 09.13 h

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_018 h !H04.!M0 h 09.13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_019 !HH4 h !MM 9 h 13

LIB$TIME_FORMAT_020 !HH4 h !MM min !SS s 9 h 13 min 25 s

**Table 5-8 Predefined Output Time Formats**
Time Format Logical	Format	Example
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_001	!H04:!M0:!S0.!C2	09:13:25.14
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_002	!H04:!M0:!S0	09:13:25
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_003	!H04.!M0.!S0	09.13.25
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_004	!H04 !M0 !S0	09 13 25
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_005	!H04:!M0	09:13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_006	!H04.!M0	09.13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_007	!H04 !M0	09 13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_008	!HH4:!M0	9:13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_009	!HH4.!M0	9.13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_010	!HH4 !M0	9 13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_011	!H02:!M0 !MIU	09:13 AM
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_012	!HH2:!M0 !MIU	9:13 AM
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_013	!H04!M0	0913
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_014	!H04H!M0m	09H13m
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_015	kl !H04.!M0	kl 09.13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_016	!H04H!M0'	09H13'
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_017	!H04.!M0 h	09.13 h
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_018	h !H04.!M0	h 09.13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_019	!HH4 h !MM	9 h 13
LIB$TIME_FORMAT_020	!HH4 h !MM min !SS s	9 h 13 min 25 s

5.11.4 User Definitions of Language, and Date and Time Formats

A user can specify a choice of language by defining the SYS$LANGUAGE logical. For example:

$ DEFINE SYS$LANGUAGE FRENCH

A user can also specify a date and time format by defining the LIB$DT_FORMAT logical. For example:

$ DEFINE LIB$DT_FORMAT LIB$DATE_FORMAT_002, LIB$TIME_FORMAT_006

5.12 Saving Your Customization

Once you have installed and customized your system, Compaq recommends that you back up your system disk. To do so, follow the instructions in Section 10.17.

On VAX systems, back up the console volume (if applicable). If your computer has a console storage device, make a backup copy of your console volume in case your original becomes corrupted. The operating system provides a command procedure called CONSCOPY.COM (in the SYS$UPDATE directory), which copies your console volume to a blank one.

The procedure for backing up the console volume varies for different computers. For specific instructions on backing up the console volumes, refer to the upgrade and installation supplement for your VAX computer.

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