GETTING STARTED WITH  VAX Ada

     Following these steps will get you started using VAX Ada. 

  1. Create a subdirectory for VAX Ada to use for your program library.
     It is suggested this be different from where your source resides.
     This sub directory is kept purged by Ada and you will mess yourself
     up if you delete anything. This is a one time action. You will get
     thoroughly confused if you have more than one program library.
     ACS stands for Ada Compilation System. This is part of the APSE
     or Ada Programming Support Environment.

       $ CREATE/DIRECTORY   [.ADALIB]
       $ ACS CREATE LIBRARY [.ADALIB]


  2. Add to your LOGIN.COM ( in your top level directory )

       $ ACS SET LIBRARY [.ADALIB]

         Then type @LOGIN to make it active this time.
         This is necessary because the logical name ADA$LIB that
         points to your program library goes away when you log off.
         It is to easy to loose a compilation because you forgot
         to set the program library.
 

  3. Enter Ada source code with a normal editor or with the Language
     Sensitive Editor $ LSE YOURFILE.ADA   The type should be  .ADA

  4. Compile using any of the these or type $ HELP ADA

        $ ADA       YOURFILE  ! for interactive compiling
        $ ADA/LIST  YOURFILE  ! for turn in printout

  5. Link by using the ACS LINK command. Remember this requires
     the Ada name of a parameterless procedure. Because the VMS 4
     allows long file names with underscore, please keep the file
     names the same as the Ada names. DEC uses the one variation
     on package specifications of adding an extra underscore at
     the end of the file name.

       $ ACS LINK        ada_procedure_name
       $ ACS LINK/DEBUG  ada_procedure_name

  6. An .EXE is produced by the link. Just type run on the same name

       $ RUN ada_procedure_name

  7. With the debugger, type  SET MODE SCREEN
                              SET MODU/ALL
                              GO
                              GO

  8. Additional reusable library routines are available on
     ECLUS::EFOPUSERS:[REUSABLE_ADA...] 

  9. The source code for predefined library units is on
     ADA$PREDEFINED:*.ADC    <-- not ADA !