/sys$common/syshlp/TPUHELP.HLB  —  MESSAGE
  MESSAGE

  Depending on which syntax format you choose, MESSAGE performs one of the
  following tasks:

  o  Puts the characters you specify into the message buffer if there is
     one.  By default, DECTPU looks for a buffer named MESSAGE_BUFFER.
     Otherwise, the message is displayed at the current location on the
     device defined by SYS$OUTPUT (usually your terminal).

  o  Fetches text associated with a message code and formats the text using
     FAO directives.  The resulting text is put in the MESSAGE_BUFFER or, if
     now such buffer is present, is displayed on the device defined by
     SYS$OUTPUT.

  Syntax

     MESSAGE ({buffer | range | string} [, integer1])

  OR

     MESSAGE ({keyword | integer2} [, integer3 [, FAO parameters]])

  Parameters

     buffer          A buffer whose contents you want displayed in the
                     message area.

     range           A range whose contents you want displayed in the
                     message area.

     string          A string to be displayed in the message area.

     integer1        An integer indicating the severity of the message
                     placed in the message buffer.  The allowable values and
                     their meanings are as follows:

                        Integer   Meaning
                        -----------------
                            0     Warning
                            1     Success
                            2     Error
                            3     Informational

     keyword         The DECTPU keyword representing the message code
                     associated with the text to be fetched.

     integer2        The integer representing the message code associated
                     with the text to be fetched.

     integer3        A bit-encoded integer controlling which portions of the
                     message are fetched.  If the message flags are not
                     specified, or if the value of a message flag is set to
                     zero, then the value specified by the SET
                     (MESSAGE_FLAGS...) built-in is used.  The meanings of
                     the message flags are as follows:

                     Bit DECTPU Constant         Meaning
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                     0   TPU$K_MESSAGE_TEXT      Include text of message
                     1   TPU$K_MESSAGE_ID        Include message identifier
                     2   TPU$K_MESSAGE_SEVERITY  Include severity level
                                                 indicator
                     3   TPU$K_MESSAGE_FACILITY  Include facility name

     FAO parameters  Strings and integers to be substituted into the text
                     associated with the message code.  The message code is
                     specified by the first parameter.  FAO directives for
                     substituting strings and integers are provided within
                     the message text.  A maximum of 127 FAO parameters are
                     allowed.  For a description of the FAO directives, see
                     the VMS System Services Reference Manual.  For more
                     information on the FAO built-in in DECTPU, see the
                     description of that built-in in Chapter 4 of the DEC
                     Text Processing Utility Manual.

  Comments

     The first syntax format puts the specified characters in the message
     buffer if one exists.  If the message buffer is not associated with a
     message window, messages are written to the buffer but do not appear on
     the screen.

     The second syntax format causes DECTPU to fetch the text associated
     with a message code, format the text using FAO directives, and display
     the formatted message in the message buffer.  The difference between
     this operation and the operation performed by MESSAGE_TEXT is that
     MESSAGE_TEXT simply returns the resulting string, while MESSAGE places
     the string in the message buffer.

  Examples

     1.  MESSAGE ("Nevermore!");

         Writes the text "Nevermore!" in the message area.

     2.  The following procedure checks if the cursor is at the end of a
         line and writes the appropriate message:

         PROCEDURE user_test_eol
            the_mark := MARK (FREE_CURSOR);
            IF LENGTH (CURRENT_LINE = GET_INFO (the_mark, "offset")
               THEN
                  user_at_eol := 1;    ! yes -- return true
                  MESSAGE ("Cursor is at the end of the line.");
                ELSE
                   user_at_eol := 0;   ! no -- return false
                   MESSAGE ("Cursor not the at end of a line.");
            ENDIF;
         ENDPROCEDURE;

     3.  The following statement fetches the text associated with the
         message code TPU$_OPENIN and substitutes the string "FOO.BAR" into
         the message.  All of the text of the message is fetched.  The
         string "Error opening FOO.BAR as input" is displayed in the message
         buffer.

         MESSAGE (tpu$_openin, TPU$K_MESSAGE_TEXT, "FOO.BAR");

  Related Topics

     MESSAGE_TEXT   FAO
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