TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual

ACCESS

Obtains ownership rights to a directory and the group rights of its user-group list.

Format

@ACCESS (TO DIRECTORY) dev:<directory>
Password:password

where:

dev:<directory> is the directory that you want to access.
Default dev: your connected structure
Default <directory> the directory (on the specified structure) of the same name as your connected directory.
password is the password of the directory (not requested for your log-in directory or a directory of the same name as your log-in directory on a domestic structure).

Characteristics

Capabilities

Your capabilities (such as WHEEL, OPERATOR, CONFIDENTIAL) are associated with your log-in user name only. If you give the ACCESS command for a directory whose owner has for example WHEEL capabilities, you do not gain these capabilities.

Restrictions

One Directory Per Structure

You can access only one directory at a time on each mounted structure. Each ACCESS command ends any previous ACCESS command for that structure (including the implicit access obtained by the LOGIN command). If you access another directory on the public structure you give up your own group rights on the public structure. These are restored when you give an ACCESS command for your log-in directory.

Not For Files-only Directories

Because a files-only directory does not have an owner or user group rights, you cannot give an ACCESS command for it. Use CONNECT instead.

Related Commands

CONNECT for making a directory your connected directory
END-ACCESS for surrendering rights to an accessed directory
MOUNT STRUCTURE for making a structure available for access, and ensuring the continued availability of an accessed structure

Examples

  1. Access another user's directory.
    @ACCESS <HOLLAND>
    Password:___
    
  2. Access another user's directory so you can copy a file from it to your connected directory.
    @ACCESS <HOLLAND>
    Password:___
    @COPY <HOLLAND>MAX.MEM HOLMAX.MEM
     <HOLLAND>MAX.MEM.1 => HOLMAX.MEM.1 [OK]
    @END-ACCESS <HOLLAND>
    
  3. Access the login directory of a user whose group rights you want to borrow.
    @COPY <MANUALS>CHKCRF.MAC CHKCRF.MAC
    ?Directory access privileges required - "<MANUALS>CHKCRF.MAC"
    @ACCESS <HOLLAND>
    Password:___
    @COPY <MANUALS>CHKCRF.MAC CHKCRF.MAC
     <MANUALS>CHKCRF.MAC.4 => CHKCRF.MAC.1 [OK]
    @END-ACCESS <HOLLAND>
    
  4. Access the directory of a user on another structure. Then examine the directory and copy a file from it.
    @MOUNT STRUCTURE SNARK:
    Structure SNARK: Mounted
    @ACCESS SNARK:<HOLLAND>
    Password:___
    @DIRECTORY SNARK:<HOLLAND>
    
       SNARK:<HOLLAND>
     ACCT.MEM.1
     ACTGEN..1
     COMP.FOR.1
     COMPUT.CBL.1
       .REL.1
     DIFFER.FOR.1
       .QOR.1
     MAIL.TXT.2
     OVERVIEW.MEM.1
    
     Total of 9 files
    @COPY SNARK:<HOLLAND>COMP.FOR
     SNARK:<HOLLAND>COMP.FOR.1 => COMP.FOR.1 [OK]
    @END-ACCESS SNARK:<HOLLAND>
    @DISMOUNT STRUCTURE SNARK:
    Structure SNARK: Dismounted