TOPS-20 Commands Reference Manual

ATTACH

Attaches a job to your terminal.

Format

@ATTACH (USER) name (JOB #) number
PASSWORD:  password

where:

name is the user name of the job's owner.
number is the job number

Default - the only job, or only detached job, or only job other than your current job, logged in under the user name you give.

password is the associated password (not requested if you are currently logged in under the same user name as the job that you are attaching).

Characteristics

Current Job Detached

If you give the ATTACH command while logged in, your current job is detached. You can use the LOGOUT command to log out this detached job.

Hint

Using ATTACH to Restore Phoned-in Jobs

If you log in to the system by telephone lines and service is interrupted for any reason, use the ATTACH command to restore the connection. If you do not do this within the time limit set by the system manager (usually five minutes), your job will be logged out automatically and you will have to log in again.

Warning

Attaching Attached Jobs

The system will ask you to confirm your choice with a carriage return before attaching to your terminal a job that is attached elsewhere. If you attach an attached job that is running a program, that program may be sent one or more CTRL/Cs, which can affect programs that handle CTRL/C themselves. To avoid this possibility you must give a DETACH command from the terminal to which the program's job is attached, then attach this job to your terminal with an ATTACH command.

Effect on Memory, Terminal, and Job

The ATTACH command affects neither memory nor the job that you are attaching (but see Warning, above), and leaves your terminal at TOPS-20 command level unless a program is being run by the job. If a program is being run, your terminal is left at command level, if any, in the job. Your terminal's characteristics will be those established in the job from which you gave the ATTACH command; if you were not logged in, they will be reset to system default characteristics.

Related Commands

SYSTAT for finding out the user name and job number associated with any job
DETACH for disengaging a job from your own terminal
UNATTACH for disengaging a job from any other terminal

Examples

  1. Attach your only job, which is presently detached.
    @ATTACH LATTA
    Password:___
    
  2. Attach one of several detached jobs.
    @ATTACH LATTA
      Job 37, Detached, Running DETACH
      Job 54, Detached, Running EXEC
    Job:37
    Password:___
    
  3. Check your jobs with the SYSTAT command (your current job is marked with an asterisk [*]), then attach the only detached job. Verify the system's action.
    @SYSTAT LATTA
      37    26  NEWRUN  LATTA
      58   DET  EXEC    LATTA
      59*  231  EXEC    LATTA
    @ATTACH LATTA
     Detaching job # 59
    @INFORMATION JOB-STATUS
     Host AURORA  Job 58, TTY314 kilpa.TOPS20.dec.com(TCP)
     User LATTA, PS:<LATTA>, Account 341
    
  4. Start a program in one job. Then detach and continue it, and attach another of your jobs.
    @INFORMATION JOB-STATUS
     Host AURORA  Job 9, TTY26 kilpa.TOPS20.dec.com(TCP)
     User LATTA, PS:<LATTA>, Account 341
    @RUN FFACTOR
    
    ^C
    @DETACH CONTINUE
     Detaching job # 9
    ^C  !Not displayed on terminal
     TEDDY, Controller Dept. TOPS-20 Monitor 7(7)
    @SYSTAT LATTA
     9     DET   FFACTO    LATTA
    45*     41   SYSTAT    LATTA
    @ATTACH LATTA 45
     [Attached to TTY41, confirm]
    Password:___