The DELETE commands perform the following functions:

   o  Deletes one or more files from a mass storage disk volume (see
      File).

   o  Deletes the definition of a queue characteristic previously
      established with the DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command (see
      /CHARACTERISTIC).

   o  Deletes one or more print or batch jobs. The jobs can be in
      progress or waiting in the queue (see /ENTRY).

   o  Deletes a form (for printer or terminal queues) previously
      established with the DEFINE/FORM command (see /FORM).

   o  Removes an entry from the break-in database (see /INTRUSION_
      RECORD).

   o  Deletes key definitions that have been established by the
      DEFINE/KEY command (see /KEY).

   o  Deletes a print or batch queue created by the INITIALIZE/QUEUE
      command, and deletes all the jobs in the queue (see /QUEUE).

   o  Deletes one or all symbol definitions from a local or global
      symbol table (see /SYMBOL).

Additional information available:

file

/CHARACTERISTIC/ENTRY/FORM/INTRUSION_RECORD/KEY
/QUEUE/SYMBOL

   Deletes one or more files from a mass storage disk volume.

   Format

     DELETE  filespec[,...]

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIERS

Examples

filespec[,...]
   Specifies the names of one or more files to be deleted from a
   mass storage disk volume. The first file specification must
   contain an explicit or default directory specification plus an
   explicit file name, file type, and version number. Subsequent file
   specifications need contain only a version number; the defaults
   will come from the preceding specification. Wildcard characters
   can be used in any of the file specification fields.

   If you omit the directory specification or device name, the
   current default device and directory are assumed.

   If the file specification contains a null version number (a
   semicolon [;] followed by no file version number), a version
   number of 0, or one or more spaces in the version number, the
   latest version of the file is deleted.

   To delete more than one file, separate the file specifications
   with either commas (,)  or plus signs (+).

Additional information available:

/BACKUP/BEFORE/BY_OWNER/CONFIRM/CREATED/ERASE
/EXCLUDE/EXPIRED/LOG/MODIFIED/SINCE

   Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
   qualifier. The /BACKUP qualifier selects files according to the
   dates of their most recent backups. This qualifier is incompatible
   with the following qualifiers that also allow you to select files
   according to time attributes: /CREATED, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED.
   If you specify none of these four time qualifiers, the default is
   the /CREATED qualifier.

      /BEFORE[=time]

   Selects only those files dated prior to the specified time.
   You can specify time as an absolute time, as a combination of
   absolute and delta times, or as one of the following keywords:
   TODAY (default), TOMORROW, or YESTERDAY. Specify one of the
   following qualifiers with the /BEFORE qualifier to indicate the
   time attribute to be used as the basis for selection: /BACKUP,
   /CREATED (default), /EXPIRED, or /MODIFIED.

   For complete information on specifying time values, see the VMS
   DCL Concepts Manual.

      /BY_OWNER[=uic]

   Selects only those files whose owner user identification code
   (UIC) matches the specified owner UIC. The default UIC is that of
   the current process.

   Specify the UIC by using standard UIC format as described in the
   VMS DCL Concepts Manual.

      /CONFIRM
      /NOCONFIRM (default)

   Controls whether a request is issued before each delete operation
   to confirm that the operation should be performed on that file.
   The following responses are valid:

   YES       NO        QUIT

   TRUE      FALSE     Ctrl/Z

   1         0         ALL

             <Return>

   You can use any combination of uppercase and lowercase letters
   for word responses. Word responses can be abbreviated to one or
   more letters (for example, T, TR, or TRU for TRUE), but these
   abbreviations must be unique. Affirmative answers are YES, TRUE,
   and 1. Negative answers include: NO, FALSE, 0, and pressing
   the Return key. Entering QUIT or pressing Ctrl/Z indicates that
   you want to stop processing the command at that point. When you
   respond by entering ALL, the command continues to process, but no
   further prompts are given. If you type a response other than one
   of those in the list, DCL issues an error message and redisplays
   the prompt.

      /CREATED (default)

   Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
   qualifier. The /CREATED qualifier selects files based on their
   dates of creation. This qualifier is incompatible with the
   following qualifiers that also allow you to select files according
   to time attributes: /BACKUP, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED. If you
   specify none of these four time qualifiers, the default is the
   /CREATED qualifier.

      /ERASE
      /NOERASE (default)

   When you delete a file, the area in which the file was stored is
   returned to the system for future use. The data that was stored
   in that location still exists in the system until new data is
   written over it. When you specify the /ERASE qualifier, the
   storage location is overwritten with a system specified pattern so
   that the data no longer exists.

      /EXCLUDE=(filespec[,...])

   Excludes the specified files from the delete operation.
   You can include a directory but not a device in the file
   specification. Wildcard characters (* and %) are allowed in the
   file specification. However, you cannot use relative version
   numbers to exclude a specific version. If you specify only one
   file, you can omit the parentheses.

   Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
   qualifier. The /EXPIRED qualifier selects files according to their
   expiration dates. (The expiration date is set with the SET FILE
   /EXPIRATION_DATE command.) The /EXPIRED qualifier is incompatible
   with the following qualifiers that also allow you to select files
   according to time attributes: /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /MODIFIED. If
   you specify none of these four time qualifiers, the default is the
   /CREATED qualifier.

      /LOG
      /NOLOG (default)

   Controls whether the DELETE command displays the file
   specification of each file after its deletion.

   Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
   qualifier. The /MODIFIED qualifier selects files according to
   the dates on which they were last modified. This qualifier is
   incompatible with the following qualifiers that also allow you to
   select files according to time attributes: /BACKUP, /CREATED, and
   /EXPIRED. If you specify none of these four time modifiers, the
   default is the /CREATED qualifier.

      /SINCE[=time]

   Selects only those files dated after the specified time. You can
   specify time as an absolute time, a combination of absolute and
   delta times, or as one of the following keywords: TODAY (default),
   TOMORROW, or YESTERDAY. Specify one of the following qualifiers
   with the /SINCE qualifier to indicate the time attribute to be
   used as the basis for selection: /BACKUP, /CREATED (default),
   /EXPIRED, or /MODIFIED.

   For complete information on specifying time values, see the VMS
   DCL Concepts Manual.

   1.  $ DELETE   COMMON.SUM;2

     The DELETE command deletes the file COMMON.SUM;2 from the
     current default disk and directory.

   2.  $ DELETE *.OLD;*

     The DELETE command deletes all versions of files with file type
     OLD from the default disk directory.


   3.  $ DELETE  ALPHA.TXT;*, BETA;*, GAMMA;*

     The DELETE command deletes all versions of the files ALPHA.TXT,
     BETA.TXT, and GAMMA.TXT. The command uses the file type of the
     first input file as a temporary default. Note, however, that
     some form of version number (here specified as wildcards) must
     be included in each file specification.

   4.  $ DELETE /BEFORE=15-APR/LOG *.DAT;*
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]ASSIGN.DAT;1 deleted (5 block)
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]BATCHAVE.DAT;3 deleted (4 blocks)
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]BATCHAVE.DAT;2 deleted (4 blocks)
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]BATCHAVE.DAT;1 deleted (4 blocks)
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]CANCEL.DAT;1 deleted (2 blocks)
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]DEFINE.DAT;1 deleted (3 blocks)
   %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MALCOLM]EXIT.DAT;1 deleted (1 block)
   %DELETE-I-TOTAL, 7 files deleted (23 blocks)

     The DELETE command deletes all versions of all files with file
     type DAT that were either created or updated before April 15
     of this year. The /LOG qualifier not only displays the name of
     each file deleted, but also the total number of files deleted.


   5.  $ DELETE A.B;

     The DELETE command deletes the file A.B with the highest
     version number.

   6.  $ DELETE/CONFIRM/SINCE=TODAY [MALCOLM.TESTFILES]*.OBJ;*
       DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]AVERAG.OBJ;1, delete? [N]:Y
       DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;4, delete? [N]:N
       DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;3, delete? [N]:N
       DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;2, delete? [N]:N
       DISK0:[MALCOLM.TESTFILES]WEATHER.OBJ;3, delete? [N]:Y

     The DELETE command examines all versions of files with file
     type OBJ in the subdirectory [MALCOLM.TESTFILES], and locates
     those that were created or modified today. Before deleting each
     file, it requests confirmation that the file should be deleted.
     The default response-N-is given in brackets.


   7.  $ DIRECTORY [.SUBTEST]
       %DIRECT-W-NOFILES, no files found
       $ SET PROTECTION SUBTEST.DIR/PROTECTION=OWNER:D
       $ DELETE SUBTEST.DIR;1

     Before the directory file SUBTEST.DIR is deleted, the DIRECTORY
     command is used to verify that there are no files cataloged
     in the directory. The SET PROTECTION command redefines the
     protection for the directory file so that it can be deleted;
     then the DELETE command deletes it.


   8.  $ DELETE DALLAS"THOMAS SECRET"::DISK0:[000,000]DECODE.LIS;1

     This DELETE command deletes the file DECODE.LIS;1 from the
     directory [000,000] on device DISK0 at remote node DALLAS. The
     user name and password follow the remote node name.

   9.  $ DELETE QUEBEC::"DISK1:DEAL.BIG"
       $ DELETE QUEBEC::DISK1:DEAL.BIG;

     Either of these DELETE commands can be used to delete the file
     DEAL.BIG on device ZZZ1 at remote node QUEBEC. Note that the
     DELETE command requires an explicit version number in a file
     specification, but the file to be deleted is on a remote node
     whose file syntax does not recognize version numbers. (QUEBEC
     is an RT-11 node.) Therefore, the file specification must
     either be enclosed in quotation marks (" ")  or entered with
     a null version number (that is, a trailing semicolon [;]).

   Deletes the definition of a queue characteristic previously
   established with the DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command. The
   /CHARACTERISTIC qualifier is required.

   Requires OPER (operator) privilege.

   Format

     DELETE/CHARACTERISTIC  characteristic-name

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIER

Example

characteristic-name
   Specifies the name of the characteristic to be deleted.

Additional information available:

/LOG

      /LOG
      /NOLOG (default)

   Controls whether the DELETE/CHARACTERISTIC command displays the
   name of each characteristic after its deletion.

   $ DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC BLUE 7
      .
      .
      .
   $ DELETE/CHARACTERISTIC BLUE
   $ DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC BLUE_INK 7

     The DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command in this example establishes
     the characteristic BLUE, with number 7, to mean blue ink
     ribbons for printers. To change the name of the characteristic,
     enter the DELETE/CHARACTERISTIC command. Then enter another
     DEFINE/CHARACTERISTIC command to rename the characteristic to
     BLUE_INK, using the characteristic number 7.

   Deletes one or more print or batch jobs. The jobs can be in
   progress or waiting in the queue. The /ENTRY qualifier is
   required.

   Requires OPER (operator) privilege, execute (E) access to the
   queue, or delete (D) access to the specified jobs.

   Format

     DELETE/ENTRY=(entry-number[,...]) [queue-name[:]]

Additional information available:

PARAMETERSQUALIFIEREXAMPLES

entry-number[,...]
   Specifies the entry number (or a list of entry numbers) of jobs to
   be deleted. If you specify only one entry number, you can omit the
   parentheses. If you do not specify a queue name, you can delete
   entries from multiple queues.

   The system assigns a unique entry number to each queued print or
   batch job in the system. By default, the PRINT and SUBMIT commands
   display the entry number when they successfully queue a job for
   processing. These commands also create or update the local symbol
   $ENTRY to reflect the entry number of the most recently queued
   job. To find a job's entry number, enter the SHOW ENTRY or SHOW
   QUEUE command.

queue-name[:]
   Specifies the name of the queue where the jobs are located. The
   queue name can refer either to the queue to which the job was
   submitted or to the queue where the job is executing. The queue-
   name parameter is optional syntax. However, when you specify a
   queue name, the VMS operating system uses it to verify an entry in
   the specific queue before deleting the entry.

Additional information available:

/LOG

      /LOG
      /NOLOG (default)

   Controls whether the DELETE/ENTRY command displays the entry
   number of each batch or print job that it deletes.

   1.  $ PRINT/HOLD   ALPHA.TXT
       Job ALPHA (queue SYS$PRINT, entry 110) holding
          .
          .
          .
       $ DELETE/ENTRY=110  SYS$PRINT

     The PRINT command in this example queues a copy of the file
     ALPHA.TXT in a HOLD status, to defer its printing until a SET
     ENTRY/RELEASE command is entered. The system displays the job
     name, the entry number, the name of the queue in which the job
     was entered, and the status. Later, the DELETE/ENTRY command
     requests that the entry be deleted from the queue SYS$PRINT.

   2.  $ SUBMIT/AFTER=18:00  WEATHER
       Job WEATHER (queue SYS$BATCH, entry 203) holding until 19-APR-1990 18:00
       $ SUBMIT/HOLD/PARAMETERS=SCANLINE  DOFOR
       Job DOFOR (queue SYS$BATCH, entry 210) holding


          .
          .
          .
       $ DELETE/ENTRY=(203,210)/LOG
       %DELETE-W-SEARCHFAIL, error searching for 203
       -JBC-E-NOSUCHENT, no such entry
       %DELETE-I-DELETED, entry 210 aborting or deleted

     The SUBMIT commands in this example queue the command
     procedures WEATHER.COM and DOFOR.COM for processing as batch
     jobs. WEATHER.COM is queued for execution after 6:00 P.M.
     DOFOR.COM is queued in a HOLD status and cannot execute until
     you enter a SET ENTRY/RELEASE command. Later, the DELETE/ENTRY
     /LOG command requests that the system delete both these entries
     from the queue and display a message indicating that the
     entries have been deleted.

     The job WEATHER (entry 203) has completed by the time the
     DELETE/ENTRY/LOG command is entered. Thus, entry 203 no longer
     exists. Note that a message indicates that there is no entry
     203 in the queue. The job DOFOR (entry 210) is in a HOLD status
     when the DELETE/ENTRY/LOG command is entered. Thus, the system
     deletes entry 210 from the queue and displays a message to that
     effect.

   3.  $ PRINT CHAPTER8.MEM
       Job CHAPTER8 (queue SYS$PRINT, entry 25) pending on queue SYS$PRINT
          .
          .
          .
       $ SHOW QUEUE SYS$PRINT
       Printer queue SYS$PRINT, on PARROT::PARROT$LPA0, mounted form DEFAULT
       Jobname         Username        Entry   Blocks  Status
       -------         --------        -----   ------  ------
       CHAPTER7        SMITH              24      274  Pending
       CHAPTER8        SMITH              25      976  Pending
       $ DELETE/ENTRY=25

     The PRINT command in this example submits the file CHAPTER8.MEM
     to the printer queue SYS$PRINT. Later, user Smith needs to
     edit the file again before printing it. Using the SHOW QUEUE
     command, Smith verifies that the job is still pending and
     that the entry number for the job is 25. Smith then enters the
     DELETE/ENTRY command to delete the job from the queue.

   Deletes a form (for printer or terminal queues) previously
   established with the DEFINE/FORM command. The /FORM qualifier
   is required.

   Requires OPER (operator) privilege.

   Format

     DELETE/FORM  form-name

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIEREXAMPLES

form-name
   Specifies the name of the form to be deleted.

Additional information available:

/LOG

      /LOG
      /NOLOG (default)

   Controls whether the DELETE/FORM command displays the name of each
   form after its deletion.

   1.  $ DELETE/FORM CENTER

     The DELETE/FORM command in this example deletes the form named
     CENTER.

   2.  $ DEFINE/FORM /DESCRIPTION="letter size continuous form paper" CFLET 7
          .
          .
          .
       $ DELETE/FORM CFLET
       $ DEFINE/FORM /DESCRIPTION="letter size continuous form paper" LETTER_CONT 7

     The DEFINE/FORM command in this example establishes the form
     CFLET with number 7 to mean continuous form feed paper 8.5
     inches by 11 inches. To change the name of the form, delete the
     form named CFLET and define a new one named LETTER_CONT.

   Removes an entry from the break-in database.

   Requires CMKRNL (change mode to kernel) and SECURITY privileges.

   Format

     DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD  source

Additional information available:

PARAMETER

Examples

source
   Specifies the source field of the entry to be removed from the
   break-in database.

   1.  $ DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD TTC2:

     In this example, the DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD command removes
     all intrusion records generated by break-in attempts on TTC2.
     No username is specified because none of the login failures
     occurred for valid users.

   2.  $ DELETE/INTRUSION_RECORD NODE1::HAMMER

     This command removes all intrusion entries generated from node
     NODE1 for user HAMMER.

   Deletes key definitions that have been established by the DEFINE
   /KEY command. The /KEY qualifier is required.

   Format

     DELETE/KEY  [key-name]

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIERSEXAMPLES

key-name
   Specifies the name of the key to be deleted. This parameter is
   incompatible with the /ALL qualifier.

Additional information available:

/ALL/LOG/STATE

   Deletes all key definitions in the specified state; the default is
   the current state. If you use the /ALL qualifier, do not specify a
   key name. Use the /STATE qualifier to specify one or more states.

      /LOG (default)
      /NOLOG

   Controls whether messages are displayed indicating that the
   specified key definitions have been deleted.

      /STATE=(state-name[,...])
      /NOSTATE (default)

   Specifies the name of the state for which the specified key
   definition is to be deleted. The default state is the current
   state. If you specify only one state name, you can omit the
   parentheses. State names can be any alphanumeric string.

   1.  $ DEFINE/KEY PF3 "SHOW TIME" /TERMINATE
       %DCL-I-DEFKEY, DEFAULT key PF3 has been defined
       $ <PF3>
       $ SHOW TIME
        19-APR-1990 14:43:59
          .
          .
          .
       $ DELETE/KEY PF3
       %/DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF3 has been deleted
       $ <PF3>
       $

     In this example, the DEFINE/KEY command defines the PF3 key on
     the keypad as SHOW TIME. To delete the definition for the PF3
     key, use the DELETE/KEY command. When the user presses PF3,
     only the system prompt is displayed.

   2.  $ DELETE/KEY/ALL
       %DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF1 has been deleted
       %DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF2 has been deleted
       %DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF3 has been deleted
       %DCL-I-DELKEY, DEFAULT key PF4 has been deleted
       $

     In this example, the user defined keys PF1 to PF4 in the
     default state. The DELETE/KEY command deletes all key
     definitions in the current state, which is the default state.

   Deletes a print or batch queue created by the INITIALIZE/QUEUE
   command, and deletes all the jobs in the queue. The /QUEUE
   qualifier is required.

   Requires OPER (operator) privilege.

   Format

     DELETE/QUEUE  queue-name[:]

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIER

Example

queue-name[:]
   Specifies the name of the queue to be deleted.

Additional information available:

/LOG

      /LOG
      /NOLOG (default)

   Controls whether the DELETE/QUEUE command displays the name of
   each queue after it is deleted.

   $ INITIALIZE/QUEUE/DEFAULT=FLAG/START/ON=LPA0 LPA0_QUEUE
      .
      .
      .
   $ STOP/QUEUE/NEXT LPA0_QUEUE
   $ DELETE/QUEUE LPA0_QUEUE

     In this example, the first command initializes
     and starts the printer queue LPA0_QUEUE. The
     STOP/QUEUE/NEXT command stops the queue. The
     DELETE/QUEUE command deletes the queue.

   Deletes one or all symbol definitions from a local or global
   symbol table. The /SYMBOL qualifier is required.

   Format

     DELETE/SYMBOL  [symbol-name]

Additional information available:

PARAMETERQUALIFIERSEXAMPLES

symbol-name
   Specifies the name of the symbol to be deleted. A name is required
   unless the /ALL qualifier is specified. The symbol-name parameter
   is incompatible with the /ALL qualifier. Symbol names can have
   from 1 to 255 characters. By default, the DELETE/SYMBOL command
   assumes that the symbol is in the local symbol table for the
   current command procedure.

Additional information available:

/ALL/GLOBAL/LOCAL/LOG

   Deletes all symbols from the specified table. If you do not
   specify either the /LOCAL or the /GLOBAL qualifier, all symbols
   defined at the current command level are deleted. The /ALL
   qualifier is incompatible with the symbol-name parameter.

   Deletes the symbol from the global symbol table of the current
   process.

      /LOCAL (default)

   Deletes the symbol from the local symbol table of the current
   process.

      /LOG
      /NOLOG (default)

   Controls whether an informational message listing each symbol
   being deleted is displayed.

   1.  $ DELETE/SYMBOL/ALL

     In this example, the DELETE/SYMBOL command deletes all symbol
     definitions at the current command level.

   2.  $ DELETE/SYMBOL/LOG FOO
       %DCL-I-DELSYM, LOCAL symbol FOO has been deleted

     In this example, the DELETE/SYMBOL command deletes the symbol
     FOO from the local symbol table for the current process. In
     addition, the /LOG qualifier causes an informational message,
     listing the symbol being deleted, to be displayed.


   3.  $ DELETE/SYMBOL/GLOBAL PDEL

     In this example, the DELETE/SYMBOL command deletes the symbol
     named PDEL from the global symbol table for the current
     process.