message(1F)                                              message(1F)


       NAME
             message - put arguments on FMLI message line

       SYNOPSIS
             message [-t] [-b [num]] [-o] [-w] [string]
             message [-f] [-b [num]] [-o] [-w] [string]
             message [-p] [-b [num]] [-o] [-w] [string]

       DESCRIPTION
             The message command puts string out on the FMLI message line.
             If there is no string, the stdin input to message will be
             used.  The output of message has a duration (length of time it
             remains on the message line).  The default duration is
             ``transient'': it or one of two other durations can be
             requested with the following mutually-exclusive options:

             -t      explicitly defines a message to have transient
                     duration.  Transient messages remain on the message
                     line only until the user presses another key or a
                     CHECKWORLD occurs.  The descriptors itemmsg, fieldmsg,
                     invalidmsg, choicemsg, the default-if-not-defined
                     value of oninterrupt, and FMLI generated error
                     messages (for example, from syntax errors) also output
                     transient duration messages.  Transient messages take
                     precedence over both frame messages and permanent
                     messages.

             -f      defines a message to have ``frame'' duration.  Frame
                     messages remain on the message line as long as the
                     frame in which they are defined is current.  The
                     descriptor framemsg also outputs a frame duration
                     message.  Frame messages take precedence over
                     permanent messages.

             -p      defines a message to have ``permanent'' duration.
                     Permanent messages remain on the message line for the
                     length of the FMLI session, unless explicitly replaced
                     by another permanent message or temporarily superseded
                     by a transient message or frame message.  A permanent
                     message is not affected by navigating away from, or by
                     closing, the frame which generated the permanent
                     message.  The descriptor permanentmsg also outputs a
                     permanent duration message.





                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1

      message(1F)                                              message(1F)


            Messages displayed with message -p will replace (change the
            value of) any message currently displayed or stored via use of
            the permanentmsg descriptor.  Likewise, message -f will
            replace any message currently displayed or stored via use of
            the framemsg descriptor.  If more than one message in a frame
            definition file is specified with the -p option, the last one
            specified will be the permanent duration message.

            The string argument should always be the last argument.  Other
            options available with message are the following:

            -b [num]
                    rings the terminal bell num times, where num is an
                    integer from 1 to 10.  The default value is 1.  If the
                    terminal has no bell, the screen will flash num times
                    instead, if possible.

            -o      forces message to duplicate its message to stdout.

            -w      turns on the working indicator.

      EXAMPLES
            When a value entered in a field is invalid, ring the bell 3
            times and then display Invalid Entry: Try again!  on the
            message line:

                  invalidmsg=`message -b 3 "Invalid Entry: Try again!"`

            Display a message that tells the user what is being done:

                  done=`message EDITOR has been set in your environment` close

            Display a message on the message line and stdout for each
            field in a form (a pseudo-"field duration" message).

                  fieldmsg="`message -o -f "Enter a filename."`"

            Display a blank transient message (effect is to ``remove'' a
            permanent or frame duration message).

                  done=`message  ""` nop

      NOTICES
            If message is coded more than once on a single line, it may
            appear that only the right-most instance is interpreted and
            displayed.  Use sleep(1) between uses of message in this case,


                          Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 2

       message(1F)                                              message(1F)


             to display multiple messages.

             message -f should not be used in a stand-alone backquoted
             expression or with the init descriptor because the frame is
             not yet current when these are evaluated.

             In cases where `message -f "string"` is part of a stand-alone
             backquoted expression, the context for evaluation of the
             expression is the previously current frame.  The previously
             current frame can be the frame that issued the open command
             for the frame containing the backquoted expression, or it can
             be a frame given as an argument when fmli was invoked.  That
             is, the previously current frame is the one whose frame
             message will be modified.

             Permanent duration messages are displayed when the user
             navigates to the command line.

       REFERENCES
             sleep(1)




























                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 3