OpenVMS Programming Concepts Manual

This document is Volume II of the OpenVMS Programming Concepts Manual. It provides programmers with information on OpenVMS operating system features. Key topics covered include:

• Calling System Routines: Call formats, return values, argument passing, and standard calling conventions.
• Run-Time Library (RTL) Input/Output: Techniques for I/O, including simple I/O and complex screen management using SMG$ routines.
• System Service I/O: Using QIO system services for specialized I/O operations, including synchronization and fast path features.
• System Time and File Operations: Managing system time, date/time formatting, and file access strategies and mapping.
• Distributed Transaction Manager (DECdtm): Programming interfaces for distributed transactions and X/Open XA compliance.
• User-Written System Services: Creating privileged shareable images.
• System Security Services: Protection schemes, rights databases, and persona management.
• Authentication and Credential Management (ACM): Interfaces for user authentication and credential management.
• Logical Names: Creating and using logical name tables and system services.
• Extended File Specifications: Details on ODS-5 volumes and deep directory support (Alpha only).
• Initialization: Image initialization mechanisms.