The System Parameters which define and configure the A-Shell operating environment are specified in the main A-Shell configuration file, which is normally called miame.ini. This is a standard text file that must be edited with VUE or another text editor to make changes. Each line of the configuration file is in the form of an equation defining a particular system parameter. Some of these are so critical that A-Shell cannot run at all without them, while others are more for fine-tuning the system or achieving better compatibility with a particular application. A typical A-Shell configuration file is shown below. Note that anything to the right of a semicolon (comment marker) is ignored.
SERIAL=3401OJGI-6280-BNJ-400695-L1109B ; Serial # and key
CONAME=C:\VM\MIAME\CONAME.DAT ; Licensee file
FILES=40,40 ; 40 files, 40 ISAM
ERSATZ=C:\VM\MIAME\DSK0\001004\ERSATZ.INI ; Ersatz defs
LANGUAGE=C:\VM\MIAME\DSK0\001006\ENGLSH.LDF ; Language defs
CONSOLE=NETUNIQUE,PCTDVG ; Console device
;Device definitions
;Use this format for an individual ppn
DEVICE=DSK0:[1,4] C:\VM\MIAME\DSK0\001004\ ; Individual ppn def
;Use this format for logical disks with implicit \###### ppns
DEVICE=DSK0 C:\VM\MIAME\DSK0\ ; Pathname for DSK0:
;Subroutine aliases (alias-name:ashell-name)
ALIAS=INPUT:INFLD
ALIAS=SPOOL:EZSPL
SBR=CCYY:50,MALLOCSORT
LOKSER=ON ; LOKSER; ISAM sequence checks
PRINTER=LP0 ; Set printer default to LP0
MEMORY=500K ; A-Shell memory partition
QUEUE=100,DISK:C:\VM\MIAME\QFLOCK.SYS ; Q blocks
The file is processed only at the start of an A-Shell session, so for any changes to it to take effect it is therefore necessary to exit A-Shell and start a new session.
Under Windows, the install program will configure your initial miame.ini to match your install directory, allowing you to at least launch A-Shell with no manual configuration changes. Under Unix, however, you will need to adjust miame.ini manually before Launching A-Shell for the first time, unless you installed it in the default (/vm/miame) directory.
You can embed system environment variables in any of the filespecs in miame.ini by using the %ENV-VAR% notation. Some examples:
CONAME=%MIAME%/coname.dat
DEVICE=TMP0:[1,1] %TMP%\
See System Parameters for detailed information on the individual parameters specified within the A-Shell Configuration File.
History
2008 June, A-Shell 5.1.1117 The ini file also permits an optional [MIAME] section header at the top, thereby making it easier to use standard INI-processing routines, including INIX.SBX, for updating it.
