Updated March 2011

ERSATZ=Pathname

Example:  ERSATZ=C:\VM\MIAME\DSK0\001004\ERSATZ.INI

A-Shell supports ersatz devices in nearly the same way as does AMOS. They are defined in standard format ERSATZ definition files, which should be located in the file and path given (in host operating system format) in the ERSATZ command lines. Any number of ERSATZ command lines may be present in the configuration file.

As an added enhancement, the A-Shell implementation of ersatz definitions allows you to add to the list of definitions without having to close and re-launch the A-Shell session. (If there are multiple ersatz definition files, only the last one can be updated this way while A-Shell is running.) The way it works is that if A-Shell attempts to look up an ersatz definition and it is not found, and at least 30 seconds have passed since the last time it reloaded the ersatz definition file, in then reloads the last ersatz definition file to see if there are any new definitions. The 30 second limit is to prevent excessive thrashing if a rash of undefined ersatz names are encountered in sequence.

Any ERSATZ devices containing CPU numbers will be ignored.

The maximum number of ERSATZ device definitions allowed is 1000 for A-Shell/UNIX and A-Shell/Windows/32.

The maximum length of the ERSATZ filespec is 160 characters.

History

2011 March, A-Shell 5.1.1208:  Increase maximum filespec length from 70 characters to 160.