?tacl macro
== ****************************************************************************
== * Macro  : ZCOLLECT                                                        *
== * Purpose: To save a file each time its modification date changes          *
== * Syntax : RUN ZCOLLECT SourceFile SaveFile Beg End                        *
== * Example: run zcollect $DATA.LOGFILE.LOG $DATA.SAVEFILE.LOG 20 25         *
== *          -------------------------------------------------------         *
== * Narrative:                                                               *
== * Check $DATA.LOGFILE.LOG's timestamp against $DATA.SAVEFILE.LOG20         *
== * If its different, it will                                                *
== *          fup dup $DATA.LOGFILE.LOG, $DATA2.SAVEFILE.LOG20,sourcedate     *
== * It will then set up for -> $DATA.SAVEFILE.LOG21                          *
== ****************************************************************************
#push SourceFile SaveFile BegAt EndAt
#set  SourceFile %1%
#set  SaveFile   %2%
#set  BegAt      %3%
#set  EndAt      %4%

[#if ([#fileinfo/existence/[SaveFile][BegAt]])
|then|
==  The first file already exists. Do nothing.
|else|
==  Grab the first file
    fup dup [SourceFile],[SaveFile][BegAt],sourcedate
]
 
[#loop |do|
   [#if (
        [#fileinfo/modification/[SourceFile]] =
        [#fileinfo/modification/[SaveFile][BegAt]]
        )
   |then|
       delay 5 mins == This pause can be mins, hours or secs
   |else|
       #set  BegAt [#compute [BegAt] + 1]
       #output fup dup [SourceFile],[SaveFile][BegAt],sourcedate
       fup dup [SourceFile],[SaveFile][BegAt],sourcedate
   ]
|until| (BegAt = EndAt)
]

Sony played this mind-blowing video at their executive conference. 
Be prepared to be startled by facts.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY 
In the next decade, computers will become more intelligent than we are.
The questions that rise are:
- What kind of child are we giving birth too? When they pass us in intelligence? Will they continue to be our tool?
- As the world of information continues to unfold, what will we learn about ourselves and this life?
- Where are we going as a species? Will silicon life out live carbon life? 
- Who will be controlling our direction, or will it all be just a series of actions with no direction at all?
- Finally, after we learn how to conquer death (and we will), what will our new fears become?
These, and more questions will be answered...in the future.

C Data Types	found in Guardian C/C++ Programmers manual
#pragma XMEM	default for TNS C compilers, specifies a 32 bit model. NOXMEM specifies a 16 bit model.
#pragma NOWIDE	changes the size of int, long and short to 16 bit. Only valid for #pragma NOXMEM which we don't use.

To call Guardian Procedures you should include
#pragma EXTENSIONS
#include
In a scrape with compatability problems, use the #pragma OLDCALLs. This specifies the pre C00 parameter order for old programs.

Best practices.
Don't use int. use long or short instead.
Put environment specific functions in an #include .
Avoid HP specific, and C extensions to data types if possible.
Use unsigned only for short and long.

Abbreviation	Long forms	Usage
bool	bool *	Non Ansi
char	char	Ansi - 1 byte (8 bits)
short	short	Ansi - 16 bit integer. Preferred usage.
	signed short
	short int
	signed short int
long	long	32 bit integer. Preferred usage.
	signed long
	long int	Don't use this
	signed long int	Don't use this
int	int, signed, signed int	32 bits, 16 bits with nowide. Don't use this. Use short instead.
unsigned short	unsigned short	16 bit integer
	unsigned short int
unsigned	unsigned
	unsigned int
unsigned long	unsigned long
	unsigned long int
unsigned long long	unsigned long long	Non Ansi. unsigned 64 bit integer.
long long	long long	64 bit. Used when decimal numbers are is followed by ll or LL modifier
decimal	decimal	Non Ansi. Only for programs with #pragma SQL and #include
float	float	Single precision
	float float	Single precision
double double	double	Double precision
long double	long double
Data Types
char	1 byte
int	16 bit integer
float	single precision
double	double precision
short	16 bit integer
long	32 bit integer
signed	+/-
unsigned	+
*int, *float	pointer to int, float
enum	enumeration constant
const	Unchanging constant
extern	Declare an external variable
register	Declare a register
static	Local variable
void	No value
structure	Define a structure
typedef x	Create a name of a data type
sizeof x	Size of an object
sizeof (x)	Size of a data type
&var	Use the variable at this address

!From http://docs.hp.com/en/524521-012/524521-012.pdf, Page 157

#include <in.h>
#include <netdb.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <errno.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <cextdecs(AWAITIOX, FILE_GETINFO_)>
..
struct sockaddr_in fhost;
int len,rsock;
char buffer [8*1024];
short error, rsock2, rcount;
long tag;
..
error = recvfrom_nw(rsock, buffer, sizeof(buffer), 0,
(struct sockaddr *) &fhost, &len, tag);
if error (!= 0) /* some error checking */
{
printf ("recvfrom_nw failed, error %d\n," errno);
exit (1);
}
rsock2=(short)rsock; /* AWAITIOX/FILE_GETINFO_ expects a short
for socket descriptor */
(void) AWAITIOX (&rsock2,,&rcount,&tag,1l);
(void) FILE_GETINFO_ (rsock2, &error);
if (error != 0)
{
printf ("error from AWAITIOX, error %d\n", errno);
exit (1);
}
error = socket_get_info (rsock, (char*) &fhost, len);
if (error != 0)
{
printf ("socket_get_info failed, error %d\n", errno);
exit(1)
}

C / TAL Comparisons (Using SEND_NW as an example):
C Synopsis, used for data type comparisons
#include <....lost in html conversion>
#include <...lost in html conversion>
error = send_nw (socket, nbuffer_ptr, nbuffer_length, flags,tag);
int error, socket;
char *nbuffer_ptr;
int nbuffer_length, flags;
long tag;
C / TAL Comparisons (Using SEND_NW as an example):
C Synopsis, used for data type comparisons
#include <....lost in html conversion>
#include <...lost in html conversion>
error = send_nw (socket, nbuffer_ptr, nbuffer_length, flags,tag);
int error, socket;
char *nbuffer_ptr;
int nbuffer_length, flags;
long tag; Tal Synopsis, used for data type comparisons
?NOLIST, SOURCE SOCKDEFT
?NOLIST, SOURCE SOCKPROC
error := send_nw (socket, nbuffer_ptr, nbuffer_length,
flags, tag);
INT(32) error, socket;
STRING .EXT nbuffer_ptr;
INT(32) nbuffer_length,
flags;
INT(32) tag;

Hahaha...there probably are...none of which were caught by the compiler.
I'm having to get familiar with C and Tal, since they are usually bound into Cobol programs. I'm just glad I don't have to review the MUMPS language!
I'm supposed to be overseeing a full system recompile and its never been done.
After compiling what seems like a million programs, I'm seeing warnings all over the place, with no idea what is normal.
I'm both the new guy on the block, and I'm a short timer.
This has been keeping me up at nights. This is going to be a killer month for me.
4 weeks and 2 days, and it'll be time for another 8 week vacation...yeah!!!

-- This is a comment
! This is a comment
! This is a bracketted comment !
STRING         - 1 bytes integer 0 to 255, EG STRING(2) x; is a 2 byte ascii string
INT            - 2 bytes, 0 to 65,535 or -32,768 to + 32,767. This can also be a string EG: INT twochars := "CH";
INT(32)        - 4 bytes
UNSIGNED(1~15) - n bits, 0 thru (2**n - 1)
UNSIGNED(16)   - 0 to 65,535, or -32,768 to +32,767. This is your standard address
FIXED          - 8 bytes, for FIXED(0) or FIXED(*) the range is -9 kazillion to +9 kazillion
REAL           - 4 bytes, precise to 9 digits
REAL(64)       - 8 bytes, precise to 17 digits

INT(16)   is the same as INT
INT(64)   is the same as FIXED(0)
REAL(32)  is the same as REAL

Examples:
LITERAL double_word = (4 * 8);
INT    (double_word) num; ! num is a INT(32)
INT       x := 4                  ! x is decimal 4
INT       x := %177               ! x is Octal 177
INT       x := %B01010            ! x is Binary 01010
INT       x := %B0000000000000010 ! x is 2;
INT       x := %B1111111111111110 ! x is -2 (using twos compliment);
INT       x := %H1A               ! x is Hex 1A
FIXED(3)  x := 0.642F;            ! x is 642000, the  3 shifts the decimal right
FIXED(-3) x := 642945F;           ! x is 642000, the -3 shifts the decimal left
FIXED(*)  x := 123                ! x is stored, not scaled

BLOCK  x                       ; ! Declare Global Variables
     INT        flag    := TRUE;
     INT(32)    index   := 22  ;
END BLOCK                      ;
BLOCK PRIVATE                  ; ! Declare Local Variables
     INT        myflag  := TRUE;
     INT(32)    myindex := 22  ;
END BLOCK                      ;

PROC paragraph_x   ; FORWARD   ; ! Declares that paragraph_x will be out of compile sequence
PROC called_program; EXTERNAL  ; ! Declares that a paragraph can be found in a called program
PROC paragraph_x (param)       ;
BEGIN
     INT param;
END;

PROC paragraphs_nested (param) ;
BEGIN
  ENTRY entry_point              ; ! Declares a programs entry point
  some code
  SUBPROC entry_subroutine(x)    ; ! Declares a subroutine with a PROC
     BEGIN
     some code  
     END;
  entry_point:
     some more code
END;

PROC myproc;
BEGIN !Local data declarations
   SUBPROC some_sub (param); !Declare subprocedure 
      INT param; 
      ENTRY sub_entry;         ! Declare entry-point identifier
      INT var;                 ! Some code here 
   sub_entry:                  ! Apply entry-point
      var := var - param;      ! identifier to statement 
      some code         ;      ! Tal can get ugly very quickly
   END;                        ! End subprocedure 
   some code 
   !Local statements
   CALL sub_entry (1); !Call entry-point SUB_ENTRY 
   END;

PROC xx(v1,v2,v3);
BEGIN...END;
...CALL xx(v1, !nothing!, v3) ! Comments help document ommited variables

DEFINETOG omit                !
some code
?IF omit
some code
?ENDIF omit

Sample compile statement: suppress octal code after each line, suppress all but header information, compile for syntax only
   and puts the errors in a file called xxx, and sets the omit toggle on
TAL/in myprogram/;nocode, suppress, syntax, errorfile xxx,settog omit,

Operators:
  x  := 2     ! move 2 to a number
  x ':=' 'AB' ! move characters to a string
  x := @var   ! x is the address of var
  .x          ! convert x from a INT to the word address of another variable
  <<          ! Signed Left shift
  '<<'        ! Unsigned Left shift
  + - *       ! Signed operators for add, subtract and multiply
  '+' '-' '*' ! Unsigned operators for add, subtract and multiply
  = <= >=     ! comparisons
  '=' '<='    ! comparisons (unsigned)
  <>          ! Not equal

According to the manual, you can do math on a string variable. EG: STRING x; x ':=' 'A"; x := x * 2; Go figure?

It was nice hanging with you guys.
Goodbye for now: Jeff, Jennifer and Glen.
We took Jennifer to the airport.
She went to Vegas and we went to the Moon Township. We never got a good chance to take her to Mars.  (I'm serious)
While at the airport, Jen got into a little bit of trouble. It was her first time flying alone. She misplaced her ticket and her birth certificate down some place.
A nice couple saw that she was in trouble and offered their help.
In the end, the security office had her documents, and Jennifer and the couple flew off too Vegas.
The couple was from...you guessed it, Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh people are the best!

I was standing outside, talking to my buddy as he loaded up his car with the last of his belongings from his cubical.
We shared a smoke, and I watched him drive off for the last time.
Standing alone, I felt a cold breeze at my back.
In less than five minutes, the sky turned into an orchestra of thunder and lightening. The streets flowed with mud.
When I left work soon afterwards, it was still pouring outside.
I looked at the parking lot and I realized that out of the hundreds of people I work with, I was the last person to leave. 
I have five weeks and three days left on my contract. This past year has been full of magic.

A fellow contractor got the axe yesterday. I'm going to miss him a lot.
It's pretty common for us contractors to come and go.
It can happen at any time and as a general rule it should be expected.
For me, contracting makes the most efficient use of the time we have here; if there's work, I work. If there is nothing to do, I play.
It's not like my fellow contractor did anything wrong. It's always difficult to say goodbye. But we'll bump into each other again.
We picked a high paying profession.
We knew we'd be travelling a lot. We knew we'd be changing contracts every year. There's always the chance that when we come in, all of the security codes will be changed, and we'll be out of work.
We knew we'd be giving up our rights of employment and we signed them away.
While the road, I've lost loved ones, forgotten what it is like to have a home, and I can't say for sure who I've become. Last year I lost my fortune.
I could never do this alone.
To contract nationally, you have to give up a normal livestyle.
It's an exchange. You trade familiarity for a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience.
And I've got to say, I've met some GREAT People along the way.

My Cubical Area - To some it may sound strange to actually enjoy their job, but me, I love mine. There is a feel of comradery here. There is humor, excitement, and a feeling of importance I get when I'm working in my cube.
Contractors generally don't get much attention on the job. We usually sit, read, code, test and document. Our contacts exist in the form of emails, instant messages, and word documents. But this contract is so very different. I actually understand most of the system at this point. That is because, to the people, I'm not just a body, I am a real, live person. And these people, no matter how far they get promoted, they know the system's nuts and bolts.
Today, an analyst pulled up a program by its number, moved through the code, and called it up by its server name (not so cryptic). There are over a thousand programs in the system I work with, and he had this one memorized. Many of those who worked on this system have been promoted levels beyond programming.
I will miss this place and these times.
From Becky, Jennifer and myself, I'd like to express a special appreciation to Jeff, Lonnie, Georgia, Cynthia, Cindy, Arden, Rob, Scott, Dave, the people at Ericsson, and all of the people that we've met in Pennsylvannia so far. Pennsylvannia is beautiful by itself. Add you guys to it, and it is my heaven. Too bad it all has to end.