VAX-11 PASCAL User's Guide (Ver 1.0-1)

This "VAX-11 PASCAL User's Guide," published in November 1979, describes how to compile, link, and execute VAX-11 PASCAL programs on the VAX/VMS V1.6 operating system (with VAX-11 PASCAL V1.0-1 software).

It is intended for programmers with a working knowledge of PASCAL, and ideally, some familiarity with VAX/VMS. The document serves as a user guide rather than a language reference manual.

Key topics covered include:

• Program Development Lifecycle: Step-by-step instructions for creating, compiling (using PASCAL commands and qualifiers for output and listings), linking (using LINK commands and qualifiers for executable and map files), and executing PASCAL programs.
• File Management: Details on VAX/VMS file specifications, defaults, logical names, file characteristics (organization, access modes), and record formats.
• Interfacing with the System: Information on calling VAX/VMS system services and Run-Time Library procedures, including parameter passing mechanisms (by-reference, immediate-value, descriptor) and argument lists.
• Error Handling: A guide to error processing, including Run-Time Library default error handling, the VAX-11 Condition Handling Facility, and how to write custom condition handlers.
• System Environment: An explanation of the relationship between VAX-11 PASCAL and VAX/VMS, focusing on program section usage, storage allocation for various data types (scalar, pointer, unpacked, packed structured types), and floating-point data representation.

The guide also provides diagnostic messages for compile-time and run-time errors, and illustrations of the run-time stack during procedure calls.