Batch

This document serves as a technical guide for using BATCH, a processing feature in the OS/78 operating system designed to execute sequences of commands without requiring constant operator intervention.

Key features and functionalities include:

• Automation: BATCH allows users to create input files (default extension .BI) containing fixed sequences of system commands to automate lengthy or after-hour tasks.
• Job Management: BATCH uses specific control commands, including $JOB to initialize a job, $MSG to communicate with the operator, and $END to terminate processing.
• Output and Spooling: The system generates logs of all actions. It supports optional output spooling, which diverts output from slow devices (like line printers) to fast file-structured devices (like diskettes) to improve system throughput.
• Compatibility: BATCH executes standard OS/78 commands by stripping the leading period from command lines. It includes features for handling monitor errors, managing job logs, and aborting tasks if necessary.
• Operational Rules: The guide outlines strict syntax conventions, such as command formatting, the use of asterisks for line continuation, and the capability to terminate runs via a CTRL/C command.

The document concludes with a practical example demonstrating how to structure a BATCH input file to perform file operations, compile programs, and manage diskette tasks.