VAX-11 Information Directory and Index

This document, titled "VAX-11 Information Directory and Index" (Order No. AA-D016C-TE), published by Digital Equipment Corporation in March 1980, serves as a comprehensive guide to the VAX/VMS V02 operating system's software documentation set.

Its primary purpose is to provide an introduction to the extensive documentation, offering a synopsis of each manual and an index to help users locate specific information efficiently. It is intended for all VAX/VMS users, from operators to system programmers.

The document is organized into three main parts:

1. System Installation Guidance: Advises users to read the VAX/VMS Release Notes before installation for important updates and corrections.
2. VAX/VMS Document Descriptions: Provides brief descriptions of all manuals included in the software distribution kit. This covers:
   • Basic Documentation Set: Organized into 10 volumes (e.g., General Information, Command Language, Program Development Tools, System Services, Record Management, System Programming, System Management). Each manual's entry includes its title, order number, and suggested audience (Operator, Application Programmer, System Programmer, System Manager).
   • Optional Documentation: Descriptions of manuals for licensed software components like various programming languages (BASIC, BLISS, COBOL, CORAL, FORTRAN, PASCAL) and utilities (DATATRIEVE, DECnet-VAX, MUX200, Protocol Emulator).
3. Index: A general index of major topics covered in the basic VAX/VMS documentation set, directing users to the primary source manual for each topic. (Topics from optional documents are not indexed here).

In essence, this "READ THIS FIRST" document acts as a master table of contents and a navigational tool for the entire VAX/VMS documentation library.