OpenVMS System Messages Companion Guide for Help Message Users

This document, "OpenVMS System Messages: Companion Guide for Help Message Users" (April 2001, for OpenVMS Alpha/VAX Version 7.3), serves a dual purpose:

1. Guides users on the online Help Message utility (MSGHLP): It explains how to use this utility to access online descriptions of system messages. This includes understanding message formats, how the system reports messages, methods for retrieving messages, handling exception conditions, and various recovery procedures for common errors (command entry, resource unavailability, programming, system software/hardware issues). It also details how to customize and modify the Help Message database.
2. Provides a hardcopy reference for critical system messages: It lists and describes messages from specific OpenVMS facilities (e.g., BACKUP, BUGCHECK, MOUNT, LOGIN, SYSBOOT, SYSGEN) that may display on the operator's console when the operating system and the Help Message utility are not yet fully functional.