Purpose of a Sign-On Script

A script can be a simple, short program or a long, complex program, depending on what you want the script to do. The basic functions of all scripts are the following:
  1. invoke SAS on the server (by using the SAS command).
  2. set the appropriate communications options for the server session in the SAS command. For the server session, the script sets the COMAMID= and DMR system options.
  3. determine when the server session is ready for communications with the client session. In most cases, the script waits for messages from the server session.
Sign-on scripts might also perform the following tasks:
  • issue the server sign-on command and prompt the user for a user ID and a password.
  • issue informative messages to the user about whether script execution is proceeding successfully.
  • combine the SIGNON and SIGNOFF functions.
  • conditionally execute labeled portions of the script so that one script can accommodate multiple types of connections (for example, TCP/IP connections to both a spawner and a Telnet daemon).
  • issue server commands, such as commands that set session features or define server files.
  • define any response that is expected from the server.
  • conditionally execute script subroutines to handle successful operations and error conditions.
Note: Scripts that sign on to the server include information that is specific to the computing installation. The scripts might need minor modifications to work with your sign-on sequence.