WTOR (Write-To-Operator-with-Reply)

Syntax:

WTOR(msgtxt[,wait][,route])

Arguments:

msgtxt: a 1 to 122 character message to send to the operator's console.
wait: a REXX printable integer between 1 and 86400 that represents the number of seconds to wait on the operator's reply before giving up.
The default wait is 60 seconds.
route: the routing codes for this message. Each routing code is a REXX printable integer between one and twenty. If more than one routing code is specified, they must be enclosed within parentheses. See "Specifying Routing Codes" for more information.

Module Name:

SWXWTOR

Service Description:

The WTOR (Write-To-Operator-with-Reply) function is used to write messages to MVS system consoles which prompt the system operator for a reply. The messages appear as high-intensity, non-scrollable messages. The operator may use the "D R,L" command to list WTOR message that have been deleted (but not replied to).

The WTOR function will automatically remove (DOM) the message when either the wait time expires, or the operator replies to the message. You do not need to use the REXXTOOLS DOM function for this purpose.

For a more detailed discussion of this topic, see "Communicating with the System Operator" in the IBM publication, MVS/ESA Assembler Programming Guide, GC28-1644.

Returned Information:

The WTOR function returns the operator's reply text or a null length string if no reply is present. If you CALL the WTOR function, the returned value is contained in the RESULT special variable. In addition, the REXX special variable, RC, is also set to contain a return code that indicates whether or not the operator replied.

The following WTOR return code values are possible:

0: the operator replied to the message.
4: the operator did not reply to the message. The wait time expired.

Examples:

Call the WTOR function to prompt the operator for a data set name:
```
if wtor('Enter Y or N') = 'Y' then
  say 'Yes, indeed!'
```
Send a WTOR to the master and tape pool consoles. Return if no reply for 30 seconds:
```
call wtor 'Continue processing? Y or N:',30,'(1,3)'
```