System Commands Grouped by Category

This document is a summary of Natural system commands grouped by category.


Navigating in Natural

Command Brief Description
FIN Terminates a Natural session.
LAST Displays the system commands that were last executed, and allows you to execute them again.
LOGOFF Causes the library ID to be set to SYSTEM and the Adabas password to be set to blanks. The contents of the source program work area are not affected by this command.
LOGON Establishes a library ID for the user. In the specified library, all source or object programs saved during the session will be stored (unless you explicitly specify another library ID in a SAVE, CATALOG or STOW command).
MAINMENU Switches Natural main menu mode on or off, or invokes a program which creates a user-defined menu.
RETURN Returns to a return point set by a SETUP command.
SETUP Establishes a return point to which control can be returned using a RETURN command. This allows you to easily transfer from one application to another during a Natural session.

Natural Development Environment

Command Brief Description
AIV Displays all user-defined application-independent variables (AIVs) which are currently active.
COMPOPT Sets compilation options that affect the way in which Natural objects are compiled.
CPINFO Displays Natural code page settings such as the contents of the system variables *LOCALE and *CODEPAGE, and the code page definitions in the NATCONFG configuration module.
GLOBALS Changes the settings of Natural session parameters.
HELP Invokes the Natural help system.
KEY Assigns functions to keys to be used in your Natural session.
LAST Displays the system commands that were last executed, and allows you to execute them again.
LIST XREF Displays all active cross-reference data for the current library.

(Only available if Predict is installed.)

NATQVS Displays information (for example, CPU ID and logical partitions) about the machine on which Natural runs.
SYSAPI Only applies to Software AG products that provide application programming interfaces (APIs).

Invokes the SYSAPI utility to locate APIs if provided by the Software AG products installed at your site.

SYSCP Invokes the SYSCP utility to view code page information and administrate code pages for Natural source objects.
SYSEXT Invokes the SYSEXT utility with Natural application programming interfaces.
SYSEXV Invokes the SYSEXV utility with examples of the new features of the current Natural versions and debugging hints.
SYSFILE Invokes the Natural Print/Work Files function of the SYSTP utility for information on the print files and work files available.
SYSPARM Changes the settings of Natural profile parameters.
SYSPROD Displays a list of the products installed at your site, and information on these products.
SYSPROF Displays the current definitions of the Natural system files.
UPDATE Prevents database updating being carried out by a program.
XREF Controls the use of the Predict function "active cross-references". This function automatically creates documentation in Predict about the objects which a program/data area references.

(Only available if Predict is installed.)

Managing Applications with Natural Objects

Command Brief Description
CATALL Catalogs (compiles) all objects or selected objects in the current library.
CATALOG Catalogs (compiles) the source code currently in the editor work area, and if the syntax has been found to be correct, stores the resulting cataloged object in the Natural system file.
CHECK Checks that the source code currently in the editor work area does not contain any syntax errors.

Syntax checking is also performed as part of the system commands RUN, CATALL, CATALOG and STOW.

CLEAR

Clears the contents of the editor work area.

DELETE Deletes a source object and/or the corresponding cataloged object from the Natural system file.
EDIT Opens an editor to create or modify source code.
EXECUTE Executes a cataloged (compiled) program that has been stored as a cataloged object in the Natural system file.
INPL Invokes the INPL utility. It is only used for the loading of Software AG installation data sets into the system files.
LIST Lists one or more objects contained in the current library or the contents of the editor work area.
READ Transfers a source object from the Natural system file to the editor work area.
RENAME Changes the name of an object or the name and the type of an object.
RENUMBER Renumbers the source code currently in the editor work area.
ROUTINES Shows you which objects in the current library use which external subroutines.
RUN Compiles and executes the source program currently in the work area of the editor.
SAVE Stores the source code currently in the editor work area as a source object in the Natural system file.
SCAN Searches for a character string within a source with the option to replace the string.
STOW Catalogs (compiles) and stores source code as both a source object and a cataloged object in the current Natural system file.
STRUCT Performs structural indentation of a program source and helps detecting structural inconsistencies.
SYSDDM Creates and maintains Natural data definition modules (DDMs).
SYSERR Creates and maintains the messages you wish your Natural applications to display to the users.
SYSMAIN Transfers Natural objects within the Natural system from one library to another.
SYSNCP Creates and maintains the command processors to be used in your Natural applications.
SYSOBJH Processes Natural and non-Natural objects for distribution in Natural environments.
SYSRPC Invokes the SYSRPC utility to create and maintain remote procedure calls, that is, provides the settings necessary to execute a subprogram located on a remote server.
UNLOCK Displays locked Natural objects with the option to unlock them.

Monitoring, Debugging and Tracing

Command Brief Description
BUS Invokes the Buffer Usage Statistics function of the SYSTP utility. BUS provides statistical information on the usage of Natural buffers.
DUMP Provides information for Software AG technical support personnel in order to locate an error that caused an abnormal termination (abend) of the Natural system.
HELP Invokes the Natural help system.
LASTMSG Displays additional information on the error situation which occurred last.
PROFILER Invokes the Profiler utility to control and maintain trace data recorded by the Natural Data Collector. See also the system command RDC.
RDC Used in conjunction with the Profiler utility to activate or deactivate the trace recording function of the Natural Data Collector. See also the system command PROFILER.
RPCERR Displays the last Natural error number and message if related to Natural RPC (Remote Procedure Call), and the last EntireX Broker reason code and associated message. 
SYSADA Invokes the ADACALL utility to issue Adabas direct calls (native commands) directly to an Adabas database.

(Only available if Adabas is installed.)

SYSBPM Invokes the SYSBPM utility to monitor the buffer pool and adjust it to meet your requirements.
SYSEDT Invokes the SYSEDT utility to display runtime information of the editor buffer pool, modify its parameters, and delete logical work and recovery files.
SYSTP Invokes the SYSTP utility to monitor and control TP-monitor-specific characteristics of Natural.
TECH Displays technical and other information on your Natural session.
TEST Invokes the Natural debugger for online testing and debugging. The Natural debugger allows you to test various aspects of your applications and locate errors in the processing flow of programs.
TEST DBLOG Invokes the DBLOG utility for logging database calls.

Natural with Other Software AG Products

The following system commands are only available in connection with other Software AG products installed at your site:

Product Command Brief Description
Adabas SYSADA Invokes the ADACALL utility to issue Adabas direct calls (native commands) directly to an Adabas database.
Natural for DB2 LISTSQLB Invokes the Explain all SQL Statements function of Natural Tools for DB2.

See Using Natural Tools for DB2 in the Database Management System Interfaces documentation.

SQLDIAG Provides diagnostic information about the last SQL statement (other than a GET DIAGNOSTICS statement) that was executed. This diagnostic information is gathered as the previous SQL statement is executed. Some of the information available through the GET DIAGNOSTICS statement is also available in the SQLCA.
SYSDB2 Invokes Natural Tools for DB2 with functions required to maintain DB2 applications.

See Using Natural Tools for DB2 in the Database Management System Interfaces documentation.

Natural for DB2
Natural for SQL/DS

LISTDBRM Displays either existing DBRMs (Natural for DB2) or existing packages (Natural for SQL/DS) of Natural programs or Natural programs referencing a given DBRM (or package).
LISTSQL Generates a list of those Natural statements in the source code of an object which are associated with a database access. Also, it displays the corresponding SQL commands these Natural statements have been translated into. This enables you to view the generated SQLCODE before executing a Natural program which accesses an SQL table.
SQLERR Displays diagnostic information about the most recent SQL error.
Natural Optimizer Compiler NOCOPT Displays the current settings of the Natural Optimizer Compiler options as they were specified during Natural startup, and allows you to change these settings.
NOCSHOW Provides buffer information on the output generated by the PGEN option. PGEN causes the Natural Optimizer Compiler to output generated code and internal Natural structures.
NOCSTAT Provides statistical data on programs suitable for processing by the Natural Optimizer Compiler.
Natural Security MAIL Invokes a mailbox to modify its contents and/or expiration date. A mailbox is used as a notice board to broadcast messages to Natural users.
PROFILE Displays the security profile currently in effect. This profile informs you of the conditions of use in effect for you in your current Natural environment.
Natural SQL Gateway LISTSQL Generates a list of those Natural statements in the source code of an object which are associated with a database access. Also, it displays the corresponding SQL commands these Natural statements have been translated into. This enables you to view the generated SQLCODE before executing a Natural program which accesses an SQL table.
SQLERR Displays diagnostic information about the most recent SQL error.
Predict LIST XREF Displays all active cross-reference data for the current library.
XREF Controls the use of the Predict function "active cross-references". This function automatically creates documentation in Predict about the objects which a program/data area references.
zIIP Enabler for Natural ZIIP Invokes statistics on IBM System z Integrated Information Processors (zIIPs) used in a Natural z/OS environment.
Various products SYSAPI Invokes the SYSAPI utility to locate application programming interfaces (APIs) if provided by the Software AG products installed at your site.