Introduction to Terminal Commands

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# Introduction to Terminal Commands

This document covers the following topics:

- Purpose of Terminal Commands

- Changing the Terminal Command Control Character

- Issuing Terminal Commands

- Using Terminal Commands in Programs

- Terms Used in the Terminal Command Descriptions

## Purpose of Terminal Commands

A complete functional overview of Natural terminal commands is given in the section Terminal Commands Grouped by Function.

## Changing the Terminal Command Control Character

You can define another special character as control character; this is done with the session parameter `CF`.

When the control character is changed, all terminal commands which have been assigned to function keys will be adjusted accordingly.

## Issuing Terminal Commands

Terminal commands can be used in a Natural runtime environment. The following rules apply:

- You can enter the control character as first character in any unprotected field or in any position, if the screen contains only protected fields.

- As soon as you enter the control character, a window is displayed in which you can enter a terminal command.

- Terminal commands which have been entered incorrectly are ignored, but you will not receive a corresponding error message.

- If you have entered data in unprotected fields before the terminal command window is displayed, the data will not be processed.

## Using Terminal Commands in Programs

Terminal commands may also be issued from within a program by using the `SET CONTROL` statement. When a terminal command is specified with a `SET CONTROL` statement, the control character is omitted.

## Terms Used in the Terminal Command Descriptions

In the descriptions of several terminal commands, the terms "screen" and "window" are used with the following meanings:

Term | Meaning
--- | ---
Screen | Depending on the operating system under which Natural is running, "screen" refers either to the entire terminal screen as such, or to the operating-system window in which the Natural session is running, or to the Natural main output window. However, for the sake of convenience, the term "screen" is used in all these instances.
Window | Always refers to the Natural window (as explained with the terminal command `%W`).

### On this page

- Purpose of Terminal Commands
- Changing the Terminal Command Control Character
- Issuing Terminal Commands
- Using Terminal Commands in Programs
- Terms Used in the Terminal Command Descriptions