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From: smith@uoregon.UUCP (Dale Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: VMS accounting (yuck!) question
Message-ID: <1428@uoregon.UUCP>
Date: 14 Jan 88 17:47:36 GMT
Reply-To: dsmith@oregon.bitnet (Dale Smith)
Distribution: comp.os.vms
Organization: University of Oregon, Computer Science, Eugene OR
Lines: 31

The University of Oregon is currently in the process of converting
from a DECsystem 1091 to a VAX 8800.  One of the problem areas is
the issue of accounting.  We currently (on the DEC-10) have the
ability for a person to charge different parts of a single session
to several different accounts.  Also, one can charge a batch job,
print job, or plot job to an account different than the current one.
How could one accomplish the same thing under VMS?

In my naive view of VMS it seems that one could use the account field
of VMS, have a database of valid values of the account field for each
user, and some privileged program that allowed users to change the account
field on the fly.  Obviously, when one changed the account field, you
would have to write an accounting record as if that person had logged
out, then back in.  I can imagine some similar situation for print, etc.

The problem is, I don't know much of anything about VMS.  Does anyone
out there have software that does something similar?  Has anyone heard
of such software?  Please, no flames.  I hate accounting as much as the
next person.  Also, don't clutter up the net with replies, just reply
directly back to me (notice that my e-mail address may be different than
what appears in the header of this message).

Thanks in advance,

Dale Smith, Senior Systems Programmer
Bitnet:	dsmith@oregon.bitnet
Internet: dsmith@oregon.cc.uoregon.edu (will go through csnet-relay I hope)
Voice:	(503)686-4394
USmail:	University of Oregon
	Computing Center
	Eugene, OR 97403-1212