sir first i use this command $ set def $2$dia1:[000000] ...its ok.. then i use this command $ sh def ....so the result is... $2$dia1:[000000] ....then i use this comand... $dir then i got this error %DIRECT-E-OPENIN,error opening $2$dia1:[000000]*.*;* as input -RMS-E-PRV,insufficient privilege of file protection violation now plz tell me what should i do to access dist. ajmal

You obviously doesn't have enough privilege to view the root directory of the disk. I suppose the protection of it will be world:execute. This means that with a standard non-privileged userid, you can't list the contents. But that you can access directories below this one if you have the right to view them. Example : if there is a directory $2$dia1:[jadoon], and you have enough rights to look into it (like when you're the owner of the directory), you can view the contents of it. So, a general solution for your problem to view this directory, is to use a userid with the more privileges. Btw this is basic OpenVMS stuff, so it may be good to read some about it. A good start would be : http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/731FINAL/6489/6489pro_009.html#prot_of_dirs Also note, that the fact that you can "set default" to the directory, doesn't mean much with OpenVMS. You can even set default to non-existing directories !

thanks for ur response basically two years before different users retrieve data from VAX.they retrieve data from following disks.. 1) D$6:[SABIR] 2) D$9:[SABIR] now after two years when i use this command $ show dveice D: so the system can not show D$6:[sabir] and D$9:[sabir]. its means the disk are not attached with system????. or some thing else??? the system shows only one disk that is device name device status error $2$dia1 mounted 0 plz tell me how i can access D$:[sabir] and D$9:[sabir] ...both disk...from system thanks waiting for ur reply regards ajmal