using tbtape in scripts

We want to run tbtape periodically (read via cron) using a script. INFORMIX OnLine 5.0 documentation suggests that tbtape is ment to be interactive. Anyone ever tried to script tbtape? It is very handy to have an interactive program which will prompt the user for various options and hold their hand through the processing. This is important especialy when one is using a program infreguently or irregularly. It is very handy to have an essentially "batch" program for tasks which are done routinely using the same arguments. Unfortunately, tbtape seem to be a little of both but not much of either. It will prompt an operator for interaction but only if it has been invoked with the correct arguments. (I argue that if it is really interactive, then it ought to prompt for the inital arguments too.) There appears to be no way to supply the information for which it prompts (such as archive level) as part of the command line. Since tbtape could reasonible be applied in both batch and interactive situations it ought to be programmed to readily support either. My goal is to minimize operator intervention and maximize automation of routine operations. -Dave -- David W. Cooley e-mail: dwcooley@colby.edu Associate Director for Technical Services phone: (207)872-3581 Computer Services fax: (207)872-3555 Colby College Waterville, Maine 04901