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fmtmsg(3)

NAME

fmtmsg - Display a message in the specified format

SYNOPSIS

#include <fmtmsg.h> int fmtmsg( long classification, const char *label, int severity, const char *text, const char *action, const char *tag );

LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc)

STANDARDS

Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry standards as follows: fmtmsg(): XSH5.0 Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about industry standards and associated tags.

PARAMETERS

classification Defines the source of the message and directs the display of the formatted message, using the classes of identifiers listed below. Any one identifier from a subclass can be combined with a single identifier from a different subclass. Using two or more identifiers from the same subclass is not allowed, with the exception of identifiers from the Display subclass. (Both Display subclass identifiers may be used so that messages can be displayed to both standard error and the system console). The following identifiers are available: Major Classifications Identifies the source of the condition. The options are MM_HARD (hardware), MM_SOFT (software), and MM_FIRM (firmware). Message Source Subclassifications Identifies the software type that exhibits the problem. The options are MM_APPL (application), MM_UTIL (utility), MM_OPSYS, and (operating system). Display Subclassifications Identifies where the message is to be displayed. The options are MM_PRINT (standard error) or MM_CONSOLE (system console). One or both options may be used. Status Subclassifications Identifies whether the application will recover from the condition. The options are MM_RECOVER (can recover) or MM_NRECOV (cannot recover). An additional identifier, MM_NULLMC, indicates that no classification component is supplied for the message. label Identifies the message source. The label format consists of two fields separated by a colon. The first field can contain up to 10 bytes. The second field can contain up to 14 bytes. It is suggested that label contain at least the name of the application. severity Indicates the seriousness of the condition. The options are as follows: MM_ERROR Indicates that application has encountered an error. Produces the string ERROR. MM_HALT Indicates that the application has stopped running because it has found a severe error. Produces the string HALT. MM_INFO Displays information about a nonerror condition. Produces the string INFO. MM_NOSEV Indicates that no severity level is provided for the message. MM_WARNING Indicates a condition that might be a problem and should be monitored. Produces the string WARNING. text Describes the error that produced the message. The text string has no maximum length. If the text string is empty, the text produced is unspecified. action Describes the first action to be taken to recover from the error condition. The fmtmsg() function precedes every action string with the prefix TO FIX:. The action string has no maximum length. tag Points the user to the online documentation for the message. It is suggested that tag include the label as well as a unique identifying number. For example, program:subroutine:003.

DESCRIPTION

The fmtmsg() function writes a formatted message to either standard error, the system console, or both. Any message typically written to standard error (stderr) by printf() can also be displayed using the fmtmsg() function. A formatted message consists of up to five components (label, severity, text, action, and tag), as described in the previous section. The classification component is not part of a message displayed to the user, but defines the source of the message and directs the display of the formatted message. To omit any field from messages, use the null value of the field's parameter, as shown in the following table:

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