>>> ATTR ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Changes the file attribute of one or more files to the a new value. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename and will cause all of the files matching each filename to be listed. If no drive or path is given, then an error message will be issued and the program will be terminated. If a directory name is input then all files in the directory will be offered for selection. The Extended DOS program will ask for desired changes to the file attributes of the selected files. Changes are allowed to several, but not all, of the attribute fields. In particular, attribute characteristics CAN be modified for normal DOS files as follows: MODIFIABLE ATTRIBUTES FIXED ATTRIBUTES --------------------------- ------------------------------ A - Archive bit V - Volume Name S - System file designation D - Directory file designation H - Hidden file designation R - Read only designation Thus it is NOT possible to make a standard file into a Directory or vice-versa, nor is it possible to give a Directory an A,S,H or R designation with Extended DOS. In order to change one or more of the file attribute bits it is necessary to turn the bit `on' or `off' while leaving the remaining attribute bits alone. An attribute bit can be turned `on' by preceding the bit letter with a `+', an a bit can be turned off by preceding the bit letter with a `-'. For example, the command: +SR will turn `on' the System and ReadOnly bits and, -ASH would turn `off' the Archive, System, and Hidden bits. If the same attribute is included with both a `+' and `-' operator, or if the attribute letter is not included in either the `+' or `-' group, then no change will be made to that attribute bit. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the input name list will be presented separately for verification. The listing will indicate the file's old attribute and the attribute that the file will have if the file is selected. >>> COPY ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Duplicates files. In addition, the copy command can assigned copied files a new name or can place the copied files in another directory or on another disk drive. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename list. If more than one source file is specified, the target name must contain at least one wildcard character. If no target path is given, the current drive and path are assumed. Similarly, if only one source filename is listed the target path is assumed to be the current path and the target name is assumed to be the same as the source filename. Warning: none of the standard DOS COPY command parameters (/A /B or /V) apply to the extended DOS COPY function (See your DOS manual for explanation of these parameters). As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> TIME ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Changes the modification date and time of one or more files to the current date and time. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename and will cause all of the files matching each filename to be listed. If no drive or path is given, then an error message will be issued and the program will be terminated. If a directory name is input then all files in the directory will be offered for selection. The Extended DOS program will not modify date/times of files with hidden, System, Read-only, or Directory attributes. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> DEL ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Deletes (erases) one or more files. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename and will cause all of the files matching each filename to be listed. If no drive or path is given, then the current drive and the current path are assumed. The Extended DOS program will not delete files with Hidden, System, Read-only, or Directory attributes. Note: directories can be erased with the extended DOS function KILL. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> KILL ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Removes (erases) one or more directories. Remarks: Global filename characters are not allowed in the pathname. If no drive or path is given, then an error will be posted and no action will be taken. If a directory on the argument list is the current directory it will be removed and the current directory will be changed to the parent of the removed directory. If a directory on the argument list has no files it will simply be removed exactly as if the standard DOS command RMDIR had been issued. If a directory on the argument list contains files, a count of files by attribute type will be made and you will have the opportunity to list their names, to delete them all or to terminate removal of that directory. If a directory has files that have Read-only, Hidden, or System attributes it will not be removed. If a directory on the argument list has sub-directories, they will all be removed along with the listed directory, provided that they do not contain Read-only, Hidden or System files. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> LIST ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Writes one or more files to the screen or to a printer. This routine adds a header which shows the filename, creation date and the current page number. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename and will cause all matching files to be listed. If no drive or path is given, then the current drive and the current path are assumed. After verification of files to be listed, an opportunity will be given to set a number of relevant parameters, including: DEVICE: Output to screen or to a printer. TOP: Number of blank lines at the top of each page. PAGE: Page length - number of rows per page. LEFT: Number of spaces before first character on each line. LINE: Number of characters printed after left margin. TAB: Number of spaces for TAB expansion. SKIP: Number of characters to skip at the start of each line. CLIP: Number of characters to print from each input line. PAUSE: Pause/do not pause at the page or screen breaks. HEAD: Show/noshow header information at the top of each page. SET: Decimal codes to be sent before start of listing. Several parameters may be changed with a single entry. e.g. dev=0 top=10 set=27,71 clip=60 Use of the equal signs and commas is optional, a "space" may be used instead. >>> MOVE ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Relocates files from one place to another. Remarks: This function is exactly the same as the 'COPY' function except that the original file is destroyed after it has been replicated elsewhere. Global filename characters are allowed in the filename list. If more than one source file is specified, the target name must contain at least one wildcard character. If no target path is given the current drive and path are assumed. Similarly, if only one source filename is listed, the target path is assumed to be the current path and the target name are assumed to be the same as the source filename. Warning: none of the standard DOS COPY command parameters (/A /B or /V) apply to the extended DOS MOVE function. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> UP ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: To UPdate (refresh) the files in a drive or directory. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename list. If a directory name is specified, all files in that directory will be evaluated for possible updating. The update function will take each qualifying filename in turn and search the current working directory and the current environ- ment path directories until a matching filename is found. If the matching filename has a more current modification time, the program will copy it to the listed file. This program is particularly useful for updating backup diskettes. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> REN ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Renames files or directories. Remarks: Global filename characters are allowed in the filename list. A destination target name is required. The target name cannot exist as a file or directory. The target path must exist, and the target drive must be the same as the source drive. If a drive change is required, use the 'MOVE' function. RENaming Directories: Only one directory can be RENamed at a time. No wildcard characters are allowed in either the source directory name or the target directory name. If the path doesn't change, it is not necessary to repeat the source path. RENaming Files: If multiple files or sets of files are to be RENamed, the target name must contain at least one wildcard character in order to prevent assignment of more than one file to the target name. If no drive or path is given, then the current drive and the current path are assumed. Files can be relocated to another directory with the REName function, although the 'MOVE' function is preferred for this task. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> SEARCH ----------------------------------------------------------------- Purpose: Search through files for a given string of characters Remarks: During the program operation a prompt will be issued for input of a string of characters. A string of up to 238 char- acters can be entered. Entry is terminated when the Enter key is pressed. Printable and non-printing characters may be entered. Characters may be entered using unshifted, shifted and control keys. They may also be entered by pressing the Alt key and entering a 3 digit decimal code from the keypad. Note: The NULL character (decimal 000) and the Enter character (decimal 013) cannot be entered without terminating the string. Global filename characters are allowed in the filename and will cause all of the files matching each filename to be listed. If no drive or path is given, then the current drive and the current path are assumed. As with all of the extended DOS commands, each filename that qualifies under the filename list will be presented separately for verification. >>> WILDCARD USAGE: ----------------------------------------------------------------- The extended DOS program uses the wildcard characters '?' and '*' in a similar but different manner as standard DOS. Similarities: '?' represents any single character. For example the designation '?abc.def' will accept files with any first character as long as the remainder of characters is 'abc.def'. '*' fills the remainder of the filename or extension with '?' characters. For example, the designation 'abc*.*' is equivalent to the form 'abc?????.???'. Differences: The '*' designation can be imbedded within filenames. If so, the characters before the '*' will lead the filename, and the characters after the '*' designation will be set at the end of the filename. For example, the designation 'ab*cd.efg' is equivalent to 'ab????cd.efg' and will match any of the following filenames: abxcd.efg where 'x' is any character abxxcd.efg abxxxcd.efg abxxxxcd.efg >>> DESTINATION NAMES: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Some commands - like COPY, MOVE, REN - require a target spec- ification. It is always assumed that the last filename on the argument list is the destination target. Wildcard specifications in the destination name act as a template for modifying the names of the files being acted upon. For example, the command: XD COPY *.BAT *.TAB will duplicate all of the '.BAT' files and will give the copies the extension '.TAB'. In this example, if there are 3 files in the current directory named: ABC.BAT DEF.BAT GHI.BAT they will be duplicated by the files: ABC.TAB DEF.TAB GHI.TAB respectively. The use of wildcards in the destination names is very intuitive. A little experimentation will show that the system is natural and easy to use. A mixture of wildcard character and ordinary text characters in destination names will produce either of two effects depending upon whether the '/P' parameter is specified. Without '/P': Without specification of the /P (PREFIX) parameter, expansion of wildcards in the target name is exactly as described in the WILDCARD section above. For example, The REN (rename) command: XD REN JKLMNO.EXT WXYZ.BAT ABC*.* will rename files JKLMN.EXT and WXYZ.BAT respectively to: ABCMNO.EXT and ABCZ.BAT In other words, the characters in the destination name replace the corresponding characters in the input filename. With '/P': When the prefix parameter is specified, leading characters in the destination name will be inserted before characters from the input filename. In the above example, if the input command line is: XD REN JKLMNO.EXT WXYZ.BAT ABC*.* /P the input files will be renamed to: ABCJKLMN.EXT and ABCWXYZ.BAT >>> VERIFICATION: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Every command requires a verification of the selected filenames. That is, each qualified filename will be presented with a request "(y/n/x)?" which allows you to accept or reject that filename to be acted upon ("y" or "n"), or to accept that and all subsequent file names ("x"). To accept a filename as it is presented simply type 'y' to the prompt for that filename. For convenience in navigating through a long list of filenames, several cursor keys can be used. The 'Up' and 'Down' arrow keys move to the previous and next filename respectively. Similarly, the 'Home' and 'End' keys move to the start and end of the filename list. Finally, the 'PgUp' and 'PgDn' keys move up or down about half a screen full. Selection of all the files in a long list can be accomplished by typing 'x' or by holding down the 'y' key. In either case, it will stop automatically at the bottom of the list. An added benefit of the verification procedure is that it allows experimentation with the extended DOS commands without worry about accidentally damaging files - simply enter 'n' to all of the verification requests and no action will be taken on any files. >>> PARAMETERS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- At the present time there are 6 parameters allowed on a command line. /A - will list filename attributes during the verification procedure e.g. A..... Means that the file Archive bit is turned on, .D.... Means that this filename is a sub Directory, ..V... Means that this is the Volume name, ...S.. Means that this is a System file, ....H. Means that this is a Hidden file, .....R Means that this file is 'Read-only', (note: in actual practice the Volume designation will never be shown because of DOS limitations), /C - used with the SEARCH function only, this parameter will cause the program to search for the text in exactly the case in which it is entered. Without this parameter, extended DOS will search for upper case, lower case and mixed case versions of the requested text. /E - used with the SEARCH function only, this parameter will cause the program results to be echoed to the standard printer port. In addition, a page feed will be sent to the standard printer port at the conclusion of the program. /M - will invoke extended DOS menu at termination of program (this parameter is automatically set whenever extended DOS is run from the menu), /P - will enable the PREFIX function during creation of the destination filenames. (See the above section on DESTINATION NAMES). /S - will sort the filenames before they are acted upon, These parameters can be placed anywhere on the command line after the function name and must be separated by spaces from words around them. For example, the following command line is valid. XD MOVE /A *.BAT *.TXT /PS A:\Z*.* This will move all of the '.BAT' files and all of the '.TXT' files in the current directory to drive A:. Moreover, it will present the filenames for verification in sorted order (/S), and with attributes shown (/A). In addition it will prefix (/P) each transferred filenames with the letter 'Z' followed by as many of the original characters as possible. Note that more than one parameter may be set after the '/'. >>> INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------- Extended DOS (XD) provides some useful extensions to the standard DOS commands. In particular, it adds three useful features and several new functions that are not in standard DOS. Extended features: 1: Menu support. If you are not sure of an Extended DOS command simply type: XD This will cause a master menu to appear that has context sensitive help to guide you in developing the correct command line. 2: Before the XD command is executed, you will be shown a list of all the filenames that will be acted upon, and you will be able to select from the list, those files that you want included in the operation. For example, if you enter the command "XD DEL *.*" all of the files in the current directory will be listed on the screen. You will be able to pick from the list those files that you want to delete. 3: You may put many file specifications on one command line. For example, you may want to delete some of the '.BAT' files and some of the '.BAK' files and some of the files which start with the letters 'AH'. An appropriate command line might be: XD DEL *.BAT *.BAK AH*.* Extended DOS will present all of the files which match any of the three specifications. In some cases a target (or destination) file specification must also be given e.g. with the copy command. This is no problem, just be sure that the target specification is the last one on the command line. Extended DOS functions: Detailed discussion of all of these functions can be located through the help menu so only a brief summary is presented here. The current functions are: ATTR - The Attribute function allows you to change the attributes of files. For example, files can be made read only, hidden, etc.. COPY - This function copies files from one drive\path to another. DEL - The Delete function erases files from the disk. KILL - The kill function allows you to specify directory names to be removed from the disk. This function will erase all files and remove all subdirectories that are included within the specified directory name. As a safety measure, you will be given a chance to verify erasure of any files if they are present. LIST - The List function types a file to the screen or to the printer using a number of useful options. It automatically inserts page headings and form feeds if required. MOVE - The Move function is equivalent to a combined Copy-Delete function. Files are transferred from one drive or directory to another and are removed from their original location. REN - The Rename function allows filenames to be changed. With DOS versions 3.0 and greater directories can also be renamed. SEARCH - This function allows you to search files for text patterns. The results of the search are shown in context and may be echoed to the printer. TIME - The Date/Time function allows you to modify the time and date of files. UP - The Update function reads the filename list from the target drive\path directory. It then searches the current PATH to find more current versions of the target files. It then copies the more recent versions of the files to the target drive\path. This function is particularly useful for updating backup diskettes. >>>