                                   DIRS

Overview 

     With the current trend in RT-11 of using logical disks (virtual units,
virtual devices, subdirectories, ....), it has become apparent that  it  is
tiresome  to  search  for  a  particular file within a structure of logical
disks.  For example, say you have  just  returned  from  the  latest  DECUS
conference with a whole set of logical disks:  
 

                                  DECUS.DSK
                                /          \
                              /              \
                            /                  \
                          /                      \
                  DAY1.DSK                       DAY2.DSK
                  /    !                         /      !
                /      !                       /        !
              /        !                     /          !
        GAME1.DSK       MISC.DSK        UTIL.DSK        PLAY.DSK
                    /     \
                  /         \
                JUNK.DSK      PLAY.DSK
 

Suppose  you  want  to find the file PLANE.SAV.  You think that the file is
there - somewhere.  

     Current Methods 

     The  current  method  for  searching  subdirectories  is to mount each
logical disk as needed and to do a directory search on each logical disk as
it is mounted.  For example:  

                        .MOUNT LD SY:DECUS DK
                        .DIR PLANE.SAV
                        .MOUNT LD1 LD:DAY1.DSK DK
                        .DIR PLANE.SAV
                        .
                        .

and  due  to  Murphy's Law, this process will take along time due to typing
errors, forgetfulness, etc.  

     Modern Times 

     Using RT-11 version 5, it is possible to place the program DIRS on the
system volume and use it as a utility.  So  the  aforementioned  search  of
.DSK and .DEV files could be achieved using the commands:  

                        .MOUNT LD SY:DECUS DK
                        .DIRS LD:PLANE.SAV
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY1
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY2
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY1/GAME1
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY1/MISC
                                                                     Page 2



                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY2/UTIL
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY2/PLAY
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY1/MISC/JUNK
                        ?DIRS-I-Searching LD:/DAY1/MISC/PLAY
                        ?DIRS-I-No files found
                

Search Template Specification 

     DIRS may be run as a normal SAV file:  

		.DIRS DEV:FILTYP/OPTIONS

   The program accepts one output file, multiple input files and a number of
options (/NEW, /PRI, /FF, /HELP, /BLOCKS, /BRIEF, /TIME, /SINGLE). Note that
devices  are  'sticky' so  that  if any device is specified,  it need not be
re-specified for subsequent input files. Wildcards may be used in any of the
input file names (not devices) and as in the RT-11 DIRECTORY command. 

     The following defaults apply:  

                        output file:    TT:
                        output extension:       .DIR
                        input device:   DK:
                        input file name:        *
                        input file extension:   *
                

Examples:  

     .DIRS SY:.MAC,BLODGE,FUDGE.  

     This  will search SY:  and all the subdirectories on SY:  for any file
with extension .MAC or any file with the name BLODGE (any extension) or any
file with the name FUDGE and no extension.

     .DIRS DK:/NEW[FILES] 

     This will search DK:  and all the subdirectories on DK:  for all files
created on the current date with any extension and listings will be sent to
the console.  

     .DIRS /H[ELP] 

     will  produce  a screen of information.

     .DIRS DK:/PR[INT] 

     will direct output to the line printer (LP:), use with /FF to append a
form feed to the output.  
                                                                     Page 3



     Directory Listings 

     Directory listings emulate those produced by the command:  

                              .DIR/COLUMNS:2



     Earl Chew 
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