








                                [1mATTRIB[0m
                 File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                           Reference Manual










                            February 1987

This  document  describes  the  ATTRIB  File  Attribute   Manipulation
Utility.  This utility is unlicensed and unsupported.








Revision/Update Information:       This is a new manual.

Operating System and Version:      MS-DOS* version 2.10 or later.

Software Version:                  ATTRIB version 1.0

Support:                           THIS SOFTWARE IS [1mNOT[0m  SUPPORTED  BY
                                   DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION.

Direct Questions and Comments To:  Brian Hetrick
                                   ZKO1-3/J10
                                   Digital Equipment Corporation
                                   110 Spit Brook Road
                                   Nashua NH 03062-2698
                                   USA






* MS-DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Digital Equipment Corporation                    Maynard Massachusetts
                                                         February 1987





The information in this document is subject to change  without  notice
and  should  not  be  construed  as  a commitment by Digital Equipment
Corporation.  Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no  responsibility
for any errors that may appear in this document.

The software described in this document is unlicensed and unsupported.
[1mDigital[0m [1mEquipment[0m [1mCorporation[0m [1massumes[0m [1mno[0m [1mresponsibility[0m [1mfor[0m [1mthe[0m [1muse[0m [1mor[0m
[1mreliability[0m [1mof[0m [1mthis[0m [1msoftware[0m.  This  software  is  provided  "as  is,"
without  any  warranty  of  any  kind,  express  or  implied.  Digital
Equipment Corporation will not be liable in any event for any  damages
including  any  loss  of  data, profit, or savings, claims against the
user by any other party, or  any  other  incidental  or  consequential
damages arising out of the use of, or inability to use, this software,
even if Digital Equipment Corporation is advised of the possibility of
such damage.





This documentation and the software it describes have been placed into
the public domain by Digital Equipment Corporation.





The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:

    DEC             MASSBUS         RSX             VAX
    DECmate         PDP             RT              VAXcluster
    DECnet          P/OS            ULTRIX          VAXmate
    DECUS           Professional    ULTRIX-32       VMS
    DECwriter       Rainbow         ULTRIX-32M      VT
    DIBOL           RSTS            UNIBUS          Work Processor
                            [4m [0m [4m [0m [4m [0m [4m [0m [4m [0m [4m [0m [4m [0m
                           | | | | | | | |
                           |d|i|g|i|t|a|l|
                           |[4m [0m|[4m [0m|[4m [0m|[4m [0m|[4m [0m|[4m [0m|[4m [0m|
                               [1mContents[0m



                                                                  Page

Preface                                                              v
    Intended Audience                                                v
    Structure of This Document                                       v
    Associated Documents                                             v
    Conventions Used in This Document                                v
    Acknowledgments                                                 vi

Summary                                                              1
    Format                                                           1
        Command Qualifiers                                           1
        Command Parameters                                           1

    Usage                                                            1
        Invoking                                                     1
        Exiting                                                      1
        Directing Output                                             2

Description                                                          3
    Invoking the File Attribute Manipulation Utility                 3
    Command Parameters                                               3
    Display of File Names and Attributes                             5
    Command Qualifiers                                               6
    Restrictions                                                     6

Command Qualifiers                                                   7
    /HELP Command Qualifier                                          7
        Format                                                       7
        Description                                                  7
        Example                                                      7

    /LOG Command Qualifier                                           8
        Format                                                       8
        Description                                                  8
        Example                                                      8

    /RESET Command Qualifier                                         9
        Format                                                       9
        Description                                                  9
        Example                                                     10

    /SET Command Qualifier                                          11
        Format                                                      11
        Description                                                 11
        Example                                                     12

Examples                                                            13
    Avoiding Full Backup After Restore                              13
    Avoiding Full Backup After Failed Incremental Backup            13
    Making a File Invisible                                         14
    Making a File Visible                                           14
    Making a File Unmodifiable                                      14
    Making a File Modifiable                                        15

                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                               Preface


                               [1mPreface[0m


[1mIntended[0m [1mAudience[0m

     This manual is intended for all MS-DOS users.


[1mStructure[0m [1mof[0m [1mThis[0m [1mDocument[0m

     This document has four major sections:

      o  The Summary section is an  overview  of  the  File  Attribute
         Manipulation  Utility  and  is  intended as a quick reference
         guide.  The Format  subsection  describes  the  command  that
         invokes  the File Attribute Manipulation Utility, listing all
         command qualifiers  and  parameters.   The  Usage  subsection
         describes  how  to  invoke  the  File  Attribute Manipulation
         Utility and how to redirect output.

      o  The  Description  section  explains  how  to  use  the   File
         Attribute Manipulation Utility and lists any restrictions you
         should be aware of.

      o  The  Command  Qualifier  section   describes   each   command
         qualifier.   This  section  lists  the  command qualifiers in
         alphabetical order.

      o  The Examples section contains examples of  common  operations
         that   you  perform  with  the  File  Attribute  Manipulation
         Utility.


[1mAssociated[0m [1mDocuments[0m

     To use the File Attribute Manipulation Utility, you  should  also
     be familiar with the following manual:

      o  [4mMS-DOS[0m [4mUser's[0m [4mGuide[0m, or  [4mDisk[0m  [4mOperating[0m  [4mSystem[0m  manual,  as
         appropriate.


[1mConventions[0m [1mUsed[0m [1min[0m [1mThis[0m [1mDocument[0m

     Convention                    Meaning

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/SET:SYSTEM[0m [1m*.*[0m      Command examples show output  lines
                                   or  prompting  characters  that the
                                   system prints or displays in normal
                                   type.   All  user-entered  commands
                                   are shown in [1mbold[0m type.


                                  v
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Preface


     /[NO]LOG                      Format  descriptions   use   square
                                   brackets   to   indicate  that  the
                                   enclosed item is optional.

     ATTRIB [4mwildspec[0m [[4mqualifier[0m]   Format   descriptions   show    all
                                   portions  of the command or command
                                   qualifier.  Upper case letters  and
                                   special  characters must be entered
                                   exactly  as  shown.    Lower   case
                                   italic letters indicate portions of
                                   the  command  for  which  you  must
                                   substitute  values  which determine
                                   the effect of the command.

     /SET:([4mvalue[0m[,[4mvalue[0m]...)       Ellipses    (...)     in     format
                                   descriptions   indicate   that  the
                                   immediately preceding item  may  be
                                   repeated several times.

     <CTRL/x>                      The symbol <CTRL/x> indicates  that
                                   you must press the key labeled CTRL
                                   while  you   simultaneously   press
                                   another key, for example, <CTRL/C>.


[1mAcknowledgments[0m

     The ATTRIB File Attribute Manipulation Utility  uses  the  public
     domain  command  line  parsing  package written by Bela Lubkin of
     Borland International Inc.

     Several employees of Digital Equipment Corporation served as beta
     testers  for  various  preliminary versions of this documentation
     and the software it describes.  The author thanks  these  persons
     for their contribution to this utility.


















                                  vi
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                               Summary


                               [1mSummary[0m


     The ATTRIB File Attribute Manipulation  Utility  displays,  sets,
     and resets attributes of files.


[1mFormat[0m

     ATTRIB [[4mwildspec[0m]... [[4mqualifier[0m]...

     [1mCommand[0m [1mQualifiers[0m            [1mDefaults[0m

     /[NO]HELP                     /NOHELP
     /[NO]LOG                      /LOG
     /RESET:[4mvalue[0m                  [none]
     /SET:[4mvalue[0m                    [none]

     [1mCommand[0m [1mParameters[0m

     [4mwildspec[0m

          A path  specification,  the  last  component  of  which  may
          contain  wild  card  characters,  describing the files whose
          attributes are to be displayed, set, or reset.   If  several
          path specifications are given, each is processed in turn.

     Command parameters and command qualifiers may  be  given  in  any
     order.


[1mUsage[0m

     [1mInvoking[0m

          You invoke the File Attribute Manipulation Utility with  the
          ATTRIB command.

     [1mExiting[0m

          You exit the File Attribute Manipulation Utility normally by
          waiting  until  processing  is complete.  The File Attribute
          Manipulation Utility will  return  control  to  the  command
          interpreter when processing is complete.

          You  can  exit  the  File  Attribute  Manipulation   Utility
          abnormally   by  typing  <CTRL/C>,  if  the  /NOLOG  command
          qualifier  has  not  been  given  or  if  the  MS-DOS  BREAK
          parameter is ON.




                                  1
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Summary


     [1mDirecting[0m [1mOutput[0m

          By default, messages from the  File  Attribute  Manipulation
          Utility  are  directed to the console device.  Such messages
          may be redirected to another device or a file with  the  I/O
          redirection facilities of the command interpreter.















































                                  2
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                           Description


                             [1mDescription[0m


     The  File  Attribute  Manipulation  Utility  is  a   command-line
     oriented  program  used  to  display,  set, and reset file system
     attributes of individual files or groups of files.

     Through the use of the File Attribute Manipulation  Utility,  you
     can  display  the names of hidden and system files, protect files
     against alteration or deletion, make files eligible or ineligible
     for  display  with  the MS-DOS DIR command, and force files to be
     backed up or not backed up with an incremental backup utility.


[1mInvoking[0m [1mthe[0m [1mFile[0m [1mAttribute[0m [1mManipulation[0m [1mUtility[0m

     You invoke the  File  Attribute  Manipulation  Utility  with  the
     ATTRIB command, optionally followed by one or more wild card path
     specifications of the files whose attributes are to be  displayed
     or manipulated.

     If you do not specify any wild card path specifications and  also
     do  not  specify  any  command  qualifiers,  the  File  Attribute
     Manipulation Utility will display the names and attributes of all
     files  in  the  current  directory  of  the volume in the current
     drive.

     If you specify command qualifiers other than  /HELP  but  do  not
     specify  any  wild  card  path specifications, the File Attribute
     Manipulation Utility will take no action.

     If you specify at least one wild  card  path  specification,  the
     File  Attribute  Manipulation Utility will process all files with
     names matching the wild card path specifications and then exit.


[1mCommand[0m [1mParameters[0m

     The File Attribute Manipulation Utility processes the files whose
     names  are  selected  by  the wild card path specifications.  For
     example, the following command displays the attributes and  names
     of all files on the current directory of the volume in drive C:











                                  3
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Description


          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1mC:*.*[0m
          ATTRIB version 1.0

          C:\*.*:
            IBMBIO.COM    Arc     R/O Hid Sys
            IBMDOS.COM    Arc     R/O Hid Sys
            AUTOEXEC.BAT  Arc
            BIN               Dir
            LIB               Dir
            USR               Dir
            CONFIG.SYS    Arc
            M2LOD             Dir
            M2LIB             Dir

     If a drive letter is specified in a wild card path specification,
     the  path  is  interpreted  as  residing  on  the  volume  in the
     specified drive.  Otherwise, the path is interpreted as  residing
     on  the  current  default  drive.  If the path starts with a back
     slash (\), the path  is  interpreted  as  relative  to  the  root
     directory  of  the volume.  Otherwise, the path is interpreted as
     relative to the current default directory of the volume.  In  all
     of  these  cases,  the  absolute  form  of  the  wild  card  path
     specification is displayed, followed by a line for  each  of  the
     files selected by the wild card path specification.

     The last component  of  the  path  specifications  given  in  the
     command may contain wild card characters.  An asterisk (*) in the
     file name portion of the last component of the path specification
     indicates  that  all  files  whose names match the portion of the
     file name before the asterisk will match the file  name  portion.
     An  asterisk  as  the  first  or  only character of the file name
     portion of the last component  of  the  path  specification  will
     match  the file name of all files.  Similarly, an asterisk in the
     file  extension  portion  of  the  last  component  of  the  path
     specification indicates that all files whose extensions match the
     portion of the file extension before the asterisk will match  the
     file  extension  portion.   An  asterisk  as  the  first  or only
     character of the file extension portion of the last component  of
     the  path  specification  will  match  the  file extension of all
     files.

     A question mark (?) in any position of the last component of  the
     path specification will match any single character in a file name
     or file extension.  Question marks as the last characters of  the
     file name or file extension portions of the last component of the
     path specification will also match null (nonexistent)  characters
     of the file name or file extension.

     If the current directory on the volume in drive  B  is  the  root
     directory, then the command:



                                  4
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                           Description


          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1mB:???.D*[0m

     will list the attributes and names  of  all  files  in  the  root
     directory  of  the volume in drive B whose file names are at most
     three characters long, and whose file extensions start  with  the
     letter D.

     Except in the root directory of a volume, a single period (.)  in
     the place of a directory name refers to the directory which would
     be specified in the absence of the period, while two periods (..)
     refers to the parent of the directory which would be specified in
     the absence of the two periods.  When the directory  which  would
     be  specified  without  the  periods  is  the root directory of a
     volume, both a single period and two periods refers to  the  root
     directory.  A single back slash also refers to the root directory
     of a volume.

     If the path specification ends in either a colon (:)  or  a  back
     slash  (\),  the  File Attribute Manipulation Utility appends the
     wild card specification *.* to the path appearing in the  command
     line.  For example, the command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1mA:[0m

     lists the attributes and names of files in the current  directory
     of the volume in drive A.


[1mDisplay[0m [1mof[0m [1mFile[0m [1mNames[0m [1mand[0m [1mAttributes[0m

     The File Attribute Manipulation Utility lists the attributes  and
     names of the files matching each the wild card path specification
     in the following format:

          pathspec:
            filename.ext  Arc Dir R/O Hid Sys

     "Pathspec" is the wild card path specification specified  in  the
     command  line,  expressed in absolute terms.  It includes a drive
     letter and a complete path specification  relative  to  the  root
     directory of the volume in the drive.

     "Filename.ext" is the  name  of  a  file  selected  by  the  path
     specification,  relative  to  the  directory  containing the last
     component of the path specification.

     "Arc," if present, indicates that  the  file  has  the  "archive"
     attribute  set.   This  attribute  is  set  whenever  the file is
     written to, and is reset only by  specific  programmed  requests.
     This  attribute  is often used by incremental backup utilities to
     determine whether a file has changed since the last backup.


                                  5
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Description


     "Dir," if present, indicates that the file  has  the  "directory"
     attribute  set.  This attribute is set when the file is an MS-DOS
     subdirectory, rather than a data file.

     "R/O," if present, indicates that the file has  the  "read  only"
     attribute  set.   This  attribute  prevents  the  file from being
     written to or deleted.

     "Hid," if present, indicates  that  the  file  has  the  "hidden"
     attribute set.  This attribute prevents the file from being found
     by normal directory searches, such as  used  by  the  MS-DOS  DIR
     command.

     "Sys," if present, indicates  that  the  file  has  the  "system"
     attribute set.  This attribute prevents the file from being found
     by normal directory searches, such as  used  by  the  MS-DOS  DIR
     command.


[1mCommand[0m [1mQualifiers[0m

     You can obtain a description of the File  Attribute  Manipulation
     Utility's  command  parameters  and  command  qualifiers with the
     /HELP command qualifier.

     You can suppress the listing of the  file  names  and  attributes
     with the /NOLOG command qualifier.

     You can modify the attributes of  the  files  selected  with  the
     /RESET and /SET command qualifiers.  In this case, the attributes
     listed are the file attributes as modified by the /RESET and /SET
     command  qualifiers,  rather  than  the  file  attributes  before
     modification.


[1mRestrictions[0m

     You cannot set or reset the directory attribute of a file.   This
     is a limitation of the MS-DOS file system.

     You can use wild card characters only in the last component of  a
     path specification.  This is a limitation of the directory search
     process provided by the MS-DOS operating system.










                                  6
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                    Command Qualifiers


                       [1m/HELP[0m [1mCommand[0m [1mQualifier[0m


[1mFormat[0m

     /HELP
     /NOHELP


[1mDescription[0m

     By default, the File Attribute Manipulation Utility does not give
     a description of the command parameters and command qualifiers it
     accepts.  The /HELP command qualifier controls the generation  of
     this  description  of  command parameters and command qualifiers.
     If you specify /HELP, the description is produced.  If  you  omit
     the qualifier or specify /NOHELP, no description is produced.

     The HELP keyword may be  abbreviated  to  any  leading  substring
     which  does  not  also abbreviate another command qualifier.  The
     minimum abbreviation of the  HELP  keyword  is  H.   The  minimum
     abbreviation of the NOHELP negated keyword construct is NOH.

     If the /HELP command qualifier is specified several  times  in  a
     single  command,  the  rightmost  occurrence  of the qualifier is
     effective.


[1mExample[0m

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/HELP[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     Command line:   ATTRIB filespec [qualifier]...

     'filespec' is a path specification possibly with wild card characters
        in the last component

     'qualifier' is one of /[NO]HELP, /[NO]LOG, /SET:value, /RESET:value,
        /CLEAR:value, /REMOVE:value

        /SET grants attributes
        /RESET, /CLEAR, and /REMOVE remove attributes

     'value' is either name or (name[,name]...)

     'name' is one of ARCHIVE, HIDDEN, SYSTEM, READ[4m [0mONLY

     All keywords may be uniquely abbreviated




                                  7
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Command Qualifiers


                        [1m/LOG[0m [1mCommand[0m [1mQualifier[0m


[1mFormat[0m

     /LOG
     /NOLOG


[1mDescription[0m

     By default, the File Attribute  Manipulation  Utility  lists  the
     attributes  and  names of all files selected by the command line.
     The  /LOG  command  qualifier  controls  this  listing  of   file
     attributes  and  names.   If  you  specify  /NOLOG, no listing is
     produced.  If you omit the qualifier or specify /LOG, the listing
     is produced.

     The LOG keyword may be abbreviated to any leading substring which
     does  not also abbreviate another command qualifier keyword.  The
     minimum abbreviation of  the  LOG  keyword  is  L.   The  minimum
     abbreviation of the NOLOG negated keyword construct is NOL.

     If the /LOG command qualifier is specified  several  times  in  a
     single  command,  the  rightmost  occurrence  of the qualifier is
     effective.


[1mExample[0m

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/SET:SYSTEM[0m [1m*.*[0m [1m/NOLOG[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m*.*[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     E:\*.*:
       ABSTRACT          Dir         Sys
       M2LIB             Dir         Sys
       M2LOD             Dir         Sys

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m*.*[0m [1m/RESET:SYSTEM[0m [1m/LOG[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     E:\*.*:
       ABSTRACT          Dir
       M2LIB             Dir
       M2LOD             Dir





                                  8
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                    Command Qualifiers


                       [1m/RESET[0m [1mCommand[0m [1mQualifier[0m


[1mFormat[0m

     /RESET:[4mvalue[0m
     /RESET:([4mvalue[0m[,[4mvalue[0m]...)
     /CLEAR:[4mvalue[0m
     /CLEAR:([4mvalue[0m[,[4mvalue[0m]...)
     /REMOVE:[4mvalue[0m
     /REMOVE:([4mvalue[0m[,[4mvalue[0m]...)


[1mDescription[0m

     By  default,  the  File  Attribute  Manipulator  Utility   leaves
     unchanged  the  attributes of the files selected by the wild card
     path specifications.  The /RESET command  qualifier  directs  the
     File  Attribute  Manipulation  Utility to reset (remove) specific
     attributes for the selected files.  The value specified  for  the
     /RESET command qualifier may be a single item from the list:

          ARCHIVE - Specifying this item directs  the  File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to reset the "archive" attribute

          HIDDEN - Specifying this item  directs  the  File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to reset the "hidden" attribute

          READ[4m [0mONLY - Specifying this item directs the File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to reset the "read only" attribute

          SYSTEM - Specifying this item  directs  the  File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to reset the "system" attribute

     The value specified for the /RESET command qualifier may also  be
     a  combination  of these values, separated by commas and enclosed
     in parentheses.

     The ARCHIVE,  HIDDEN,  READ[4m [0mONLY,  and  SYSTEM  keywords  may  be
     abbreviated   to  any  leading  substring  which  does  not  also
     abbreviate another of these keywords.  The minimum  abbreviations
     of these keywords are A, H, R, and S, respectively.

     The CLEAR, REMOVE, and RESET keywords are synonyms.   The  CLEAR,
     REMOVE,  and  RESET  keywords  may  be abbreviated to any leading
     substring  which  does  not  also  abbreviate   another   command
     qualifier  keyword.   The  minimum abbreviation of these keywords
     are C, R, and R, respectively.  R and RE are  accepted  for  both
     the REMOVE and RESET keywords as these keywords are synonyms.

     An equals sign (=) may be  used  in  place  of  a  colon  (:)  to
     separate the command qualifier keyword from the command qualifier

                                  9
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Command Qualifiers


     value.

     If the /RESET command qualifier is specified several times  in  a
     single command, attributes appearing in any of the /RESET command
     qualifiers are reset.

     No item specified in the /RESET command  qualifier  may  also  be
     specified in the /SET command qualifier.


[1mExample[0m

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1mG:\BIN\C*.COM[0m [1m/SET:(ARCHIVE,HIDDEN,READ[0;4m [0;1mONLY,SYSTEM)[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     G:\BIN\C*.COM:
       CHKDSK.COM    Arc     R/O Hid Sys
       COMMAND.COM   Arc     R/O Hid Sys

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1mG:\BIN\C*.COM[0m [1m/RESET:HIDDEN[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     G:\BIN\C*.COM:
       CHKDSK.COM    Arc     R/O     Sys
       COMMAND.COM   Arc     R/O     Sys




























                                  10
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                    Command Qualifiers


                        [1m/SET[0m [1mCommand[0m [1mQualifier[0m


[1mFormat[0m

     /SET:[4mvalue[0m
     /SET:([4mvalue[0m[,[4mvalue[0m]...)


[1mDescription[0m

     By  default,  the  File  Attribute  Manipulator  Utility   leaves
     unchanged  the  attributes of the files selected by the wild card
     path specifications.  The /SET command qualifier directs the File
     Attribute Manipulation Utility to set specific attributes for the
     selected  files.   The  value  specified  for  the  /SET  command
     qualifier may be a single item from the list:

          ARCHIVE - Specifying this item directs  the  File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to set the "archive" attribute

          HIDDEN - Specifying this item  directs  the  File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to set the "hidden" attribute

          READ[4m [0mONLY - Specifying this item directs the File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to set the "read only" attribute

          SYSTEM - Specifying this item  directs  the  File  Attribute
               Manipulator Utility to set the "system" attribute

     The value specified for the /SET command qualifier may also be  a
     combination  of these values, separated by commas and enclosed in
     parentheses.

     The ARCHIVE,  HIDDEN,  READ[4m [0mONLY,  and  SYSTEM  keywords  may  be
     abbreviated   to  any  leading  substring  which  does  not  also
     abbreviate  another  of  these  four   keywords.    The   minimum
     abbreviations of these keywords are A, H, R, and S, respectively.

     The SET keyword may be abbreviated to any leading substring which
     does  not also abbreviate another command qualifier keyword.  The
     minimum abbreviation of the SET keyword is S.

     An equals sign (=) may be  used  in  place  of  a  colon  (:)  to
     separate the command qualifier keyword from the command qualifier
     value.

     If the /SET command qualifier is specified  several  times  in  a
     single  command,  attributes appearing in any of the /SET command
     qualifiers are set.

     No item specified in the  /SET  command  qualifier  may  also  be

                                  11
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Command Qualifiers


     specified in the /RESET command qualifier.


[1mExample[0m

     E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1mG:\BIN\C*.COM[0m [1m/SET:(HIDDEN,ARCHIVE)[0m
     ATTRIB version 1.0

     G:\BIN\C*.COM:
       CHKDSK.COM    Arc         Hid
       COMMAND.COM   Arc         Hid










































                                  12
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                              Examples


                               [1mExamples[0m


[1mAvoiding[0m [1mFull[0m [1mBackup[0m [1mAfter[0m [1mRestore[0m

     Many  file  backup  and  restore  utilities  permit   incremental
     backups, where only files having the archive attribute are copied
     from the disk  being  backed  up  to  the  backup  media.   These
     utilities  generally  exactly  restore the files' attributes when
     such files are restored.  At the  next  incremental  backup,  all
     restored  files  are  backed  up  again, as they have the archive
     attribute, this being the reason they were included in the  first
     backup.

     You can use the File Attribute Manipulation Utility to reset  the
     archive  attributes  of such files, making them ineligible for an
     incremental backup.  This is useful when large files are restored
     from  a  previous  backup, and it is not desired to back up these
     files yet again.  The command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/RESET:ARCHIVE[0m [1m*.*[0m

     will reset the archive attribute of  all  files  in  the  current
     directory of the current drive, making these files ineligible for
     future incremental backups until their contents are changed.


[1mAvoiding[0m [1mFull[0m [1mBackup[0m [1mAfter[0m [1mFailed[0m [1mIncremental[0m [1mBackup[0m

     Many  file  backup  and  restore  utilities  permit   incremental
     backups, where only files having the archive attribute are copied
     from the disk being backed up to the backup media.  Some of these
     utilities  remove  the  archive attribute from files as the files
     are copied to the backup media, before it is  known  whether  the
     backup  as  a  whole  is successful.  With such utilities, if the
     backup  process  fails  before  completion,  the  files  may   be
     unrecoverable  from the backup media created by the failed backup
     process.  Even after the cause of the  backup  utility's  failure
     has  been  removed,  an  incremental  backup will not back up the
     files whose archive attributes were removed by the failed  backup
     process.

     You can use the File Attribute Manipulation Utility  to  set  the
     archive  attribute  of the files whose archive attribute has been
     removed by a failed incremental backup.  The command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/SET:ARCHIVE[0m [1m*.*[0m

     will give the archive attribute  to  all  files  in  the  current
     directory of the current drive, making these files eligible for a
     future incremental backup.


                                  13
File Attribute Manipulation Utility
Examples


[1mMaking[0m [1ma[0m [1mFile[0m [1mInvisible[0m

     You can use the File Attribute Manipulation  Utility  to  make  a
     file undetectable through normal directory searches, such as used
     by  the  MS-DOS  DIR  command.   Files  with  either  the  hidden
     attribute  or  the  system attribute are not found through normal
     directory searches.  The command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/SET:HIDDEN[0m [1;4mfilename[0m

     will set the hidden attribute of the file specified by  [4mfilename[0m,
     and  so  make  it undetectable through normal directory searches.
     If [4mfilename[0m specifies a subdirectory, then it will not appear  in
     directory listings, but otherwise will act normally.


[1mMaking[0m [1ma[0m [1mFile[0m [1mVisible[0m

     You can use the File Attribute Manipulation  Utility  to  make  a
     file  which  has  one  or both of the hidden and system attribute
     detectable through normal directory searches, such as used by the
     MS-DOS DIR command.  The command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/RESET:(HIDDEN,SYSTEM)[0m [1;4mfilename[0m

     will  reset  the  hidden  and  system  attributes  for  the  file
     specified by [4mfilename[0m.

     As files with the hidden or system attributes are not  detectable
     through  normal  directory  searches, a utility that uses special
     directory searches must be used to detect  their  presence.   The
     File  Attribute  Manipulator  Utility  uses  such  searches.  The
     command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m*.*[0m

     will list the attributes and names of all files  in  the  current
     directory, including files with the hidden or system attributes.


[1mMaking[0m [1ma[0m [1mFile[0m [1mUnmodifiable[0m

     You can make a file ineligible to be  written  upon  or  deleted,
     with  the File Attribute Manipulation Utility.  This protects the
     files against accidental deletion or modification.  The command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/SET:READ[0;4m [0;1mONLY[0m [1;4mfilename[0m

     gives the file specified by [4mfilename[0m  the  read  only  attribute.
     The  MS-DOS operating system will not permit a file with the read
     only attribute to be written  upon  or  deleted.   To  modify  or
     delete  the  file,  it is first necessary to remove the read only

                                  14
                                   File Attribute Manipulation Utility
                                                              Examples


     attribute.


[1mMaking[0m [1ma[0m [1mFile[0m [1mModifiable[0m

     You can make a file which has the read  only  attribute  eligible
     for   modification   and   deletion   using  the  File  Attribute
     Manipulation Utility.  This would be necessary, for  example,  if
     you  wanted  to  delete  a  data  file  which  contained obsolete
     information, but which  had  been  protected  against  accidental
     modification or deletion.  The command:

          E>[1mATTRIB[0m [1m/RESET:READ[0;4m [0;1mONLY[0m [1;4mfilename[0m

     removes the read  only  attribute  from  the  file  specified  by
     [4mfilename[0m.   The MS-DOS operating system will then permit the file
     to be written upon or deleted.




































                                  15
