ALTER.DOC
March 5, 1990

ALTER allows the user to change the date, time, and attributes
of disk files. The standard DOS drive, filename and wildcard
structures are supported.


Files:

ALTER255.COM - Uses intelligent output display
ALTER255.DOC - This file
ALTER255.HST - History file of changes to ALTER by version
ALTER255.HDR - CompuServe description header



Enhancements:

Display-Only function
Standard DOS format display
Intelligent output display
Date/Time blanking by parameters



Display-Only Function:

Shows the hex value of the file attribute(s) and a text
representation of each bit meaning.



Standard DOS display format:

The files that match the search parameter are displayed in
exactly the same format as used by the DOS Dir command.

Appended to the standard DOS display format is the hex
value of the attribute byte and its meaning.

DOS 4 users please note that file sizes greater
than 99,999,999 will overlay the last characters
of the filename extension. The field was not moved so
that field positions will remain in the same relative
positions as those provided by the DIR command.

IBM DOS 4.x has relocated this field to the right 1 position.



Intelligent output display:

ALTER determines if DOS I/O redirection to a disk file
or printer is active.

Version 2.55 determines if DOS I/O redirection to a disk file
or printer is active.

When redirection is active, all output is displayed a second
time using DOS. All screen output except the author banners
are then output to the redirected device or file.

For the screen, the color attribute found at the starting
cursor location is used.



Date/Time blanking by paramters:

Previous version of ALTER provided for blanking the
date and time by entering the file name(s) with no
paramters.

Users have requested a positive action be taken to blank
these fields. Setting the date to all zeros will cause
it AND the time stamp to be blank. Setting the time to
all zeros will cause only the time to be blank.

There is a peculiarity in DOS, such that if the user wants
a time stamp of 12:00a (all zeros), he must set the actual
time stamp to 00:00:02.



PIF:

ALTER is 'ill behaved' in screen management functions
as direct screen writes are used.

ALTER is 'ill behaved' because Int 23h (Control-Break)
is intercepted.



Switches:

Valid switches are /DI, HI, SY, RO, AR, RE
/DI - Display Only. No changes are made to the file(s).

/RO - Hidden bit. (01h)
Marks the file as Read Only to DOS.
Executable files can still be run if marked they
are marked Read Only. /RO files can not be
erased using the ERASE or DELETE commands.

/HI - Hidden bit. (02h)
Marks the file as hidden from normal DOS directory
searches. Executable files can still be run if
marked hidden. Hidden files can not be erased
using the ERASE or DELETE commands.

/SY - System bit. (04h)
Marks the file as hidden from normal DOS directory
searches. Executable files can still be run if
marked hidden. Hidden files can not be erased
using the ERASE or DELETE commands.

/AR - Archive bit. (20h)
Used by DOS for backup purposes. This bit will
not prevent erasure of this file.

/RE - Reset bits (00h)
Clears all archive bits to zero.
Subdirectories and volume labels are specifically
not supported.



Usage:

ALTER
This will display the instruction screen.
Switch letters can be upper or lower case.
'Type' ALTER.COM from DOS for the release date.


ALTER filespec.ext
This will display all matching files without change,
and is the only change from previous versions of ALTER.


ALTER filespec.ext 0-0-0 (or 0/0/0)
This will zero both the date and time stamps in the
directory, and neither will display during a DIR command.
It is not possible to display the time when the date
is blank.


ALTER filespec.ext 00:00:00
This will zero the time stamp, which will not be displayed
during a DIR command.


ALTER filespec.ext 00:00:02
This causes DOS to display '12:00a'. The seconds value must
be a minimum of 2, and less than 59.


ALTER filespec.ext /DI
This will display filespec.ext without change.
The hex value of the attribute is also displayed.
The DI switch overrides all others.


ALTER filespec.ext /DI > output.fil
This will display filespec.ext without change.
The hex value of the attribute is also displayed.
I/O is redirected to the specified file.


ALTER filespec.ext /SY/HI/RO/AR
or
ALTER filespec.ext /SY,HI,RO,AR
Filespec.ext changes to System, Hidden, Read Only, Archive.


ALTER filespec.ext /SY,HI,DI
Any combination including the DI switch will display only,
and leave attributes unchanged.


ALTER filespec.ext /RE
Reset switch is ignored if any other switches are active.
Reset will set filespec.ext attributes to none.




Please send a $10 registration to:

Bruce Gavin
4730 Signal Rock Rd
Colorado Springs CO 80922-1623
CompuServe: 70137,3244