GLOBAL FILE UTILITY

Written by Kevin O'Connor

(C) 1987 Software Alternatives

Compuserve 71330,2547


INTRODUCTION

GLOBAL is file utility that allows you to perform functions that
affect files in all directories. In its simplest form, GLOBAL is
a WHEREIS type of utility with the added feature of telling you
the total number of bytes of all the files found. GLOBAL is much
more than this. GLOBAL allows you to give a starting path for the
file search and will search that path and all of its children.
The most powerful feature of GLOBAL, though, is its ability to
perform functions on the files found. For instance, it takes a
single command to delete all of the .BAK files on your hard disk.
Or, if you are running a network, you could write-protect all of
the .EXE programs on the hard disk with a single command.
GLOBAL's power is not limited to single commands. GLOBAL can
execute batch files full of commands.

USAGE

TO run GLOBAL, type the word GLOBAL at the DOS prompt followed by
the desired parameters. If you type GLOBAL alone without any
parameters, a short help message will be displayed. The syntax
for global is as follows:

GLOBAL filter1[;filter2;filter3...] [startpath] ["command"]

where the filters are the file(s) to be searched for. Any legal
DOS filename including the wildcard characters (* and ?) are
acceptible. You may specify as many filters as required by
separating them with semicolons, but each additional filter
requires another search and add time to the operation. The second
parameter, startpath, is the starting drive and directory. If
this parameter is not given, GLOBAL starts at the root directory
of the current drive. The third parameter, "command", is a DOS
command to be executed for each filename. This command must be
placed in quotes. When GLOBAL executes this command, it will
search for a %1 and replace it with the filename found. This
command will be executed for each filename found. Note: If you
wish to use a command, you must give a starting path also, so
that the command will not be mistaken for the starting path.

EXAMPLES

The following example will delete all the files ending with .BAK
on the current drive:

GLOBAL *.BAK \ "del %1"
The next example will type all of the .DOC files in the directory
\WS on the current drive and all of the subdirectories of \WS.

GLOBAL *.DOC \WS "type %1"

Do not let these simple examples limit you. You can construct
complex multi-command operations by having GLOBAL execute a batch
file and pass the file name to it.


This program may be distributed freely under the following
conditions:

This program and its documentation may not be modified.

The documentation must be included with the program.

This program may not be bundled or distributed with any other
product or service.

No fee of any kind may be requested or accepted.

All who find this program usefull are encouraged to donate to
Software Alternatives. If you donate $15.00 or more, you will
receive the next version when it's done. Also, any donations will
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new products. Send Donations to:

Software Alternatives
6172 E. 65th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220