HIDEDIR v1.1, by Tom Neff.


INTRODUCTION
------------
This package allows you to create, remove, and move around in hidden
directories. The advantages of this package over other freeware
implementations are that (1) all parameters are specified on the command
line, rather than prompted for; and (2) complete specification of paths
is allowed, rather than requiring all work be done in the current
directory. Thus, for example, the three-step process

Move to the parent of the hidden subdirectory
Run the hidden-CHDIR program
Type in the hidden subdirectory's name

is now reduced to one step - type CDH .


WHAT AM I TRYING TO PUT ON YOUR DISK?
-------------------------------------
Hidden subdirectories are ordinary directories that hold files in the
usual way, but there are two special things about them. The first trick
is that they have the "hidden" file attribute bit set in their parent
directory entry. This means they don't show up in the listing DIR or
TREE makes. However, other utilities such as SDL30 *will* show them, and
if you know the name of a hidden file you can still access it, including
directories. So the second trick is to give the hidden subdirectory a
funny name that cannot be typed directly from the PC keyboard. RUBOUT
(ascii 127, symbol ) is a good choice of character to include in the
name, because even if you use ALT plus the numeric keypad 1-2-7 to enter
it at the keyboard, it just behaves like the grey Backspace key and
deletes the previous character!

So these utilities manipulate subdirectories with the hidden attribute
and rubout characters in the filename. But how do you enter the rubout
yourself? Use the asterisk (*) key instead - I will automatically
translate it. So \PROJECT\SEC*RET becomes \PROJECT\SECRET, etc.


YOU GET ALL THESE GOLDEN HITS
-----------------------------
There are three .COM files supplied in this package. They're all very
small, so if you have a RAMDISK they're pretty good candidates for
inclusion. NOTE: All of them mimic their DOS 2.x counterparts in syntax.

MDH.COM creates a hidden subdirectory. Note that as with the
PC-DOS MKDIR command, only the lowest (rightmost)
level is created - all parent levels must already
exist; for instance, MDH \FRED\JOE\SAM* assumes that
directory \FRED\JOE already exists, and creates a
hidden subdirectory (called SAM) underneath it.

CDH.COM accesses a hidden subdirectory, which then becomes the
current directory.

RDH.COM removes (deletes) a hidden subdirectory, which must be
empty in order for the command to succeed. Again,
only the rightmost level is removed: RDH \FRED\JO*E
removes subdirectory JOE from \FRED, but leaves \FRED
alone.


WHAT? NO ERROR MESSAGES?
------------------------
These commands are designed to be used with a minimum of fuss by the
authorized, and to be as unhelpful as possible to the unauthorized, so
they give no error messages or prompts. They either work or they don't.
If you get into trouble and forget what you're doing, just use SDL30 in
"tree" mode and it'll show you your subdirectories.


YOU'RE WELCOME
--------------
Tom Neff
Compuserve 75176,3532
March 12, 1985