FILEDISP: file name search utility

Description

Locates file or library names from partial name information.

Categories

Compare & Search
Disk Management
System Operation

Related files

FILEDISP: Object file or assembler source.

User Instructions

A good method of learning the use of the '*' and '?' "wild card" characters, as used by other utilities and the FIND subroutine.

To use, specify the range of files to be listed with combinations of known and unknown elements. If you need help in determining the search, press PF(14) for an in-program documentation screen, which documents the use of the '?' and '*' characters to specify names ambiguously.

FILEDISP will find file, library, or volume names the meet the search criteria entered. For example, to display a list of all files in the system library, enter '?' for the file name, '@SYSTEM@' for the library name, and the name of the system volume for VOLUME. Lists are produced in disk order; press PF(09) to sort by file, PF(10) to sort by library, or PF(11) to sort by volume. If you wish to have a printed copy of the search, press PF(15).

FILEDISP may also be used to find libraries or volume. To search for libraries, leave the FILE field blank and enter a search combination for LIBRARY and VOLUME. Similarly, leave FILE and LIBRARY blank to search for volume names.

Programmer Instructions

While primarily an interactive program FILEDISP might be used under partial program control. The INPUT screen, which accepts the name search strings, can be run under program control.

INPUT       Enter data and press (RETURN) to continue, PF(14)
            to display program documentation, or PF(16) to
            exit program.

  FILE      (blank)     The name search strings to be
  LIBRARY   (blank)     matched.  A blank FILE field
  VOLUME    (blank)     indicates a library search; blanks in
                        FILE and LIBRARY indicate a volume
                        search.

Assembler source is available.

Example of use

Useful for learning how to use ambiguous specifications, as with several utilities (SCANSRC, SCANOBJ, etc.). Can also be used to locate files with similar names across a large number of libraries.

Comments

PC operating systems (MS-DOS, CP/M, etc.) treat '?' and '*' in exactly the opposite manner; that is, a asterisk ('*') means "any combination of characters" and a question mark means "any one character." Confusing. The '?' and '*' characters have been replaced in the Wang BACKUP utility with '+' and '-' (respectively). It is likely other Wang utilities will adopt this new form in the future.