The Graham Utilities for OS/2 - Version 2

FI - File Information

Summary

FI allows you to display and edit comments attached to files.

Icon

Command Line Format

Usage: FI {Switches} <File Spec> Drive Spec(s)

Switches

-a

All disks.

-c

Only files with comments attached.

-d

Delete comments.

-e

Edit or add comments interactively.

-h

Hard disks only.

-l

Long comment listing.

-n

Set the comment as needed.

-s

Include subdirectories in the search.

Note : If no file specification is entered, all files are listed. If drive specifications are entered then those drives are searched. If no drive specifications are entered then the current drive is searched.

Description

FI allows you to attach, view and edit comments to files. FI uses Extended Attributes to save the file comments. See Appendix A for a description of extended attributes.

FI uses the .COMMENTS extended attribute to save its information.

-a All disks

FI will scan all logical disk drives defined by the system, starting at drive A:. The drives are scanned in order, starting at A:, then B: and so on.

-c Only files with comments attached

By default, FI lists all files matching the given file specification. This switch forces FI to only display files with comments attached to them.

-d Delete comments

This switch causes FI to delete the comments attached to all files matching the given file specification. No warning or prompting is given with the use of this switch.

-e Edit or Add comments interactively

This switch will cause FI to display a small window at the bottom of the screen and prompt you to edit or add comments for each file which matches the given file specification. The edit window looks like the following:

-h Hard disks only

FI will scan all logical disk drives defined by the system, starting at drive C:. The drives are scanned in order, starting at C:, then D: and so on.

-l Long comment listing

By default FI lists the file name, size, date, time and comments for each file. This may cause screen wrap, particularly when displaying long file names or long comments. The -l switch causes FI to only display the file name and comments.

-n Set EA as needed

This switch sets the EA as critical or needed.

By default, Extended Attributes (EAs) are non-critical. A non-critical EA is one which is not necessary to the functionality of the application. If a non-critical EA is lost, the system continues to operate correctly. For example, losing the icons associated with data files does not generally cause any ill effect other than the inability to show the icon.

A critical extended attribute is one which is necessary for the correct operation of the operating system or of a particular operation. EAs should be marked as critical if their loss would cause the system or program to perform incorrectly. For example, a mail program might store mail headers in EAs. The loss of the header from a message would normally render the mail program unable to use that message. This would be unacceptable, so the mail program should mark this EA as critical.

-s Subdirectories

FI will include subdirectories as part of its search of the specified disk drives. If a subdirectory name is included as part of the file specification, then the search will include that subdirectory and all subdirectories below it. If no subdirectory is given as part of the file specification, then the current directory and all below it are included in the search.

-w Only files without comments attached

By default, FI lists all files matching the given file specification. This switch forces FI to only display files without comments attached to them.

Examples

FI

FI -c

FI -l

FI -cl

FI -d

FI C:\STARTUP.CMD -e

FI C:\STARTUP.CMD -d

FI -ed

FI -ew

FI -cw