HELPFUL HINTS NSWEEP - Version 2.07 by Terry Smythe Sysop, Z-Node 40 Winnipeg, Canada (204) 832-4593 (Z-Node) In my role as Sysop of Z-Node 40, I have come to depend upon NSWEEP V. 2.07 for much of my Board maintenance. With it's constant use, I have learned about some interesting, but not well documented features and applications of this wonderful utility. As this file moves around the RCPM's I would hope that other people will add to it from their experiences and put it back up again for others to enjoy. For the sake of brevity, I will assume that everyone has renamed this file on their systems to SW.COM, and that it is sitting on their A drive. 1. LOG DIRECT SW B Will log directly to the B drive. SW B3 Will log directly to the B drive, User 3 SW B* Will log directly to the B drive, all user areas. SW B*:*.DOC Will log directly to the B drive, all files *.DOC in all User areas. 2. CHANGING USER AREAS When in SW, use the RENAME function, and there are a number of options: a. Specify the Drive/User Area as part of the new file name. e.g If the file is called NSWEEP.COM and it's in A0: and you want it into A15:, use the (R)ename function and in response to the prompt, name it: A15:NSWEEP.COM b. With wildcards "?" and "*", you can change the user area for a group of file have some like characteristic in their file names. Use the (R)ename function, and respond with "*". You will be prompted: Prompt Your Response Old Name? *.* (or whatever) New Name? A15:*.* (or wherever c: As this is the rename function, you may also simultaneously change the name while at it. With this feature, the files are not copied into another user area, NSWP simply changes the User Area byte in the directory entry. 3. ERASING FILES a. To erase a single file, simply use the (D)elete function and answer "Y" to the prompt b. To erase a group of files, use the (T)ag function to identify those to be erased, then use the (E)rase function. You will be prompted with (T/U) ? | |____ (U)ntagged files |______ (T)agged files In this case, respond with T You will be asked if you wish to be prompted, by the prompt (Y/N/A) ? | | |___ (A)bort | |_____ (N)o, do not prompt. |_______ (Y)es, do prompt. If you are confident, respond with N If uncertain, respond with a Y c. To erase a group of files, and leave untouched a few files, use the (T)ag function to identify those to be saved, then use the (E)rase function, and in response to the next prompt, select U This will erase only the (U)ntagged files, and leave behind the desired files. d. To erase a complete drive (or disk) and all its user areas, log onto that drive using the wildcard option: SW B* Then use the (E)rase funtion, respond with the (U)ntagged option, and (N)o, do not prompt. Great for cleansing a hard disk immediately following a back-up. 4. HARD DISK BACKUP Have ready a series of blank formatted floppy discs adequate to contain your total hard disk, and get ready for repeated disk changing. Be sure all have lables and you have a felt pen nearby. Start by logging onto the desired drive with the all user areas option: SW B* Use the (W)ild card function, followed by a *.* response. Every file on that total drive, all user areas, will be (T)agged for (M)ass operations. Use the (M)ass operations function, and send (copy) the contents of the entire hard disk to floppies. As each destination disk fills up, the copying process will be interrupted by the "Destination Disk Full" warning message. Touch NOTHING! Change your disks, do NOT attempt to relog, simply use the (M)ass operations function again. The copying process will resume from the last file not completed, and continue until interrupted once again by the disk full warning message. The nifty feature here is that a file's user area ID is carried across into the new directory on the back-up disk. What this means is that anytime it becomes necessary to restore your hard disk from your back-up disks, the process need only be reversed, and all files will drop back into their respective user areas. 5. FIND A FILE Using the (F)ind function, you do NOT need to respond with a full file name. Wild cards are allowed, and also incomplete names. For example: Suppose you wish to find SD.COM on a disk containing about 60 or so files: F Find What? S | | | |__ Go find it! | | |_______ First letter of fn.ft | |_______________ Response |_______________________ (F)ind function NSWP will instantly find the first occurance of an fn.ft starting with S and as file names are in alphabetic sequence, all other file names starting with S will immediately follow. Any number of characters may be keyed in, but usually only one or two will suffice. Saves all that finger tip wear and tear tabbing down to the desired file. Also works like a charm to instantly find a file on a large hard disk, from within any user area if NSWP is first logged onto the desired drive with the (*)all user area option. 6. SET & REMOVE FILE ATTRIBUTES This option (Y) only works with previously tagged files where you might typically want to set a series of files to Read Only (R/O) status, or perhaps hide them with a System (SYS) file status, or alternatively remove the status flags. A number of different status flags are poossible. To set the flags, first (T)ag the desired files, then select the (Y)flags option. You may select more than one flag to the response. Removal is equally simple by selecting nothing - i.e., hit the space bar once, then , and the flags on all (T)agged files will be removed. **************************************************** These are but a few uses, not readily apparent, of NSWEEP v.2.07, by Dave Rand, from Edmonton, who has given us one of the finest file management utilities ever. No doubt there are others out there who have similarly discovered new and unusual applications of this fine utility, and they are invited to add them to this list, increment the release #, re-upload it to where you got it, and let this file grow. Terry Smythe Sysop, Z-Node 40 Winnipeg, Canada (204) 832-4593 (Z-Node) (204) 832-3982 (Voice) 20 Jan 1986 **************************************************** (Room for more) | | v 2 (Voice) 20 Jan 198