Working with Files

You often need to move files from one environment to another to be shared by other programs, other users, and other systems. You need to have an easy method of transferring files while retaining a level of security against unauthorized access. The creator of a file has control over who else can access it. The following procedures provide instructions for copying files and for maintaining file security.

To copy a file

To make a duplicate copy of a file in your own group or account, use the COPY command. Provide the name of the file that you are copying from (the source file) and the name of the file that you are copying to (the target file), separating the two with a semicolon (;). Provide a unique file name for the target file as the COPY command will write over any existing file with the same name.

To make a copy of file

To copy a file use the COPY command:

   :COPY FROM=source;TO=target Return

The following example duplicates the file MYFILE by creating a new file called NEWFILE:

   :COPY FROM=MYFILE;TO=NEWFILE Return

This example assumes that the name provided after the TO= parameter is unique.

To copy over an existing file

To copy over an existing file, use the COPY command:

   :COPY FROM=OLDFILE;TO=OTHERFIL Return

If you are copying a file to a file name that already exists on the system, the COPY command displays the following prompt:

   PURGE OLD filename.groupname.acctname?

A YES or Y response overwrites (purges) the existing file. A NO or N response terminates the COPY command without copying the file.

To not copy over an existing file

To ensure that the COPY command does not copy the file over a previously existing file, use the NO parameter.

   :COPY FROM=filename;TO=filename;NO Return

The following example prevents the copy of the file STATUS91 over an existing file, STATUS91. There will be no prompt asking you to purge the existing (old) file.

   COPY FROM=STATUS91;TO=STATUS91;NO Return

The message "NO COPY WAS DONE." (CIERR 9113) assures you that your old file, STATUS91, was not overwritten.

To copy a file to a different group

To copy a file to a different group, use the COPY command specifying the group name of the new file:

   :COPY FROM=filename;TO=filename.groupname Return

The following example copies the file REPORT to a new file called REPORT in the PAYABLE group.

   :COPY FROM=REPORT;TO=REPORT.PAYABLE Return

To rename a file

To change the name of a file, use the RENAME command. Enter the command and the current file name, followed by the new file name. You must be the creator of the file in order to perform this task.

   :RENAME oldname, newname Return

The following example renames a file MYFILE1 to MYFILE2:

   :RENAME MYFILE1, MYFILE2 Return

To delete a file that you have created

To delete unwanted files use the PURGE command. Enter the PURGE command and the file name:

   :PURGE filename Return

To delete an unwanted file that you have not created. Enter the PURGE command from an account with SM or AM capability:

   :PURGE filename.groupname.accountname Return

To delete a file using wildcards

To delete a directory and the files or directories it contains using wildcards, use the PURGEDIR command, for example:

:purgedir /MYACCT/MYGRP/@

This example deletes all directories rooted to /MYACCT/MYGRP.

To delete all empty directories under the CWD (Current Working Directory) with TMP in their name:

:purgedir @TMP@

To delete all directories under the CWD with names beginning with TMP, and all objects below these directories:

:purgedir TMP@; TREE

To delete all directories under the CWD with names ending with TMP, and all objects below these directories:

:purgedir ./@TMP

Any problems?

Did you accidently delete the wrong file from the system?
Ask the system administrator when the last system backup was performed. The system administrator should be able to restore a previous version of a file that has been deleted.
When using the PURGE command, did you get the following error message on your screen?
FILE filename NOT FOUND, NO PURGE DONE. (CIWARN 383)
Check for any typographical errors or misspellings in the file name.
When using the RENAME command, did you get the following error message?
DUPLICATE PERMANENT FILE NAME (FSERR 100) RENAME FAILED DUE TO SYSTEM ERROR, NOT RENAMED.(CIERR 373)
This error message indicates that the name to which you are renaming your file already exists. Reenter the command line, this time selecting a unique file name.
When using the RELEASE command, did you get the following error message?
ACTION DISALLOWED SINCE NOT CREATOR OF FILE. (CIERR 351)
This error message indicates that you are not the creator of the file and do not have the authority to release the file's security. Have the creator enter the command or have the creator release the file for your use. Do not forget to tell the creator when you are finished so that the file can be secured.
If you are the administrator or operator for the system, check to see if you logged on with the appropriate logon. MANAGER.SYS should allow you to access any file.