* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*                                                               *
*                         D A T E F N                            *
*                                                               *
*               Dated Filename Label File Utility               *
*                                                               *
*                              by                               *
*                          Terry Hazen                          *
*                     21460 Bear Creek Road                     *
*                      Los Gatos, CA 95030                      *
*                                                               *
*                Voice.......... (408) 354-7188                 *
*                Zee-Machine.... (408) 245-1420                 *
*                Ladera Znode... (213) 670-9465                 *
*                                                               *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Lastest Revision 
----------------

Version 1.0 - 01/22/91   

=================================================================


Overview
--------

DATEFN (Dated Filename) is a simple ZCPR3/ZSDOS utility that 
automatically reads the ZSDOS clock and creates an empty label 
file with the current date as the filename.  The format of the 
filename date may be user-configured using ZCNFG.  DATEFN can 
optionally archive the label file and can also optionally delete 
a file with a current date filename in the same format.

DATEFN is designed to be called from an alias during operations 
such as file backups where it may be desirable to place an empty 
date label file on a disk to automatically indicate the last 
backup date by using the current date as the label filename.  
Since DATEFN can optionally create an archived label file, the 
user can control whether the label file will be copied during the 
backup if the backup is done on non-archived files.

DATEFN may also be called, if desired, at the end of an alias to 
delete the current date label file (as long as the operation 
isn't performed across the stroke of midnight, when both the 
current date and the filename change!)  

The label filename date format is configurable by the user.  The 
default date format is ?ddMMMyy.typ (for example, !22JAN91.LDB), 
and includes an optional name prefix character and an optional 
filetype (in this example, 'LDB' might stand for 'Last Disk 
Backup').  The optional date format is mm/dd/yy.typ (for example, 
01/22/91.LDB), and includes only an optional filetype since the filename is already 8 characters long.  See DATEFN10.PAT for 
configuration information. 


Installation
------------
 
The distribution version of DATEFN is supplied with a Z3ENV address 
of 0000H, ready for use in ZCPR33+ environments.  ZCPR30 users 
should install DATEFN using their regular installation methods.  
Several locations affecting program operation may be patched as 
described in the file DATEFN.PAT.

Syntax
------

The command line syntax is:

     DATEFN [dir:]     Create empty date label file
     DATEFN [dir:] /A  Create archived empty date label file
     DATEFN [dir:] /D  Delete date label file


Optional DATEFN Modifications
-----------------------------

DATEFN has several locations near the beginning of the program 
that can be patched using ZP, ZPATCH, DDT, etc, to alter the 
operation of the program to suit the user.  DATEFN.PAT may also 
be renamed, assembled to an overlay file and overlaid on 
DATEFN10.COM to create a custom copy of DATEFN.COM.  ZCNFG17.COM 
and the configuration file DATEFN10.CFG may also be used to 
change DATEFN.COM's configurable settings.  See DATEFN.PAT for 
further information.