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                                     FL.COM                                   

             Size (recs) CRC   Version    Author/Latest Issue      Disk
               4k (31)   C5DD  1.0        Gene Pizzetta 1/92       Z3COM7

  1- Syntax/Options  2- Error Messages  3- Configuration  4- Notes            


   FL is a ZCPR3 utility to  create  file  lists  on  disk  for  use  by other
programs.   Multiple  ambiguous  file  specifications,  including  a  negative
specification, may be given.  The  error  flag is set if no matching files are
found.   Matching filenames are written to a disk  file,  one name per line in
standard command line format ("filename.typ").   Optionally,  the  DU in which
the file is located can be included with the filename.
:1 
    Syntax   FL {{dir:}{afn} {...}} {~afn} {/options}

   If no DU or DIR is given, the currently logged directory is assumed.  If no
filename is given, all files ("*.*") are assumed.  Files matching the negative
filespec (preceded by a tilde) are excluded.   The  DIR  or  DU  for the first
filespec is assumed for all the remaining filespecs; directory specs after the
first are ignored.

   The negative filespec must be immediately  preceded by  a tilde.   If it is
the only filespec given, all files  not  matching it  are included in the file
list.   In that case the negative filespec  may include a  DU  or  DIR,  e.g.,
     FL ~A1:*.Z80
will list all files in A1 that don't have a filetype of "Z80".
 Syntax (cont'd) 

   File output is the default.   Any existing FILELIST file is  erased without
warning.   The file listing is one filename per line in upper-case without  DU
specs.   The FILELIST file is written to the "target" directory (the directory
of the files in the file list) by default,  but FL can be configured to  write
the file to the currently logged directory, if you prefer.   In  addition, the
name of the list file can be changed.

   FL can be aborted at any time with ^C.  If file output is in progress, the 
file will be properly closed, but it will not be erased.

   Screen lines and columns are obtained from the environment, so wide and 
long displays are available.
 Options   A slash is always required before the option list.

     O    Omit disk output of matching filenames to the file 
          FILELIST.  This can be useful to see what files your 
          command line will match before actually writing the 
          list file.

     D    Include DU specs with filenames in FILELIST.  Normally 
          only the filenames are included in the list file, but 
          this option causes each filename to be prefixed by its 
          DU spec.

     S    Include system (hidden) files.  As should any program 
          accepting ambiguous filenames, FL normally ignores 
          system files.  With option S they are included.

     P    Do not page screen display.  By default FL waits for a 
          keypress after each screenful of filenames.  With the P 
          option the display can only be paused with ^S.

     Q    Quiet mode.  Console output is suppressed, but file 
          output is not affected.
:2
 Error Messages   

   FL sets the program error flag to  255 (0FFh)  if no files are  found which
match the file masks given on the command line.  This feature will allow batch
operations to take corrective action if the list file is empty.   Be sure your
routine checks for 255,  however,  because the error flag can be set for other
reasons.

   The error flag is set as follows:
      2 = invalid directory given
      4 = user aborted (optional)
     11 = disk or directory full
     12 = out of memory
     19 = invalid option given
    255 = no matching files

   For all errors except 255 the error handler is invoked, if one is installed
in your system.
:3
 Configuration  

   All command line options can be made default modes by using  ZCNFG  and the
accompanying FLxx.CFG file.   In that case the command line option will toggle
the option to the non-default mode.

   In addition,  FL can be configured to show filenames in upper-case,  if you
prefer.   Whether the  FILELIST output file is written to the currently logged
directory or to the target directory can also be configured,  along  with  the
name of the list file if you prefer something besides FILELIST.

   In addiion, FL can be configured to set the error flag and invoke the error
handler when it is aborted by a ^C from he user.   This will allow the user to
also abort a ZEX or SUB batch operation.

   It is best not to change the name of the configuration  file.   Its special
name assures that ZCNFG will always find  the correct  CFG  file,  even if the
name of FL has been changed or if more than one version of FL is online.
:4
 FL Notes 

   a. Vs 1.0 (1/16/92, Gene Pizzetta):
      - Basic code from  CPD 1.4,  which made the job a lot easier.   Multiple
        ambiguous filesp ecs allowed,  but only one  negative filespec.   That
        shouldn't be too difficult to expand on in future  enhancements.  Also
        might be nice to be able to select files by attributes or combinations
        of attributes.
