purpose: Moving files to/from the directory border block on a GEOS formatted disk.
usage: border
border filename
border newname=filename
Description:
Most likely, you are familiar with the Desktop's border area at the bottom of the screen. You can pick up an icon and place it in this area. What is happening when you do this is the directory entry for that file is actually being moved from the normal directory area on the disk to a special sector that is reserved for up to 8 files that will appear on the border. When you view a directory from within geoSHELL, any files residing in the border are listed last.
Until now, geoSHELL users have had no way to move files to the border, or to move them back to the main directory area. Now we do. Using the 'border' command is simple, you need only supply the filename of the desired file as a parameter as in the following example:
border filename
If the file was in the main directory area, it will be moved to the border. If it was already on the border, it will be moved back into the main directory area.
If you wish to rename the file while at the same time moving it to/from the border, use the command in the same manner as if you were using the 'rename' command, as in the following example:
border newname=filename
@REARRANGING FILES
The border command now gives geoSHELL users the ability to rearrange their directory. It's not quite as visual of a process as if you were moving icons around on the Desktop, but it still works the same and it works quite quickly. Let's say that you want to rearrange some of your fonts, since you have more than 8 of them on your disk and you need to access the 9th one from within GeoWrite, but you have no use for the 3rd one. Just use border to move both files to the border, and then move them back. When you move them back move the previously 9th font first and it will be placed ahead of the previously 3rd one in the directory. Or, if you only want this to be temporary, just move the 3rd font to the border and leave it there. The previously 9th font will become the 8th one.
@MOVING FILES BETWEEN SUBDIRECTORIES
@MOVING FILES BETWEEN SUBDIRECTORIES
If you are using native mode partitions on a CMD device, you now have the ability to move a file from one subdirectory to another using the border command. It couldn't be any simpler. Begin by moving the file to the border. Then open up the desired subdirectory where you would like the file moved to and repeat the border command with the same file. The file will be moved into the subdirectory that is now open.
Here's an example:
border filename
@cd:subdirname
border filename
When you are ready to enter the border command the second time in the above example, just use the CURSOR-LEFT key to recall the previously typed command.
@COPYING FILES FROM ONE SUBDIRECTORY TO ANOTHER
In a similar manner to moving a file from one subdirectory to another, you can also copy a file into another subdirectory. When you move a file, there is still only one copy of the file in your partition. But when you copy a file to another subdirectory, there becomes two copies of the same file in the partition. One copy is in one subdirectory, while another copy is in another subdirectory.
Begin by moving the file to the border and at the same time renaming it. Then open up the desired destination subdirectory. The reason we had to rename the file is because we are now going to use 'fcopy' to make a duplicate of the file using it's original name. Once we are done with that, we can reopen the original source directory and put the file back from the border into the main directory and give it back it's original name. This might sound like a lot of work, but not really. The important thing is that you can now perform this operation. Here is an example of the process:
border tempname=filename
@cd:destsubdir
fcopy filename=tempname
parent
border filename=tempname
With a few simple steps, you can now move files around your native partitions as you need them. If you have the 'execp' command, you could create an exec file that would allow you to automate this copy process by passing the needed filename parameters to the exec file.
@USING BORDER WITHOUT A PARAMETER
If you type the border command without supplying a filename, it will display all the files that are currently on
@USING BORDER WITHOUT A PARAMETER
If you type the border command without supplying a filename, it will display all the files that are currently on the border. In addition, it will insert the border command ahead of each filename as it displays them. That way, you can just double-click on any of the displayed filenames and the file will be moved back to the main directory area.
If you wish to use the border command without a filename and also want to put another command after it on the same line, be sure to use the up-arrow ( ^ ) terminator after the command with one space between the command and the up-arrow. This way, the command will not confuse the next command on the line with a filename.
You would also use the up-arrow in this manner if you use the command in a startup or exec file since these files are treated as one long command line.
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