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1991-12-02
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RND.DOC
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Instructions for RND.COM
Version 1.0 (7 Oct 1991)
(c)1991 E. Meyer
RND allows you to rename and move directories, which is much easier than
the methods required by DOS commands: making a new directory, copying all its
contents, then deleting the original one.
Several other free or shareware utilities for this purpose exist, but
some are large and inefficient (RND is just 2k), some use awkward input
conventions, some can only rename, most can't move to another drive, and none
seem to handle changes to the current directory on a drive correctly.
A good directory and tree display utility, such as my own DTA (dir/tree/
attrib), will be a useful aid in your use of RND. Experiment with both a
little to be sure you understand how RND works.
SYNTAX: A>rnd {d:}{path}dirname {d:}{path}newname "{}"=optional
Wildcards (?,*) may not be used. Neither argument can be the root
directory, "\". The first must be an existing subdirectory, and the second a
valid subdirectory name that does not yet exist.
If the first drive or path is not specified, the current defaults are
assumed. (You can use "." alone to indicate the current directory on a
drive.) If a new drive or path is not specified, it remains the same as the
first, and the directory is simply RENAMED. If the new path is different,
then the tree is reorganized so that the directory (with all subdirectories)
is MOVED to a different parent directory. (You can rename and move at the
same time; see examples below.) In either case the process is very fast,
involving only rearrangement of directory information. Only if the new drive
is different will all the files in the directories actually have to be COPIED
and then DELETED, which takes longer; but this is seldom done.
If you type "RND" alone (or with the option "/?") you will get a brief
help message.
EXAMPLES: RENAMING
A:\WORK>rnd c:\wp writing Renames dir C:\WP --> C:\WRITING
A:\WORK>rnd sue susan Renames dir A:\WORK\SUE --> A:\WORK\SUSAN
A:\WORK>rnd . current Renames dir A:\WORK --> A:\CURRENT
EXAMPLES: MOVING
A:\WORK>rnd sue c:\temp\sue Moves dir A:\WORK\SUE --> C:\TEMP\SUE
A:\WORK>rnd sue \susan Moves dir A:\WORK\SUE --> A:\SUSAN
A:\WORK>rnd \wp \urgent\wp Moves dir A:\WP --> A:\URGENT\WP
A:\WORK>rnd \wp \wp\bill Moves dir A:\WP --> A:\WP\BILL
These call for further comment. The first example moves the SUE
subdirectory (and all its contents, including subdirectories) out of the
A:\WORK directory into the C:\TEMP directory (which will be created if it did
not already exist).
A:\ C:\ A:\ C:\
\work --> \work \temp
\SUE \SUE
\... \...
The second example renames SUE to SUSAN and moves it up the directory
tree on drive A, from a subdirectory of A:\WORK to one of the root A:\.
A:\ A:\
\work --> \work
\SUE \SUSAN
\... \...
The third example moves WP down the directory tree, from a subdirectory
of A:\ to one of A:\URGENT (which will be created if necessary).
A:\ A:\
\work --> \work
\WP \urgent
\... \WP
\...
The fourth example is potentially confusing. It too moves WP one level
down the tree; this time it also renames it to BILL, while making it a
subdirectory of a directory (otherwise empty) called \WP.
A:\ A:\
\work --> \work
\WP \wp
\... \BILL
\...
ERRORS
RND works on all MSDOS systems (2.x and above) and networks; it uses no
low level disk access, just standard DOS calls.
When moving directories, there must be enough free space on the disk to
create the new directory tree (and, if moving to another drive, to copy all
the files contained).
In a batch file, the DOS ERRORLEVEL can be tested: RND returns 1 for a
bad argument, 2 for an invalid or existing directory name, 4 if it runs out of
memory, and 8 for an error encountered while attempting to move a directory
(including full disk).
RND and its documentation are (c)1991 Eric Meyer, all rights reserved.
They may be freely distributed, but not modified or sold for profit without my
written consent. (Exception: Libraries may charge up to $6 for a disk.) The
user takes full responsibility for any damages resulting from the use of this
program.
Eric Meyer
3541 Smuggler Way CompuServe [74415,1305]
Boulder, CO 80303 USA