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1995-01-24
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CheckTitle A visual utility to reconcile OS/2 file names and titles
P. G. Mulrane January, 1995
************************************************************************
Credit where credit is due:
This program is based on the excellent command-line utility FIXTITLE.CMD
by Mike Prager. Without access to the source of this utility, writing
CheckTitle would have been a lot harder. I have also plagiarized his
readme.doc fairly extensively in order to create this file. Thanks
again Mike (Sources used with permission).
************************************************************************
WARNING -- READ THIS BEFORE USING CheckTitle
The program CheckTitle is provided free of charge, AS IS, and with NO
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. The author accepts NO RESPONSIBILITY for
consequences of the use of this program, whether used in accordance with
instructions or not. It is possible to cause SERIOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE if
CheckTitle is used to rename OS/2 system files or files stored by
certain backup programs. DO NOT USE CheckTitle UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THESE
CONDITIONS.
************************************************************************
Introduction
------------
CheckTitle is a VX-Rexx program to address a peculiar bug in IBM's OS/2
operating system. To explain CheckTitle, it is necessary to explain a bit
about OS/2's filesystems. The explanation that follows is derived from
my observations about how OS/2 works, and I may have missed some
subtleties; however, it is correct for the present purpose.
In OS/2 (unlike DOS), all files can have two names: the physical file
name ("filename") and the longname extended attribute ("longname"). This
allows files on FAT volumes to be displayed with long names by the WPS,
but it can cause confusion when the two names are different. EVERY file
has a filename, but not every file has a longname.
When a directory (synonymous with "folder") is displayed in OS/2's
workplace shell, the title displayed under the icon is the longname if
one exists; otherwise, the filename is displayed. If the icon title is
edited by the user, and the file is on an HPFS volume, the new name is
stored as BOTH longname and filename. This is true on a FAT volume if
the new name meets the 8.3 requirement; if not, a contracted version is
used for the filename.
In contrast, when files are renamed through the command line, OS/2
changes ONLY the filename, and NOT the longname. This doesn't matter if
the file has no longname; but if the filename has ever been changed
through the WPS, the file WILL have a longname. As a result, the same
file could be called "Bill" as part of a DIR listing and "Newt" when
viewed as an icon. For users who use both the command line and the WPS
to manage files, this situation is intolerable.
Also if one copies files from the command line with XCOPY, you can
create longname chaos:
CD to a dir with a longname called for "\Newt" for example and
xcopy *.* to "\Bill".
Now you have two dirs with the longname "Newt" in your tree and
icon views! Only in details view or at the command line can you see
the difference! VERY DANGEROUS!
Another source of error is in copying the contents of one file to
another with copy via the command line:
A text file "Newt.TXT" (with longname) is copied over a file called
"Bill.TXT" so: "COPY Newt.TXT Bill.TXT". Now "Bill.TXT" has the
longname "Newt.TXT" i.e. in the WPS icon view you have two files
with the same name!
CheckTitle to the Rescue
----------------------
CheckTitle is a visual utility that lets the user identify files
with longnames different from their filenames and and optionally change
the longnames to match the filenames. To use the supplied CheckTitle,
EXE file you must have VROBJ.DLL version 2.0b or greater. For
people owning VX-REXX the source is included.
To install CheckTitle, copy CHECKT.EXE to a directory on your OS/2
PATH. Create a program object for it if you wish.
Start Check Title. Fill in the source directory entry field e.g.:
"C:\*.*" or "D:\*.C", select the appropriate case and subdir options.
Start the check with the "Check" button. Any files matching the search
criteria having unmatched longnames will be added to the listbox in
the middle of the screen. After the search has been completed (sorry
guys, no interrupt option yet). You can select one or more files for
"cleaning", via the left mouse button and the ctrl key.
Now click on "Clean", all selected files will have their longnames
corrected. Now your done!
Notes
-----
1. CheckTitle never changes a longname without your permission. This is
done for reasons of safety.
2. CheckTitle changes the longname immediately, but for some reason,
the WPS does not display the new name immediately. It seems to require
either opening the Settings Notebook for the file or rebooting OS/2
to display the new name.
3. You can cause SERIOUS DAMAGE to your OS/2 installation by telling
CheckTitle to rename OS/2 system files (the Desktop directory for
example). Don't do it!
4. I will endeavor to make corrections to CheckTitle if you let me know of
any problems. You can contact me at the following addresses:
Compuserve: 100276,3023
Internet: 100276,3023@compuserve.com
Please also let me know if you like the program.
Philip Mulrane
January 25, 1995