Dir tool: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 02:46, 9 March 2026

Tools - The Directory Tool

The "dir tools" program is a utility that can be used to quickly create a new √directory file for download directories.

Although Color 64 will automatically create a √directory file the first time a caller requests a directory listing, that regeneration process can take quite a while, especially if the disk contains a large number of files.

The "dir tools" program is a small BASIC utility that leaves plenty of free memory available, allowing it to run much faster. The program provides two main functions:

Create a directory from scratch
Regenerate an existing directory listing

To use "dir tools", boot the ML shell using the "+shell" program, then load and run "dir tools". You may also load and run it after using any other program that already uses the ML, such as SETUP.

The tools program reads in the system PARMS file.

Once the program is running, use the Create Directory option when creating a √directory file for the first time. This routine will scratch any existing √directory file already present on the disk and then build a new one.

This method is much faster than allowing the full regeneration to occur while the BBS is running. If you intend to start the system with hundreds of files already present in your download areas, it is recommended that you use this create utility on all relevant disks before bringing the BBS online.

You can also use the Regenerate Directory option to scan the disk directory and update the √directory file with any new entries. The program will also remove entries that are no longer valid.

It is recommended that this regeneration function be run periodically as part of normal maintenance to keep the directory listing clean and accurate.

As with the create function, using the regeneration routine from this stand-alone utility is significantly faster than doing the same work from within the live BBS system.

Next Section: Password File Tool

Tools

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 [[tools|Tools]] - <strong>The Directory Tool</strong>
-The "dir tools" program is a utility you can use to quickly create a new √directory file for your download directories.  It is true that Color 64 would automatically create a √directory file the first time a caller asked for a directory, but that directory regeneration can take quite a while (especially if you have a lot of files on the disk).  The "dir tools" is a small BASIC program, leaving plenty of free memory so that the program is very fast.  The program has two utilities: one to create a directory from scratch, and one to regenerate the directory listing.
+The <strong>"dir tools"</strong> program is a utility that can be used to quickly create a new <strong>√directory</strong> file for download directories.
-To use the "dir tools" program, you can boot up the ML shell (the "+shell" program) and then load and run the "dir tools" program.  You can also load and run this program after using any other program that also uses the ML (such as SETUP).  The tools program reads in your PARMS file.
+Although Color 64 will automatically create a <strong>√directory</strong> file the first time a caller requests a directory listing, that regeneration process can take quite a while, especially if the disk contains a large number of files.
-Once the program is booted, you can use the Create Directory option for creating your √directory file the first time (it will scratch an existing √directory file if you have one on your disk).  This routine will be a lot quicker than doing a full regeneration while the BBS system is running.  So, if you want to start your system with hundreds of files already in your download areas, I recommend you use this directory create utility on all your disks before you load up your BBS.
+The <strong>"dir tools"</strong> program is a small BASIC utility that leaves plenty of free memory available, allowing it to run much faster. The program provides two main functions:
-You can also use the Regenerate Directory option to scan through the disk directory and update the √directory file with any new entries.  Also, the program will eliminate any entries which are no longer valid.  It is suggested that you perform this operation routinely, just to clean up the directory.  Again, using the regeneration function in this stand-alone program is faster than doing it from the actual BBS system.
+* Create a directory from scratch
+* Regenerate an existing directory listing
+To use <strong>"dir tools"</strong>, boot the ML shell using the <strong>"+shell"</strong> program, then load and run <strong>"dir tools"</strong>. You may also load and run it after using any other program that already uses the ML, such as <strong>SETUP</strong>.
+The tools program reads in the system <strong>PARMS</strong> file.
+Once the program is running, use the <strong>Create Directory</strong> option when creating a <strong>√directory</strong> file for the first time. This routine will scratch any existing <strong>√directory</strong> file already present on the disk and then build a new one.
+This method is much faster than allowing the full regeneration to occur while the BBS is running. If you intend to start the system with hundreds of files already present in your download areas, it is recommended that you use this create utility on all relevant disks before bringing the BBS online.
+You can also use the <strong>Regenerate Directory</strong> option to scan the disk directory and update the <strong>√directory</strong> file with any new entries. The program will also remove entries that are no longer valid.
+It is recommended that this regeneration function be run periodically as part of normal maintenance to keep the directory listing clean and accurate.
+As with the create function, using the regeneration routine from this stand-alone utility is significantly faster than doing the same work from within the live BBS system.
 Next Section: [[pswd tool|Password File Tool]]
 [[tools|Tools]]