User guide

that when they save a file, it will usually be saved in that directory; if they

attempt to load a file, it will be looked for in that directory.

Changing directory

Users can move to another directory (open another drawer) by using the DIR

command, to gain access to its files. To move to a directory contained in the

current directory, they simply specify its name. To move to a directory that is

elsewhere, they specify the directory's `pathname'.

Directory pathname

A pathname simply states the path that FileStore must take to reach a

directory (or file), as a sequence of directories separated by full stops. If the

first character of the pathname is $ , the path starts in the root directory, $;

otherwise, it starts in the current directory.

Thus, if the current directory were 'EDP', you could refer to the 'MEMOS'

directory as 'MEMOS' or the pathname S.EDP.MEMOS. If the current

directory were 'TEMPS', you could refer to the 'MEMOS' directory as

$ . EDP. MEMOS.

File pathname

Users can also refer to files by using pathnames too, in exactly the same way

as directories. Thus to specify the 'safety' memo, you could type the

pathname:

$.EDP.MEMOS.safety

whatever your current directory.

This is just the same as telling someone how to find something in a filing

cabinet. If they have the right drawer open, you might say 'go to the folder

marked MEMOS and get me the letter with the reference JONES1'. If they

haven't got the right drawer open (or if you're not sure), you might say 'go to

filing cabinet number 2, open the EDP drawer, open the MEMOS folder and

get me the letter with the reference JONES1'.

You can even use a pathname to specify a file or directory on another disc, by

starting the pathname with a colon (:) and the disc's name. For example, to

refer to the file S.ANNE.phones' on a disc named 'WORK l', you would use:

:WORK1.S.ANNE.phones

2 THE FILESTORE MANAGER'S ROLE

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