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BB-PBQUC-BM_1990
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help/delete.hlp
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DELETE command
The DELETE command marks a file(s) for eventual erasure.
Format
@DELETE (FILES) filespec,...,
@@subcommand
where:
filespec is the specification of a file that
you want to delete.
Default .gen - all
generations of
the specified
files
@@subcommand means that after a final comma you
can give one of the following
subcommands:
DELETE Subcommands
ARCHIVE both deletes the disk copy (if any)
and gives up the tape copy of
specified archived files.
BEFORE deletes the specified files that
were created prior to the time and
date indicated.
CONTENTS-ONLY deletes and immediately expunges
only the disk copy of files that
also have a tape copy. Note that
you must use the RETRIEVE command,
not UNDELETE, to restore such files
to disk.
DIRECTORY deletes and immediately expunges a
subdirectory without making the
disk space available to the files
of other users. Subdirectories
appear as files with the type
.DIRECTORY in the immediately
superior directory. For users with
enabled WHEEL or OPERATOR
capabilities only.
EXPUNGE immediately and permanently erases
the specified files from the
directory.
FORGET deletes and immediately expunges
the specified files without making
their disk space available to the
files of other users; for users
with enabled WHEEL or OPERATOR
capabilities only.
KEEP n saves the n most recent generations
of the specified files while
deleting the rest.
Default n - 1
LARGER n deletes the specified files that
are larger than n number of pages.
SINCE deletes the specified files that
were created since the time and
date indicated.
SMALLER n deletes the specified files that
are smaller than n number of pages.
Output
Notice of Deleted Archived Files
Whenever an archived file is completely expunged as a result
of your DELETE command (that is, when you also give the
ARCHIVE subcommand), the operator sends a mail message
notifying the owner of the directory from which the file was
taken.
Characteristics
Privileged Subcommands to DELETE
The DIRECTORY and FORGET subcommands to the DELETE command
are intended for privileged users only, and only as a last
resort, because they withhold freed disk space from system
use. Users with enabled WHEEL or OPERATOR capabilities can
run the CHECKD program to recover this disk space.
DIRECTORY should not be used unless the KILL subcommand to a
BUILD command fails to delete the directory. FORGET is for
removing damaged files from directories, and should not be
used unless DELETE without subcommands fails to delete the
file.
Hints
Removing Open Files
If DELETE with the EXPUNGE subcommand fails to erase a file,
it may be that some job in the system has opened it. The
INFORMATION FILE-STATUS command tells whether your own job
has done so. If it has, give the CLOSE or (if the file is
mapped) RESET command before repeating DELETE and EXPUNGE.
Recovering Deleted Archived Files
If you have given the DELETE command with the ARCHIVE
subcommand to delete an archived file, and the disk copy has
already been expunged, you may still be able to recover the
tape copy. The operator will send a MAIL message (see
Output, above) concerning the discarded tape copy of the
deleted file. Use this information, along with
Hints - Undoing DISCARD, in the DISCARD command description,
to attempt recovery of the deleted file.
Special Cases
Files With the "Permanent" Attribute
The system erases only the contents of any files that have
the Permanent attribute (for example, MAIL.TXT in your
log-in directory) when you include them in a DELETE command.
Their file specifications remain among your deleted files,
and cannot be removed by TOPS-20 commands.
Restrictions
Using Logical Names When Specifying Files for Deletion
If you include a logical name when specifying arguments to a
DELETE command, the system will search for the specified
file in only the first directory of the logical name's
definition. This restriction prevents the accidental
deletion of another file if the file you intended to delete
has already been deleted.
Using the LARGER/SMALLER and BEFORE/SINCE Subcommands Together
You can use size-related and time-related subcommands
together. However, error messages are displayed if you use
the LARGER/SMALLER pairing and the SMALLER number of pages
exceeds the LARGER number, or you use the BEFORE/SINCE
pairing and the SINCE date is later than the BEFORE date.
Warning
Erasure of Deleted Files
Ordinarily an UNDELETE command given during the same
terminal session as an original deletion will recover the
deleted files, unless you included the EXPUNGE subcommand to
DELETE or gave a subsequent EXPUNGE command. However, if
any user or a batch job logs out while connected to your
directory, all deleted files are permanently erased. Also,
if available disk space is low on the system, the operator
or the system itself may expunge all deleted files from a
structure even though you have not logged out. A warning
message is usually sent before this happens.
Related Commands
DIRECTORY, with the for displaying a list of deleted
DELETED subcommand files
DISCARD for giving up only the tape copy of
on-line files
EXPUNGE for permanently removing deleted
files
INFORMATION DISK-USAGE for finding out how much disk space
is available, and how much is
associated with deleted files
UNDELETE for recovering deleted files
Examples
1. Delete two of your files.
@DELETE TTY.SCM, VERCBL.BAT
TTY.SCM.1 [OK]
VERCBL.BAT.2 [OK]
2. Delete all your object files and all your backup files
produced by the EDIT program. Then log out (this will
expunge them).
@DELETE *.REL, *.Q*
TESTA1.REL.1 [OK]
TESTF1.REL.1 [OK]
TESTC1.QBL.2 [OK]
TESTF1.QOR.4 [OK]
@LOGOUT
Killed Job 32, User J.L.PAGE, Account 341, TTy 41
at 25-Apr-84 10:15:51, Used 0:1:46 in 1:23:59
3. Delete some files, and check what files are currently deleted
in your connected directory. Give the UNDELETE command for
two of these, then expunge the remaining deleted files and
verify that they are gone.
@DELETE *.QXT
4-UPED.QXT.7 [OK]
MAIL.QXT.1 [OK]
REMARK.QXT.3 [OK]
@DIRECTORY,
@@DELETED
@@
PS:<J.L.PAGE>
4-UPED.QXT.1,2,3,4,5,6,7
.TXT.7,8,9
MAIL.QXT.1
MEMO.QMD.1
REMARK.QXT.1,2,3
TTY.SCM.1
VERCBL.BAT.2
Total of 17 files
@UNDELETE TTY.SCM, VERCBL.BAT
TTY.SCM.1 [OK]
VERCBL.BAT.2 [OK]
@EXPUNGE
PS:<J.L.PAGE> [8 pages freed]
@DIRECTORY,
@@DELETED
@@
@
4. Delete the files with the .MAC extension that were created
between 2-Feb-87 and 3-Mar-87.
@DELETE *.MAC,
@@BEFORE 3-MAR-87 11:00:04
@@SINCE 2-FEB-87 23:30
@@
@
5. Delete the files named MYFILE.MEM that are between 50 and 150
pages.
@DELETE MYFILE.MEM,
@@LARGER 50
@@SMALLER 150
@@
@