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RENAME command

The RENAME command changes the name of a file.


Format

     @RENAME (EXISTING FILE) old filespec(s) (TO BE) new filespec

     where:

     old filespec(s)     is a single file specification, or  a  series
                         of  them separated by commas and/or indicated
                         by wildcard characters (% and *).

     new filespec        is the new specification under which you want
                         to  store  the file(s); the new specification
                         must  be  on  the  same  structure;  you  may
                         include an asterisk (*) if you gave more than
                         one old filespec.
                              Default new filespec - old filespec, but
                                      with  a generation number higher
                                      by 1 than the  highest  existing
                                      generation number


Output

     Status of Files

          If you use recognition on the new  file  specification,  the
          system  prints  !Old  Generation!, !New Generation!, or !New
          File!, to describe its status.

     Confirmation of Action

          As each file is renamed, the system prints its old  and  new
          specification, and the word [Superseding] if it is replacing
          previous contents, and finally the  word  [OK].   The  delay
          before  you  see  this  [OK]  indicates  how long it took to
          rename the file.


Characteristics


Hints

     Specifying a New Account and Protection Number

          You can specify the new file's  protection  number  and  the
          account  to  which its storage fees will be charged.  Follow
          the new filespec with a  semicolon  (;)  and  the  letter  P
          before  giving  a  new 6-digit protection number, and with a
          semicolon and the letter A  before  giving  a  new  account.
          Ordinarily   these  values  are  set  to  the  default  file
          protection  and  current  account.    However,   non-default
          protection numbers will be maintained for higher generations
          of existing files,  unless  you  specify  otherwise  in  the
          RENAME command that creates that higher generation.

     RENAME Faster Than COPY for Transferring Files

          For moving a set of files from one directory to  another  on
          the  same structure, the RENAME command is a faster and more
          efficient means than COPY.   This  is  because  RENAME  only
          changes  the  file  specifications;  it  does  not  copy the
          contents of the files.   Also,  a  file  transfer  with  the
          RENAME  command  leaves  only  one  set  of  files,  while a
          transfer  with  the  COPY  command  leaves  two  sets:   the
          original  copies  and  the destination copies.  The original
          copies are often unnecessary and must be deleted.


Restrictions

     Renaming Between Structures

          You cannot rename a file from one structure to another,  but
          must  use  the COPY command to reproduce its contents on the
          new structure, then the DELETE command to remove it from the
          old structure.

     Renaming Open or Mapped Files

          You cannot rename a file that is open or mapped into memory.
          First  give  the RESET command, or POP followed by RESET, if
          this is the case.

     Renaming Archived Files

          You can rename an archived file  by  specifying  it  as  the
          first  (or  old) argument of a RENAME command.  It will then
          have the second (or new) argument as its  specification  and
          will  remain an archived file.  However, you cannot give the
          specification of an archived file as the second argument  of
          a RENAME command, as this would replace the file's contents.
          If you attempt to do so, the file you specify as  the  first
          argument  will  be  renamed to a generation higher by 1 than
          the  highest  existing  generation  of  the  archived  file,
          leaving the archived file intact.


Warning

     Replacing Previous Contents of Files

          If  you  rename  a  file  into  a  specification  (including
          generation   number)   that  already  exists,  the  previous
          contents  of  the  new  file  are  replaced  and  cannot  be
          recovered.   But see Restrictions - Renaming Archived Files,
          above.


Related Commands

     COPY     for making copies of files


Examples

     1.  Rename a file.

         @RENAME ATM-50.SPC ATM-50.PRL
          ATM-50.SPC.1 => ATM-50.PRL.1 [OK]

     2.  Use a wildcard character to rename all files of a given name.

         @RENAME ATM-50.* 1-ATM-50.*
          ATM-50.BAK.1 => 1-ATM-50.BAK.1 [OK]
          ATM-50.PRL.1 => 1-ATM-50.PRL.1 [OK]

     3.  Access another user directory and transfer to  it  the  files
         renamed in Example 2.

         @ACCESS <ORBEN>
         Password:___
         @RENAME 1-ATM-50.* <ORBEN>
          1-ATM-50.BAK.1 => <ORBEN>1-ATM-50.BAK.1 [OK]
          1-ATM-50.PRL.1 => <ORBEN>1-ATM-50.PRL.1 [OK]
         @END-ACCESS <ORBEN>