Re: MS-DOS FST

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4jt1ek$k95@acme.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
Dave Althoff <dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us> wrote:
> 
> BASIC.SYSTEM uses PREFIX.  As far as I know, there is no equivalent to 
> "cd .." in BASIC.SYSTEM.  But the operation of PREFIX is as follows:

You did miss one detail.

BASIC.SYSTEM actually supports two prefix methods.  You can either use
the ",Sn" and ",Dn" parameters to refer explicitly to a slot and
drive, or you can use the PREFIX command to refer to disks or
directories by name.

The PREFIX command takes precedence, so if you have set a prefix, a
slot/drive reference will only apply to the command in which it is
used.  If no prefix has been set, BASIC will remember which slot/drive
was accessed, and subsequent accesses will be to the same unit (unless
you use a full pathname or another slot/drive parameter).

The various forms of the prefix command are:

PREFIX

    Display the current prefix.  If an explicit prefix has been set, this
    will simply display it.  If no explicit prefix has been set, the disk
    name of the current slot/drive will be displayed (you can see the disk
    being accessed).

PREFIX /volume

    Set an explicit prefix to the named volume.

PREFIX /volume/directory   (with further subdirectories if necessary)

    Set an explicit prefix to the named directory on the named
    volume.  Further subdirectories go down additional levels in the
    hierarchy.

PREFIX directory           (with further subdirectories if necessary)

    Add another subdirectory to the current prefix.

PREFIX,Sn,Dn

    Set an explicit prefix to the volume in the specified slot and drive.

PREFIX /

    Clear an explcit prefix, returning you to using slot/drive number
    access.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand