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Subject: What's Hacking VAX Special - 6
From: David Lightman (Level 30) [A dude who wanted access]
To: ALL
Sent: 3/1/90 at 2:58 pm
SET DEFAULT (or... MOVING AROUND A VAX):
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To move around the VAX DCL, in and out of directories, I need
to tell you about the SET DEFAULT command. It is just like the
CD command on UNIX and MS-DOS/PC-DOS, except it follows a format.
The format is "SET DEFAULT [.subdir]" to go down to a sub direc-
tory and "SET DEFAULT [-]" to go to the parent directory. I will
explain more involved uses like changing disks, if asked, to keep
you out of trouble for now. First, I will show by example and
then explain my example to those out there who lack a brain.
$ DIR (step 1)
PROGRAM.EXE;2 PROGRAM.EXE;1
$ CREATE/DIR example (step 2)
$ DIR (step 3)
EXAMPLE.DIR;1 PROGRAM.EXE;2 PROGRAM.EXE;1
$ SET DEFAULT [.example] (step 4)
$ DIR (step 5)
no files, animals, vegetables, nor minerals error
$ SET DEF [-] (step 6)
$ COPY PROGRAM.EXE;2 [.example] (step 7)
$ SET DEF [.example] (step 8)
$ DIR (step 9)
PROGRAM.EXE;2
$
Here's what I did...
STEP 1: I asked to see the contents of the current directory.
I found that I have the program PROGRAM.EXE is the
1st and 2st versions in the directory.
STEP 2: I created a directory called "EXAMPLE." This name
can be anything of course.
STEP 3: I again asked for the contents of the directory. It
now shows me that I have a "file" called
"EXAMPLE.DIR;1." That is just the directory. Any-
thing with an extension of "DIR" will be a directory.
For more on extensions, see below.
STEP 4: I changed directories by use of the SET DEFAULT
command. You must always follow this format to
change into a SUB directory.
STEP 5: I AGAIN (!) looked into the directory. This time, my
directory was EXAMPLE so I of course saw nothing.
You will get an error I believe when you try to DIR
an empty directory.
STEP 6: This command is used to rise up to the parent direc-
tory. The parent directory contains the filename
"EXAMPLE.DIR;1," remember? The DEFAULT option can be
shortened to DEF.
STEP 7: Here I am illustrating how to move programs around a
little. I just copied the program PROGRAM.EXE;2 into
the subdirectory EXAMPLE.
STEP 8: See step 3. (a lazy, tired Dave)
STEP 9: I >ONCE MORE< issued the DIR command to reveal the
contents of the directory. I now find the program
PROGRAM.EXE;2 in my directory listing of my sub
directory EXAMPLE.
If you don't understand the basics of moving around a VAX by
now, push "OFF".