Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!luth!d88-mbe
From: d88-mbe@sm.luth.se (Michael Bergman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: cp-mv-rm1.1 command substitute
Message-ID: <1035@tau.sm.luth.se>
Date: 27 Jul 90 11:07:45 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: University of Lulea, Sweden
Lines: 53



Is there anyone besides me who uses the mv-cp-rm program by (d**n, I forgot
his name)? I'm talking about version 1.1 and it's really wonderful as it
replaces the copy and delete command *and* gives you a UN*X mv command.
Alias mechanism can be used so that only one copy of the binary is needed
(it's about 13000 bytes long).

Unfortunately, there are a few bugs. I have the source, but I can't
make it compile correctly (because the author has used some special routines
I think - I don't have those).

1. mv used as rename doesn't work correctly when you do something like
   `mv FileName filename`. The file is cleared (0 bytes) and an error
   message is produced. Not good!
   mv works across devices and volumes (unlike rename) but he says he uses
   rename when on the same device. Obviously he made a mistake here.

2. mv doesn't remove the old directory structure when you mv a file tree
   *within* a device (e.g. RAM:). Across devices it works correctly. All the
   *files* in the old tree are removed, but he forgets(?) to remove the
   old directories also. I spotted this bug after 5 minutes - I'm surprised
   he didn't see it!

3. He has misspellt `overide` (override...) used when you try to rm a delete-
   protected file (is this really a bug? :-)

4. The cp command has date CLONE as default. This should be the other way
   around: you shouldn't have to use `cp -n File1 File2` to get a fresh
   date on the new copy. `cp -o File1 File2` to retain the old date is
   much better (don't you agree?)


Well, that's it really. It shouldn't be very difficult to fix this,
especially as the source is available but I'm no C-wizard and haven't much
system programming experience on the Amiga yet.

I've tried to email the author, but no answer. The doc file hints that he
left the account about a year ago. It still exists, but I don't think he's
there anymore.

If there is a bugfix or someone is interested in using this utility/fixing
the bugs, please contact me right away!
It should be worth the trouble, 'cause in my experience the UN*X-style
mv/cp/rm are very useful and the most used commands in an OS (together with
ls of course).

Mike
-- 
      Michael Bergman         Internet: d88-mbe@sm.luth.se
  //  Undergrad. Comp. Eng.   BITNET:   d88-mbe%sm.luth.se@kth.se
\X/   U of Lulea, SWEDEN      ARPA:     d88-mbe%sm.luth.se@ucbvax.berkeley.edu
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