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From: daveh@cbmvax.UUCP (Dave Haynie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Using additional protection bits
Message-ID: <2200@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Aug-87 19:11:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2200
Posted: Mon Aug 10 19:11:27 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Aug-87 01:34:54 EDT
References: <461@rover.UUCP>
Distribution: world
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 28

in article <461@rover.UUCP>, mph@rover.UUCP (Mark Huth) says:
> Keywords: protection, backup
> 
> The bit that I propose would be set to indicate that the file should not be
> backed up.  ...  The "NOBACKUP" bit, one the other hand, would allow one to
> flag the T: directory so that any files therein would not be backed up.  

Certainly, in the current release of the OS, you could achieve much the same
effect by clearing the read access bit of a file.  The OS itself ignores this
bit, but there's no reason you have to.  It would be reasonable for a 
backup utility to pay attention to this bit anyway, so a file without
read access isn't backed up, and nothing in a directory without read access
is backed up.  The only problem this might cause is if other programs also
pay attention to the setting of this bit and require you to change the 
bit before they'll read it.  I don't know who would be looking at this bit
in that way, as it really is the OS's job to detect the read protect bit
and refuse a program Lock() or Open() access to that file.  If the OS is
upgraded to a state that starts honoring the read protect bit, it may
very well be upgraded to provide a formal don't-archive-me method as well.
I know Andy's gang is making plans for future protection bit designations.
But until then, it's dangerous to start using reserved protection bits.

> Mark Huth - I speak for myself

-- 
Dave Haynie     Commodore-Amiga    Usenet: {ihnp4|caip|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh
"The A2000 Guy"                    PLINK : D-DAVE H             BIX   : hazy
     "Catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world" -Beach Boys