MEDIA MANAGEMENT UTILITIES

                                  Version 5






           In  many  installations, especially those where many DECtapes
      or LINCtapes are used, a  problem  evolves  concerning  filing  of
      programs,  their copies, backups, and even some archival programs.
      A series of programs has been written as  a  partial  solution  to
      this  problem.  Currently, there are four programs in this series:
      MEDIAI, SORT, MEDIAO, and FIND.  Other programs will be  added  to
      this  set  when  the need and the time becomes available for them.
      Also discussion among other installations  with  this  problem  is
      promoting  ideas  in  this  direction.  MEDIAI and MEDIAO are just
      simple pre- and post- processors to SORT.  MEDIAI makes sure  that
      the  input  file  has  a volume number associated with each entry.
      MEDIAO does some simple  formatting  for  output.   FIND  performs
      "wild" searches on the Master Directory produced by MEDIAI.  

           A sample documented run follows:  
































           The  system  device  (which in our case is also assigned DSK)
      should contain the programs MEDIAI, SORT, and MEDIAO.   The  tapes
      that will be included in the final cross-reference listing will be
      mounted on another OS/8 device.  To start off, type "R MEDIAI"  in
      response to the Keyboard Monitor's dot:  

                .R MEDIAI
                *

      At  this  point, the Command Decoder has been invoked and the user
      must type in a directory output file (which must be given and must
      be  on  a  file  structured device), an optional directory listing
      device (which, if given, must not be a  file  structured  device),
                                    ___                                 
      and  one  input  device,  which  of  course,  must  also  be  file
      structured.  If any of the above rules are violated, the user will
      be notified.  An example Command Decoder line is:  

                *DIRECT.XX,LPT:<LTA1:

      After all files are opened up, MEDIAI then types out:  

                VOLUME NO.   1:

      At  this  point,  enter  one  of  the  following  characters after
      mounting a tape on LTA1:.  

      Y    The directory will be read.  If  a  second  output  file  was
           given,  two  listings  will  come  out  on  it.  The first is
           equivalent to PIP's /E directory printout;  The second is  an
           alphabetized directory printout.  At the same time, the first
           output file will receive  the  same  information  as  the  /E
           listing  with  the volumne number appended to each line.  The
           volume number is then incremented by one.  

      N    The volume number is incremented by one.  No  I/O  operations
           are performed.  The new volume number is then printed out.  

      N    Where  'n'  is  in  the  range  1-4095.  The volume number is
           changed to 'n'.  No I/O operations are  performed.   The  new
           volume number is printed out.  At this time you may then type
           in 'Y' or 'N'  or  any  other  legal  option  character.   An
           example:  

                VOLUME NO.   5:27
                VOLUME NO.  27:

           Now the user may type in 'Y' or any other option.  

      V    The  Command  Decoder  is  invoked and a new volume device is
           asked for.  Type in an input device according  to  the  rules
           stated  at  the  beginning.  This changes the device handler.
           For example:  




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                VOLUME NO.   3:V
                *LTA6:

                VOLUME NO.   3:

           Mount the next tape on device LTA6 before hitting 'Y' or  any
           other character.  

      U    Indicate  to  MEDIAI  that  you  are  to enter the name of an
           existing master  directory  as  update  input.   The  Command
           Decoder  will  be invoked so that you may type in the name of
           the old master directory.  For example:  

                VOLUME NO.  45:U
                *RKA1:DIRECT.DI

           At this point, all indices which are in DIRECT.DI but not yet
           in  the  new  directory  output file, will be sent to the new
           directory output file.  After this is completed, then  MEDIAI
           will  automatically  perform  as  if the 'E' command had been
           entered.  

      E    No more volumes are to be read.  End  all  files  by  closing
           them and return to the system to run the next program.  

           At this point, we now must sort the output file to generate a
      sorted file of directory entries sorted by filename or  extension.
      The  Master Directory we have just created may also be searched by
      the FIND program which is described later in  this  document.   To
      generate  a  file sorted according to filename, type the following
      in response to the monitor's dot:  

                .R SORT NAME.EX

      The Command Decoder will be invoked and respond with a "*".   Type
      in the following line:  

                *SORT1<DIRECT.XX/F

      where  DIRECT.XX  was  output  from MEDIAI.  Of course, device and
      filename specification can be given  for  a  tape-only  system  to
      speed  the  sort  process  up (see the SORT documentation).  For a
      two-tape system, one may use:  

                *SYS:SORT1,SYS:SRTWK1.TM,LTA1:SRTWK2.TM<SYS:DIRECT.XX

      After SORT completes th task assigned to it, it will return to the
      Keyboard Monitor.  




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           To  generate  a  file  sorted  by  extension  rather  than by
      filename, the following should be typed to the Keyboard Monitor:  

                .R SORT

      Again, the Command Decoder will be invoked and respond  with  "*".
      Enter:  

                *SORT2<DIRECT.TM/E

      or a line similiar to the expanded Command Decoder line above.  

           The  files  generated by SORT above are now used by MEDIAO to
      generate the final cross-reference directory listings.  To run the
      program MEDIAO, enter:  

                .R MEDIAO
                *

      The  asterisk  (*)  indicates  that  the  Command Decoder has been
      invoked and  is  waiting  for  input/output  specifications.   The
      output  file  may  be  to any OS/8 device, file structured or not.
      The input file should be the sorted directory output (either SORT1
      or  SORT2  above).  If a cross-reference by filename is preferred,
      the following line should be typed in:  

                *LPT:<SORT1

      A cross-reference listing of filenames and the  volumes  on  which
      they  reside  is  printed  on the line printer.  Two listings come
      out.  One is just a listing of filenames and the  volume  numbers.
      The  second  contains  the length of files and the date associated
      with it, along with  volume  numbers.   If  a  cross-reference  by
      extensions is preferred, then the following line should be entered
      on the Command Decoder line:  

                *LPT:<SORT2/X

      The /X option must be used when  the  input  has  been  sorted  by
      extensions.   The same cross-reference listings will be printed on
      the output device.  

           There are a few options which may be entered on  the  Command
      Decoder  line  to  MEDIAO.  /1 Is used to do a simple filename and
      volume cross-reference.  This is the  first  listing  which  comes
      out.   /2  Is used to do the second listing which comes out.  This
      one includes the length of the file and the last  date  associated
      with  it.   /F is used to skip to a new page when the first letter
      of the filename (or extension if /X) changes.   Normally  a  blank



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      line  separates new letter groups.  /X tells MEDIAO that the input
      has been sorted by extension.  If neither  /1  nor  /2  have  been
      given,  then  both cross-reference listings will be generated.  If
      no output device has been specified, LPT: is assumed.  




















































                                     MEDIA-5





                                       FIND

           The program FIND is conveniently used for quick  searches  of
      the  Master  Directory.  FIND operates on the output of the MEDIAI
      program before it is sorted.  The Master  Directories  created  by
      MEDIAI  can  be  kept  on  the  system  disk  or  a special Master
      Directory device.  

           To use the FIND program type:  

                                      .R FIND


      The program will type out its version message and  the  *  prompt.
      You  may  specify  any output device to hold the list of files and
      volumes.  Input specifications are wild specifications accepting ?
      and  *  anywhere  in  the  field.  This is somewhat different from
      FOTP's usage.  The * if present  is  interpreted  as  filling  the
      remainder  of  the  field  with  question  marks.   If  no  master
      directory is specified the file MASDIR.DR on SYS: is  looked  for.
      No  checks  are made to determine if the file is actually a master
      directory.   If  the  /D  option  is  specified  the  first  input
      specification  is  taken as a directory device name specification.
      The input is in star mode but the file must be fully specified  to
      be  found.   If  the  command  line  is terminated with an altmode
      command is returned to the monitor level.  Otherwise, the  command
      decoder  is  recalled for another file specification set.  Another
      master directory specification may be given at this time.  

                Below are some simple examples of Command Decoder  lines
      for FIND:  

                *TV:<AB*.* 
                _          

      All  files  whose  first two characters are "AB" are listed on the
      TV.  

                *LTA1:FOODIR.DR,*.RO/D 
                _                      

      A new master directory FOODIR.DR is read from LTA1 and  all  files
      with  the  RO  extension  are  listed on the default output device
      (TTY:).  If FOODIR.DR is an entry in the directory  it  is  listed
      also.  

                *DIRYY.DR<DSK:DIRXX.DR,??DDT.* 
                _                              

      The  file  DIRYY.DR on DSK: receives a listing of all files in the
      directory DIRXX.DR on DSK which  have  any  two  first  characters
      followed by DDT and any extension.  

           FIND  may  be  chained  to  and  if so it expects the command
      decoder area to be set  up  with  the  file  specifications.   The
      CCL FIND  command  if  implemented  should use star mode decoding.



                                     MEDIA-6





      FIND allows two page handlers for both input and output.  

           These programs were written to perform a "quick"  and  useful
      job  of  ordering  our tapes.  There are ideas floating around our
      installation concerning better cataloguing and  usage  procedures,
      but  nothing  definite  has been started.  Feedback from others in
      our  situation  would  be  appreciated  and  exchanges  of   ideas
      encouraged.  
















































                                     MEDIA-7