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): ======================================= 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".