Mass Removal of Archive Bit on All Directories

["Robert Holmgren" holmgren@xxxxxxxx]

** Reply to message from Patricia M Godfrey  on Wed, 25 Feb
2004 19:18:42 -0500


> Archive bits set do sometimes throw XyWrite; I tried to open a
> file so marked recently (under Win 98 Se) and was told I "didn't have
> permission." I reset the archive bit and was able to open it without a
> problem. Go figure.

There has been so much talk about the Archive bit, on and off line, that I
thought I would clarify XyWrite's "attitude" toward Directories with the
Archive bit set, and also post a definitive solution for Win32 users.

XyWrite has a XyBug when it comes to the Archive bit. Directories with the bit
*Set* can be read, i.e. a directory display can be generated. But there are
quirks. Suppose D:\TESTOO~1 is a directory with the Archive bit set.
Regardless of your current d:\path location, you canNOT get a directory display
by issuing these commands:
 DIR D:\TESTOO~1
 DIR D:\TESTOO~1\*.*
 DIR D:\TESTOO~1\{any_filemask}
Instead, you must locate *in* directory D:\TESTOO~1 by navigating to it; and
then you must issue a simple DIR command with *no* argument:
 DIR
That works.

I attach a ZIPfile that automates De-Archiving (unsetting the Archive bit) of
*ALL* directories on the *current* drive. Once you unset the Archive bit, it
stays un-set. I do not believe that this causes any problem for Win32, but I
offer no guarantees. Run the command once against any *one* drive, from DOS.
As presently packaged, the commands do *nothing* -- they simply report the
current status of the attribute bits for all directories on the drive. To
activate De_archiving, you must MOVE the comment characters (::) from one line
to another, per instructions in the command file itself.

Following is the readme (DArchBit.TXT):

--------------------------

DArchBit for Win32 R.J.Holmgren 2/26/04
Remove Archive bit from all Directories (not Files) in current Drive

Note Well: YOU are entirely responsible for the consequences of
 running one of these commands. On my system, they work
 perfectly; but on your system... I don't know. I offer no
 guarantee.

Don't get confused!
 DArchBit.BAT is for Win95/98/ME
 DArchBit.CMD is for WinNT/2000/XP

By default, the BAT|CMD files are set up to DISPLAY ONLY the
 current Attribute setting of each directory in the current
 drive. Thus, the command is passive and informational only;
 it DOES nothing!

To actually remove the Archive bit, you must DELETE the comment
 "::" from the front of the indicated line in the file
 ("Activate next line to Remove Archive bit"), and ADD a
 comment "::" in front of the currently active line. Only
 ONE line should be active at any time.

There are also choices to Remove Hidden and Archive bits from all
 directories, and to Remove Read-Only, Hidden, System, and
 Archive bits from all directories.

-----------------------------
Robert Holmgren
holmgren@xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Attachment:
DArchBit.ZIP

Description: Binary data