Re: EOF markers in III+

[Robert Holmgren holmgren@xxxxxxxx]

** Reply to note from Harry Binswanger  Sat, 5 Apr 1997 02:55:44 -0500 (EST)

>> If your goal is to *get rid* of 1A, you can use the method mentioned here
>> previously, namely issue a DOS shell command from Xy's command line:
>>
>>  dos/nv/x/z /c copy myfile/a+bogus myfile/b

> Note for those using 4DOS (which is also Norton's shell, I think): you first
> have to create a totally empty file called "bogus" to use Rob't's solution.
> Easiest way is at DOS do
>  copy con bogus
> then hit ctrl-z followed by Enter.

Have you tried doing this where BOGUS is a nonexistent filename? In MS-DOS,
PC-DOS, Win95 DOS, and OS/2-DOS, it is NOT necessary to create a dummy or
empty file called "bogus" (or any other name). In fact, the whole charm of
this method is that it requires no special tools or preparation, merely the
knowledge that file BOGUS does NOT exist!

Repeat: in all DOS's known to me, BOGUS should not exist! BTW, in Seattle
Computer Q-DOS (progenitor of MDOS), this was a textbook method of
performing a file REName, and that's why nonexistent filenames were
accepted in the command (the result file takes the name of the first file
concatenated, unless otherwise specified). The command only fails if
*none* of the files on the input side of the concatenation exist. Compare
the Unix CP (CoPy) command, which works similarly.


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Robert Holmgren
holmgren@xxxxxxxx
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