> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul H. Christidis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> 
> Bruce Collins <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > [a method for retaining the original access date of a 
> >  file even though it was accessed for a search]
> 
> Once every year or so, I get this idea that I can incorporate
> 'touch.hpbin.sys' into my 'FileScan' program (A CM 'string searching'
> program) to prevent changing the file's access date. And 
> every time, so far, I have been thwarted ...

[and the method suggested appears to succumb to the problem as well]
 
> Does anyone have any code (CM preferably) that I could incorporate
> into my utility that I would let me retain a file's access date?

IF this routine is for "internal use" AND you have MPEX, I'd suggest using their tool for this [they've already invented this wheel, you see...].  The %PRINT command has a ;KEEPAMDATES option which, as you might imagine, doesn't muck with the access/modify date & timestamps of files that are printed.  In fact, it is a good idea to set a variable called VESOFTDEFAULTPRINT to ";keepamdates;copyaccess" -- this retains access dates when you inadvertantly print "every file in a group", and more importantly, doesn't "hang" on any empty message file [or worse, empty a production message file before the proper process gets to it...]

BUT if you don't have this, or you plan on distributing this [contributed utility or otherwise], then you might see if you can bend the ear of the developers over at VEsoft, since that is exactly what they do [use CM code to retain file access dates -- remember, they DO support "classic" machines even today...]

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