David Randall asks:

> Can anyone suggest a way of producing a list of files including lockwords
> created in a single group between specific dates/times?

The short answer is:  see MPEX. :)

IIRC, one of its standard formats includes lockwords.  You can probably
double-check this by checking the documentation for %help listf, or
search the built-in formats with something like

   % print @.listf.vesoft;search=cl "lockword"

A filename like "N38.LISTF.VESOFT" would indicate mode 3 (the "8" suffix
indicates a "compiled" listf script); I don't know how mode -3 is
indicated in a filename.

As for the detail of the range of creation dates, if you are willing
to live with just the date, you can use something like

   % listf @.pub(credate>=08/01/98 and credate<=08/05/98),3

If you must have the times as well, I don't know the syntax offhand,
but MPEX help (perhaps %help credate) should clear this up.

Lastly, you can always clone an existing %LISTF mode.  Pick one that's
close (say, N3), and save the modified version in your local group
(say, MY3).  You would then reference this new mode thusly:

   % listf @.pub(credate>=08/01/98 and credate<=08/05/98),^MY3

(I've done this to make separate "modes" for sorting on creation date/time,
modification date/time, and last access date/time.)

Sorry I don't have the specifics at hand.

--Glenn

P.S. As for the mysterious failed-then-working directory restore,
     are you using the much-maligned (contraction of mis-aligned)
     DDS format tapes?