Isaac Blake <[log in to unmask]> responds:
>
>Item Subject: Message text
>> Is there a way to stop the MPE PRINT command from changing the file
>> access date, similar to MPEX PRINT?  I use file access date for some
>> maintenance procedures and the MPE PRINT is incorrectly (for me,
>> anyway)
>> updating the file access date.
>
>Klaus,
>
>Not that I know of...  However, I have to disagree with you.  Printing
>a file is accessing it, which we need to keep track of.  It's no
>different than someone texting in the file into a editor and looking at
>it.
>
>IMHO,
>/isaac
>
 
There is a rather awkward, clumsy, but addmitedly effective method of
preserving access dates of files that are clobbered by MPE commands and
utilities:
 
   1) :STORE the file before accessing it
   2) :RESTORE;OLDDATE the file afterwards
 
And while actually printing the file "accesses" it, searching the file
might not be considered "accessing" it if the file doesn't contain the
data of interest.  In my own opinion, MODIFYING the file should always
update the dates, SEARCHING (and finding) data within the file should
update the access date, and searching without finding the data should
not effect the file at all.  If you are tracking ACCESS dates as opposed
to MODIFY dates, it implies you are keeping a file on the system that
has proved its own worth BECAUSE people access it every now and then. If
the file contains no "useful" data, then perhaps it should be purged
when it is determined to be obsolete.  (however, when actually deciding
to purge the file, you usually have to print it, which updates the
access date... oh well, can't win them all)
 
Tom Emerson
VESOFT technical support, Inc.