Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

[drgarytraub]

What is the Xbasic code to copy all files from one directory to another directory

Thanks in advance ...

Gary Traub

[Selwyn Rabins]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

i don't believe that there is a command to copy all of the files in one go.

i think you have to use the commands to enumerate all of the files in a folder, then copy the files one by one.

[tlyon]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Or, maybe try using sys_shell() That's worked for me in such instances.

Tom Lyon

[Finian Lennon]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Gary:

I recently put an article up on www.learn alpha.com about configuring an application. In the scripts for that article is code that copies a master set of files from one location to another. It should work for you.

Finian

[drgarytraub]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Thanks for the input. I have gone the batch file route via sys_shell, and it works fine, though not so visually pleasing. Is there any way to run the shell "silently", i.e., without the user seeing the DOS window while all the files are being copied?

Thanks

Gary

[Doug Chanley]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

In the properties of the batch file under Program tab find "run" & select
"minimized" & check box close on exit.

[drgarytraub]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Thanks a lot. Running the batch file minimzed makes the copying process transparent to the user - great!!


Is there a way to detect when the btach file has stopped running. If there is, then I can put a dialog box up with a message like "Please wait ..." before I run the batch file, and then when the process is completed (if it can be detected), then put up a dialog box with the message "Process completed." Is there a way??

Gary

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

I believe your last question was discussed recently. Try searching the forum messages for details. Folks recommended having the batch file write a small file to the disk at conclusion. Your Xbasic script in Alpha Five can detect whether the file is there or not (file.exists()), and then erase it (file.remove()).

-- tom

[drgarytraub]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Great idea!! Thanks ...

Gary

[Finian Lennon]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Hi Gary:

What happens if the user moves drives or installs in a different folder?

Finian

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Tom,
Here is a repost of my original message with a method to check if a DOS batch file is complete. This was originally posted in a string on backups

I struggled with the same issue with a DOS based backup routine. My problem was that I used the process to backup data before another operation and I needed to be sure that the backup was complete. The solution was to use the last line of the DOS batch file to copy a dummy file to a specified location. I then used a loop to look for the dummy file. The file only exists when the batch file was complete. When the loop finds the file, the script will continue. A sample of the script is below. Back is the pointer for the DOS batch file (backup_d.bat) which is created by the script. new_path and new_private_path are the paths of the backup batch file location and the A5 private path that have been converted to DOS short form (I created a function to convert from long name to short name)

'/// lines to create batch file
back.write_line ("copy "+new_path+"backup_d.bat "+new_private_path+"done.txt")
back.flush()
back.close()
timer = toseconds(time())

if file.exists(:A5.Get_Private_Path()+"done.txt")
file.remove(:A5.Get_Private_Path()+"done.txt")
end if

sys_shell(:A5.Get_Path()+"backup_d.bat")

while .not.file.exists(:A5.Get_Private_Path()+"done.txt")
if toseconds(time()) - timer > 60
error_generate("Timed Out Error")
exit while
end if
end while
'/// lines to indicate process is done or additional xbasic processes.

As you can see, the script will time out after 60 seconds in case the DOS batch file fails. Otherwise the user would have to use A5Halt. This method works very well for me.

Jerry

[Jamin Dunivan]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Why not do it this way??? I have asked about the drawbacks on this board to doing it this way but I havent heard anything. I did this with an App that files *.max Paperport files automatically in to the correct folder by reading the file name. I havent had a lick of trouble yet and it works extremely well and fast. This is only a scaled down version. My script is pretty big and it has all the bells and whistles in place but its a start.

Of course this "|" is actually a back slash since this board eats them.

'These 3 lines can be whatever directories you want
source_dir = "||server1|c|visioneer docs"+chr(92)
old_dir=dir_get()
destination_dir="c:|Visioneer Backup"+chr(92)
dir_put(source_dir)

'I use *.max. You can set it to whatever you want. I believe you can use .AND. also.
'Read up on filefind. There are other options with it.
files=filefind.first("*.max")
WHILE .not. files.eof()
'The next three lines check the size of the file to be copied and store them in var->Filebytes
file_pointer=file.open(files.name(),FILE_RO_SHARED)
Filebytes=file_pointer.bytes_get()
file_pointer.close()

'Stores the name of the file in var->filenames
filenames=files.name()
file_copy(source_dir+var->filenames,destination_dir+var->filenames)

'The next lines check to see if the copy was successful
if file.exists(var->destination_dir+var->filenames)
file_pointer=file.open(files.name(),FILE_RO_SHARED)
Filebytecheck=file_pointer.bytes_get()
file_pointer.close()
if var->filebytecheck=var->filebytes
'Place what ever you want. In my App I have it write to a log file.
'Basically the above file check for corruption too. I figured
'if the bytes were off then something must of happened. I havent had
' a problem yet.
else
'Send it back to try and copy again. If it still doesnt match up have
'it terminate the script or skip that file
end if
End If
files.next()
END WHILE
dir_put(old_dir)
END

[Jim Rowlen]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Damn.

So there ARE some around who still know how to write DOS batches.

[Jim Rowlen]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

ooops. Maybe it wasn't DOS. Just read a little further.

[drgarytraub]

RE: Copying files with Xbasic - please help ....

Thanks everyone for the very useful ideas.

Gary