Introduction
------------

Once upon a time there was an operating system called Unix. It was a very good
operating system. A nice feature of Unix was the ability to create links to
other parts of the file system... aliases. Once upon a time there was an
operating system called DOS. It was not a very good operating system. It would
be nice if you could create links to other parts of the file system... aliases
for DOS. Unfortunately you can not do so physically ( this is to do with the
differences in the way Unix and DOS represent their file structures ). What you
can do is _manage_ a list of aliases and provide the ability to use these
aliases... This is what the ALIAS program does.


Overview
--------

ALIAS allows you to create ~aliases~ for different areas of the DOS file system.
An ~alias~ consists of the short name that you want to represent a DOS path and
the DOS path that you want to represent.

With the ALIAS program you can :

        * Specify a default file to store aliases.

        * Create aliases.

                * Explicitly as an 'alias path' pair.

                * Implicitly by tagging the current path with an alias.

        * Delete aliases.

        * List the contents of an alias file.

        * Specify the use of multiple alias files.

The program itself is relatively small in size, following in the tradition of
most Unix utilities : Stick to one area and do it well.


Default alias file
------------------

You can specify the default alias file by using the environment variable
ALIASFILE, e.g.

        ALIASFILE=F:\UTILS\ALIAS.LST


Creating aliases
----------------

There are two methods of creating aliases : Explicitly by specifying both
the alias and the DOS path to represent and implicitly by specifying an
alias for the current DOS path.

The -A option allows you to explicitly create an alias. Its format is :

        -A alias path

The -T option allows you to implicitly create an alias. Its format is :

        -T alias

If the alias name already exists you be prompted to confirm replacement of the
old alias.


Deleting aliases
----------------

The -D option allows you to delete aliases. Its format is :

        -D alias

You will be prompted to confirm removal of the selected alias.


Listing aliases
---------------

The -L option allows you to list the contents of the current alias file.
Its format is :

        -L[ char ]

If 'character' is specified, only those aliases that start with the character
will be listed. If no 'character' is specified, all aliases are listed. No
attempt is made at sorting the alias file, however it is possibe to sort the
output of this option as only the alias lines are sent to the standard output.


Selecting multiple alias files
------------------------------

The -F option allows you to select a new alias file for processing.
Its format is :

        -Ffilename

It can be specified at any point after the ALIAS program name and as many times
as required/possible.


Displaying help information
---------------------------

The options -H and -? display usage and help information about the ALIAS
program.


This program is entirely freeware. Use it, copy it, post it to your friends,
neighbours, neighbours dog, etc. Trade it for that wolverine you have had your
eye on, I don't care!!!

Wayne Ross.

E-Mail : w.a.j.ross@uk.ac.uclan.p1

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