Odi's DOS tools for long file names ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALWAYS GET THE LATEST VERSION FROM http://odi.webjump.com/ AND READ THIS BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS! Contents -------- 1. Overview 2. Description 3. Known bugs 4. Where can I report bugs and get the latest version? 5. FAQ 6. License 7. Acknowledgements 1. Overview 1.1 What's this? ---------------- These tools provide easy file management under DOS with long filenames created by Windows 95/98 on FAT32, FAT16 and FAT12 file systems. To take full advantage of these tools, run them in pure DOS mode - not a DOS box under Windows. As far as I know this is the only completely FREE solution to handle long filenames in DOS. To show you what I mean: Open up a DOS box in Windows 95 and type DIR - it will display long filenames. Do the same in DOS mode and you will only get the short names. Copy a file with a long filename in DOS mode and it will lose its long name. Using my LFN Tools you can just feel like in a DOS box when you are actually in DOS mode. Typing LDIR brings up the directory with its long filenames. Copying a file with LCOPY preserves long filenames. You can even create directories (LMD) with long names or rename files (LREN) with long names. 1.2 What is it not? ------------------- It is NOT an extension of DOS. All your DOS programs can NOT handle long file names even with these tools. (I should mention that there is a driver called LFNDOS that provides the Microsoft Long Filename API under DOS. You can find it somewhere on the web.) Other file systems than FAT and ISO-9660/Joliet for CD-ROMs are not supported yet. Thus these tools do not work on Apple Mac-Drives, Windows NT-Drives, Linux etc. But they run on Iomega ZIP drives. They are not supposed to run in a DOS-Box under Windows nor are they supposed to handle any short names. Use the generic DOS commands instead. 1.3 Who may need these tools? ----------------------------- Anyone who has Windows 9x running. Anyone who wants to make a backup copy of his Windows. Anyone who loves good old DOS. Anyone who must work in DOS mode for maintainance of the OS. Are you reinstalling Windows cause it's wrecked and want to backup all your data? Bought a new Harddrive and do not want to reinstall Windows? LCopy it! Want to restore your Windows directory from a ZIP drive or CD-ROM? Try it! 1.4 What do the tools do? ------------------------- Each tool corresponds to a DOS equivalent but can handle long file names and FAT32. LDIR.EXE List a directory/folder like DIR LCD.EXE Changes to any directory/folder like CD LREN.EXE Renames a file like REN LDEL.EXE Deletes a file line DEL LCHK.EXE Display information about a volume LCOPY.EXE Copies files better than COPY LMD.EXE Creates a directory like MD LRD.EXE Removes a directory like RD 1.5 How do the tools work internally? ------------------------------------- They do not use the common DOS calls to handle files and/or directories. Instead they access disks directly either through BIOS INT 25h and 26h or Int 21h function 7305h, depending on the version of operating system. For CD-ROM access Int 2Fh function 15h is used. Thus only FAT file systems and ISO9660/Joliet are supported. 1.6 What's new? --------------- To find out what version you have run LCHK. For details see history.txt. Release 1.50 fixes lost clusters with LCOPY if file could not be copied, minor issue in LCHK. LFN Tools are now compatible with Windows Millenium. 1.7 A note on CD-ROM file systems --------------------------------- On Windows platforms mostly two file systems (FS) are used for CD-ROMs at the same time: ISO-9660 and Microsoft Joliet (which is optional). Windows uses Joliet if available. DOS always uses ISO. ISO can either store short names in uppercase OR long names (31 characters) in a reduced ASCII character set. Long names are converted to short ones in DOS. Joliet always uses long filenames in Unicode characters. There exists no fixed relation between ISO filenames and Joliet filenames. To support relative paths I had to match those filenames though. I finally assumed that files are listed in the same order in both directories. So the 12th file in the ISO FS is the same as the 12th file in the Joliet FS. ***However there is no guarantee that this assumption is correct everywhere!*** So watch out for unpredictable results when dealing with relative path names. Examples: "E:French" is a relative path name to the current directory of drive E. Its absolute path name may be "E:\Languages\French". E:\LANGUA~1>Ldir french this is relative! E:\LANGUA~1>Ldir \languages\french this is absoltute! E:\LANGUA~1>Lcd french this is relative! E:\LANGUA~1\French>Lcd .. this is relative! E:\LANGUA~1\French>Ldir even this is relative! This is the reason for the /I switch. Rule: Check relation between short and long names with LDir, before copying from CD-ROM. 1.8 Multisession CD-ROMs ------------------------ LFN Tools are capable of accessing previously recorded sessions on Multisession CD- Rs. LCHK can list all tracks on a CD. Every track containing DATA is considered a "session" and has its own file system. Sessions can include or "overwrite" files from previous session. A new session can "delete" a file by simply not making a directory entry for it. With LFN Tools you are able to recover such "deleted" files. 2. Description Note: When working with long filenames files do not need to have any extension or can have more than one. For example: "Mailbox", "Mail from Mama.txt", "Book.doc.zip". Thus wildcards do behave slightly different. (Microsoft's DOS Box instead keeps the behaviour compatible to DOS.) To select all files use a single * instead of *.*. Because *.* would select all files containing a dot - and most of the directory names don't! Switches need not be separated by spaces anymore. However when using /Tnn it must be followed by a space if additional switches are specified. Otherwise they are ignored! 2.1 LDIR -------- This command displays the specified directory if supplied a long directory name. Without parameters it displays the current directory. If the path or filename contains spaces double quotes are required (see example). You can use the common wildcards (?,*) to restrict the output to certain files. Use asterix to abreviate a long directory name. The /a switch displays hidden files too. The /b switch displays only long file names; no date/time information. The /s switch displays all subdirectories. When viewing large directories use the /p switch to pause listing between screen pages. Witch the /c switch you can turn off the cache. This will slow down the whole thing a bit, but consumes less memory (~128 KB). The /I and /T switches are for CD-ROM only. /I forces LDIR to use ISO file system rather than Joliet. /T must be followed by the number of a valid data track and a space. The track number identifies which session to use. When /T is absent the last session recorded is used. Use LCHK to display valid track numbers. Syntax: LDIR [drive:][path][filename] [/?] [/A][/B][/S][/P] [/C][/I][/Tn] Example: D:\WINDOZE>LDIR "C:\new folder\*.txt" . . 13.01.1999 19:49 . .. . 13.01.1999 19:49 .. NEWTEX~1.TXT 1247 13.01.1999 20:02 New textfile.txt D:\>LDIR w* WINDOZE . 13.01.1999 19:49 Windoze D:\>LDIR w*\ . . 13.01.1999 19:49 . .. . 13.01.1999 19:49 .. NEWTEX~1.TXT 1247 13.01.1999 20:02 New textfile.txt 2.2 LCD ------- This command changes the current working directory to the specified location. Unlike the corresponding DOS command LCD changes directly to a specified drive (see example). LCD will change to the first matching directory it meets. In addition wildcards can be used in pathnames. The first item occuring in the directory structure (this could be a file!) is used. The /I and /T switches are for CD-ROM only. /I forces LDIR to use ISO file system rather than Joliet. /T must be followed by the number of a data track. The track number identifies which session to use. When /T is absent the last session recorded is used. Use LCHK to display valid track numbers. Syntax: LCD [drive:]pathmask [/?][/I][/Tn] Example: D:\WINDOZE>LCD "C:\new folder" C:\NEWFOL~1>LCD .. C:\>LCD pro*\onli* C:\PROGRA~1\ONLINE~1> 2.3 LDEL -------- This command deletes the specified file(s). You can use the common wildcards (?,*) to select more than one file. The /a switch also deletes files with the read-only attribute set. Hidden, system etc. files are NOT affected by /a. The /p switch asks you before deleting each file wheter to proceed or not. With the /c switch you can turn off the cache. This will slow down the whole thing a bit, but consumes less memory (~128 KB). To delete all files in a directory use "LDEL *" istead of "LDEL *.*". Syntax: LDEL [drive:][path\]file [/A][/P][/C][/?] Example: C:\TEMP>LDEL *.txt Letter from Al.txt deleted My memories.txt deleted C:\TEMP>LDEL "E:\Garbage folder\*" Trash 1.dat deleted Trash 2.file deleted 2.4 LREN -------- This command assigns a new long name to a file or directory. Do not use any wildcards (?,*); rename only a single file or directory. You will not be able to rename a file to a name containing unicode characters such as the Euro Symbol. Renaming to a short name does not remove the long name; its case is stored in this place for example. Syntax: LREN [drive:][path\]filename newfilename [/?] Example: C:\TEMP>LREN "An important file.txt" "Not so important any more.txt" C:\TEMP> 2.5 LCOPY --------- This command copies one or more files to any destination. You can use wildcards (?,*) to select more than one file. If files in the destination directory already exist they are OVERWRITTEN without notice to the user (only if the target file is not read- only)! If the destination is omitted the current drive and directory are used. The switch /S copies also all subdirectories with their contents. When using the /D switch together with /S all matching files in all subdirectories are copied to the destination directory and no subdirectories are created. Mind that if files with equal names are overwritten without notice! The switch /A copies also hidden files. If /A and /S are combined even hidden directories are copied. This makes XCOPY nearly obsolete. Witch the /c switch you can turn off the cache. This will slow down the whole thing a bit, but consumes less memory (~128 KB). You can abort the operation by pressing any key. [The "any" key is the space bar ;-)] The /B switch turns off this feature. The /I and /T switches are for CD-ROM only. /I forces LDIR to use ISO file system rather than Joliet. /T must be followed by the number of a data track. The track number identifies which session to use. When /T is absent the last session recorded is used. Use LCHK to display valid track numbers. Syntax: LCOPY [drive:][path\]sourcefile [drive:][destination] [/?][/S [/D]][/A][/C][/B][/I][/Tn] Example: C:\TEMP>LCOPY "*.text" A:\BACKUP\ A Secret.text An important.text 2 file(s) copied C:\TEMP>LCOPY "A Secret.text" "D:\WEB\Now A Public.text" A Secret.text 1 file(s) copied C:\TEMP>LCOPY C:\WINDOWS\* "D:\WRECKED SYSTEMS" /A /S /B The last line would copy the entire operating system to another directory. You are not allowed to abort the operation. C:>LCOPY . D:\ /S The last line would copy the directory structure only (no files). With switches /S LCOPY always mirrors the directory structure, even if no matching file is found. C:\>LCOPY *.ZIP C:\ARCHIVES /S /D The last line would copy all zip files on drive C to the directory \ARCHIVES. No subdirectories are created. 2.6 LMD ------- This command creates a new subdirectory (folder). Syntax: LMD [drive:][path\]newdir [/?] Example: C:\>LMD "Backup Folder" Ok. C:\>LCD Backup* C:\BACKUP~1>D: D:\>LMD "C:Apr 1,1999" Ok. This creates a new Folder called "Apr 1,1999" in "Backup Folder" on drive C. 2.7 LRD ------- This command removes a subdirectory (folder). Syntax: LRD [drive:][path\]dirname [/?] Example: C:\>LRD "Backup Folder" Ok. 2.8 LCHK -------- This command displays information about a disk. This information is taken from the disk's boot sector. This command works on CD-ROMs as well. It displays detailed information on how many tracks (sessions) are on the CD-ROM. Use the track numbers displayed for the /T switch of LCOPY, LDIR and LCD. Syntax: LCHL [drive:] Example: C:\>LCHK D: Version 1.41 Copyright (C) 1999 Ortwin Glueck This is free software under GPL. See the readme file for details. DOS Version: FF-7.10 Drive: 3 Bytes per Sector: 512 Sectors per Cluster: 8 Reserved Sectors: 32 Number of Clusters: 917916 Number of FATs: 2 Number of Root entries: 0 Media Descriptor: f8 Sectors per FAT: 7179 Sectors: 7357707 First Data Sector: 14390 First Root Sector: 14390 First Root Cluster: 2 Root Sectors: 0 Fat entries per Sector: 128 Label: File System: FAT32 FAT32 compatible disk access enabled Volume locking enabled 3. Known bugs and features -------------------------- - The DOS command line can not exceed 127 characters! (use asterix to abbreviate directories). Even batch file command lines will only pass 126 characters! - You can not use LCOPY to create a file whose name equals the drive label in the drive's root directory. - One user reported problems when copying from CD to SCSI harddrive. IDE is ok. - If a directory contains long file names no longer associated with any file, LDIR may display some incorrect long file names. It does not recognize the directory beeing corrupt. Repair the directory with scandisk.exe. - Only Unicode characters from codepages 00h and 25h are translated. Unknown characters are converted to underscore (_). May cause non-unique filenames! - LRD: You can remove the current working directory without notice. - If a disk's boot record reports a wrong FAT format, FAT is corrupted (lcopy, lmd, lrd). This can especialy happen on (old) wrong formatted floppy disks. Check the filesystem with the LCHK tool first. 1.44MB-Diskettes should always be FAT12. - FAT32: Only the first copy of the FAT is used for reading. Changes are ALWAYS written to all copies (mirroring). - FAT32 hard drives can only be accessed if the DOS version supports FAT32. Otherwise the drive is not assigned a drive letter. Use a Win98 or Win95B boot diskette. - CD-ROMs can only be accessed if a CD-ROM driver is loaded (MSCDEX). Otherwise the drive is not assigned a drive letter. - I have made a short test with IDE-ATAPI Iomega ZIP drives. LFN Tools seem to work fine on them. However one user reported problems when writing which I could not reproduce. 4. Where can I report bugs and get an updated version? ------------------------------------------------------ Any comment is to be sent to the e-mail address supplied on my homepage. I speak German and English. Odi's LFN Tools are still under light development. So be sure to check for a newer version each 6 months or so. Type lchk to find out what version you have. Get the latest version from WWW: http://odi.webjump.com/ This site is not very fast and has sometimes access problems! Maybe I will move this page. If it is not there anymore try http://go.to/odi or search the web and Usenet for "Odi's LFN Tools". You can try and search SimtelNet too. 5. FAQ ------ Q: I have problems with my home burned CD-Rs. I cannot see long filenames. A: Learn how to use your CD recording software and read about CD-ROM standards. Q: I cannot see long filenames on ANY CD-ROM. A: Get at least version 1.49. If problem persists write me an e-mail. Q: I want to support your work with my money. A: Good. If you want to spend less than 100$ forget it. Otherwise send me an e-mail. Q: I get an error message when going to your homepage. A: Try again. The server is not the best. Q: I have programmed a DOS utility. Could you convert it to handle long names? A: Definitely not! Fix it yourself. You have the LFN source code. 6. License ---------- This is free software under the GNU General Public License. No warranty. Source code (C++) available on http://odi.webjump.com/. If you can not compile the code with your favourite compiler this is YOUR problem. I can not help you compile the code. See the license.txt file included in the ZIP archive. 7. Acknowledgements ------------------- I would like to say thank you to the following persons. Frank Littmann, Mario Latzig for hints on filename problem with Joliet (God, was I blind!) Bill Hall for some good hints Isy for two bug reports H. Ellenberger for the bug report in 1.42 Benjamin Wells for his note on LCOPY *.TXT C:\FUN /S Mark Marinac for his hints on ZIP drives and compression Michael Marquart for the hint on DOS 6 and extensive testing Leanne & Walt Smith for the IBM PC-DOS testing Gordon Chaffee for Unicode support (Linux kernel) The Linux people who helped me out with the ISO structs Corinne for her love