UCO/Lick Observatory Computing Facility

NAME
     Mtools - a collection of tools for manipulating MSDOS files

SYNOPSIS
     mattrib - change MSDOS file attribute flags
     mcd - change MSDOS directory
     mcopy - copy MSDOS files to/from Unix
     mdel - delete an MSDOS file
     mdir - display an MSDOS directory
     mformat - add an MSDOS filesystem to a low-level formatted diskette
     mlabel - make an MSDOS volume label
     mmd - make an MSDOS subdirectory
     mrd - remove an MSDOS subdirectory
     mread - low level read (copy) an MSDOS file to Unix
     mren - rename an existing MSDOS file
     mtype - display contents of an MSDOS file
     mwrite - low level write (copy) a Unix file to MSDOS

DESCRIPTION
     Mtools is a public domain collection of  programs  to  allow
     Unix  systems  to  read,  write,  and manipulate files on an
     MSDOS  filesystem  (typically  a  diskette).   Each  program
     attempts  to emulate the MSDOS equivalent command as closely
     as practical.

     MSDOS filenames are optionally composed of  a  drive  letter
     followed  by  a colon, a subdirectory, and a filename.  Sub-
     directory names can use either the  '/'  or  '\'  separator.
     The  use  of the '\' separator or wildcards will require the
     names to be enclosed in quotes  to  protect  them  from  the
     shell.

     The regular expression "pattern  matching"  routines  follow
     the  Unix-style  rules.   For example, '*' matches all MSDOS
     files in lieu of '*.*'.  The archive, hidden, read-only  and
     system attribute bits are ignored during pattern matching.

     Not all Unix filenames are appropriate in the  MSDOS  world.
     The  Mtools commands may have to alter Unix names to fit the
     MSDOS filename restrictions.  Most commands have a -v  (ver-
     bose)  option  that  will display the new names if they have
     been changed.  The following table shows  some  examples  of
     file name conversions:


     Unix name      MSDOS name      Reason for the change
     ----------------------------------------------------
     thisisatest    THISISAT        filename too long
     alain.knaff    ALAIN.KNA       extension too long
     prn.txt        XRN.TXT         PRN is a device name 
     .abc           X.ABC           null filename
     hot+cold       HOTXCOLD        illegal character


SEE ALSO

     mattrib
     mcd
     mcopy
     mdel
     mdir
     mformat
     mlabel
     mmd
     mrd
     mread
     mren
     mtype
     mwrite