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Purging Files
You can purge a file from a directory by using the PURGE statement. Purging a file
deletes the directory entry for the file and releases the space reserved for the data area.
A file entry can be removed from the disc directory with the PURGE statement. This
prevents any further access to the file. For example, the following statement removes the
file llOld_stuff" from the current default volume:
PURGE "Old_stuff"
Once a file is purged, there is generally no way of retrieving the information it contains
l .
Effects of PURGE on LlF Directories
The order of file names and files' data areas is the same on LIF discs. Therefore, purging
a file on a LIF directory creates two "gaps" on the disc:
• One in the data area
• One in the directory.
As an example, suppose that you have three consecutive files on a disc with the following
names and sizes.
DIRECTORY
ENTRY
-~f-
FILE A
r-
2
FILE B
~-
1 -
-
-
3
FILE
C
.-
r-
I-
I-
4
5
I-
I-
I-
6
I-
DATA AREA
FILE A
FILE B
FILE
C
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
} 3
SECTORS
} 4 SECTORS
} 5 SECTORS
1
The only exception to this rule is with LIF discs, on which files can be "un-purged" using the Mass
Storage Program (MASS_STOR). See the "Utilities" section of Installing and Maintaining the BASIC
System for instructions.
U sing Directories and Files
5-35
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