Hi All, The latest version of V8Power Tools for DOS is now available.
It includes the new VTEST beta for general testing. It can be downloaded at https://up.lod.bz/v8power <https://up.lod.bz/v8power> or https://fd.lod.bz/repos/current/pkg-html/v8power.html <https://fd.lod.bz/repos/current/pkg-html/v8power.html> Some general information on usage: VTEST exists with one of 3 exit codes, 0=TRUE, 1=FALSE, 100=Syntax or invalid option error. By default, only error messages are displayed. There is a /tf option than can be placed anywhere on the command line to display the final result of TRUE, FALSE or ERROR. When comparing any two strings, it will attempt to compare them numerically by default (supporting signed 64-bit integers in decimal or hexadecimal). For example 123 is less than 0456. If either of the strings is not a valid number, they will be compared as non-case specific text. You can force the strings to be compared as text by using either /i (case-less) or /c (case-specific) at the start of an expression. Examples: C:>VTEST /tf 123 /gt 0456 FALSE C:>VTEST /tf 0x1234 /gt -456 TRUE C:>VTEST /tf 0x1234 /lt 1234 FALSE C:>VTEST /tf /i 123 /gt 0456 TRUE C:>VTEST /tf abc /eq ABC TRUE C:>VTEST /tf /c abc /eq ABC FALSE Quotations for strings is not used or required. Quotation characters are treated as string text. Also, leading and trailing whitespace in strings is ignored. (however, at least one space is required after an option) C:>VTEST /tf a b c /eq A B C TRUE C:>VTEST /tf a bc /eq A B C FALSE C:>VTEST /tf abc/eq ABC TRUE The / character must be escaped in strings by using //. C:>VTEST /tf Y//N TRUE C:>VTEST /tf a/b Invalid option “/b”. ERROR (That is because no operand (like /GT or /AND is between “Y” and “/N”) Missing strings are interpreted as NULL strings. C:>VTEST /tf /lt hello TRUE C:>VTEST /tf /gt hello FALSE C:>VTEST /tf 1 /gt TRUE C:>VTEST /tf 1 /lt FALSE C:>VTEST /eq/tf TRUE C:>VTEST /tf /ne FALSE Comparisons are made from left to right and can be strung in a sequence. C:>VTEST /tf 3 /lt 5 /gt 2 TRUE (That would be like “3 < 5” then “5 > 2") Test expressions can be chained using /AND or /OR C:>VTEST /tf 3 /lt 5 /and B /gt a TRUE (That would be like “3 < 5” and case-less “B > A") Entire expressions can be negated using /NOT. C:>VTEST /tf /not 3 /lt 5 /gt 2 /or /not /c B /gt a TRUE (That would be like "NOT (3 < 5 > 2 = TRUE) = FALSE” or "NOT (case specific, B > a = FALSE) = TRUE") When a filesystem test is made using /f (file), /d (directory) or /e (exists), the item string is replaced by the on disk value. For example assume file “Hello program 1.h" exists: C:>VTEST /tf /f hello program 1.h TRUE C:>VTEST /tf /c /f hello program 1.h FALSE C:>VTEST /tf /f Hello program 1.h /eq hello program 1.h TRUE C:>VTEST /c /tf /f Hello program 1.h /eq hello program 1.h FALSE C:>VTEST /c /tf /f Hello program 1.h /or /f HELLO-1.H TRUE Wildcards can be used with file system items. C:>VTEST /tf /d C:\FREEDOS TRUE C:>VTEST /tf /f C:\FREEDOS\BIN\*.* TRUE The Exists option (/e) is a little different from /f and /d. It can be used to test for any type directory entry, including system volume labels. C:>VTEST /tf /e C:\FREEDOS2.012 TRUE Known Limitations regarding the filesystem related tests: The /f, /d and /e options are only permitted at the beginning of an expression at present. A little extra overhead would be required to permit things like “VTEST hello /eq /f HELLO” and I haven’t decided if that is worth the effort. It may be useful to add tests for date/time stamps and size. It may be useful to add some drive type tests. Like is removable media, cd-rom, floppy, etc. The /f and /d options to not care if a file is system or hidden. Perhaps tests for those will be added at some point. At present where wildcards are used, only the first matching filesystem item is compared from the unsorted directory. It may be useful to test all matching directory items. Making it possible to compare against all files/dirs. For example, any file is older than DT. Or, possibly File A is older than File B, etc. However, not sure how much use it would be. Maybe later. On a single floppy system, running “VTEST /d a:\ /and /d b:\” will cause DOS to prompt for a disk swap. I have not decided if this “is worth the effort” or "even should be” prevented. Anyhow, it is available now. Have fun testing it. :-) Jerome
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