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EXPUNGE command

The EXPUNGE command permanently erases all the deleted  files  from  a
directory.


Format

     @EXPUNGE (DIRECTORY) dev:<directory>,
     @@subcommand

     where:

     dev:<directory>     is the name of  the  directory  you  wish  to
                         expunge;  you  may use wildcard characters to
                         expunge more than one directory.

                              Default dev: - your connected structure

                              Default <directory> - the directory  (on
                                                    the      specified
                                                    structure) of  the
                                                    same  name as your
                                                    connected
                                                    directory

                              Default (if no arguments - your
                                       are given)        connected
                                                         directory

     @@subcommand        means that after a final comma you  can  give
                         one   or   more   optional   subcommands   on
                         successive lines.


     DELETE      deletes and expunges temporary files (those with  the
                 Temporary  (;T)  attribute)  created  by  some system
                 programs to hold interim data.  Do  not  use  if  you
                 will have any further need of these files.

     PURGE       expunges all files which  you  have  opened  but  not
                 closed.

     REBUILD     rebuilds the symbol table of the directory named.


Output

     After a successful EXPUNGE command, the system reports the number
     of disk pages freed with the message [n pages freed].  If deleted
     files are mapped, they will not be  expunged,  and  so  will  not
     contribute to the number of pages freed.  Occasionally the system
     will report a negative number.  This can  mean  that  files  were
     being written in the directory during the EXPUNGE, or (especially
     if you include the REBUILD subcommand) that previous computations
     of  directory  size  had not adequately accounted for some files,
     for example, files written near the time of a  system  crash  and
     reload.


Hints

     Using the REBUILD Subcommand

          The REBUILD subcommand is not needed under usual conditions,
          as  the  system  performs  this  action  automatically.  Use
          REBUILD if a message is printed on  your  terminal  advising
          you to rebuild the symbol table of a directory.

     Using the PURGE Subcommand

          The PURGE subcommand is  useful  chiefly  for  removing  the
          remains  of  files  that were being created at the time of a
          system crash or a structure dismount.  Do not give it  while
          anyone  might  be  using  the directory, because that user's
          program might be deprived of necessary files as a result.

     Cannot CTRL/C

          You cannot use <CTRL/C> to interrupt an EXPUNGE once  it  is
          started.


Special Cases

     Files With the "Permanent" Attribute

          The system erases only the contents of any files  that  have
          the  Permanent  attribute,  for  example your MAIL.TXT file,
          when you try to expunge them.  The  file  specifications  of
          permanent  files remain among your deleted files, and cannot
          be removed by TOPS-20 commands.


Related Commands

     DELETE                     for marking files to be later expunged

     DIRECTORY-class commands   for   obtaining    lists    of    file
                                specifications

     INFORMATION DISK-USAGE     for  finding  out  the   size   of   a
                                directory

     UNDELETE                   for recovering deleted files


Examples

     1.  Expunge all deleted files from your directory.

         @EXPUNGE
          PS:<LATTA> [6 pages freed]

     2.  Find out how much of your disk space is in use and  how  much
         is  occupied  by  deleted  files.  Delete some of your backup
         files, then give the EXPUNGE command to erase all of these.

         @INFORMATION DISK-USAGE
          PS:<LATTA>
          154 Pages assigned, 101 in use, 53 deleted
          590 Working pages, 590 Permanent pages allowed
          33371 Pages free on PS:
         @DELETE *.Q*
          BLUE.QAR.1 [OK]
          REMARK.QXT.1 [OK]
          RIMOUSKI.QXT.1 [OK]
         @EXPUNGE
          PS:<LATTA> [56 pages freed]