Date   : Mon, 09 Apr 1984104:51:00-PST
From   : kevinw@isl
Subject: Re: CP/M 2.2 User 0 $SYS files

To clarify the attributes for cpm2 and cpm3.

attribute	cpm2			cpm3
SYS		makes file invisible	for user 0 makes useable from
		to normal dir scan.	ANY user number.  WARNING: dri
		has no other effect	added the misfeature that any
		on cpm operation.	file accessed like this is a
		does not enable access	R/O file.  really screws up any
		from other user areas.	ideas of using mince from alternate
					user areas...

R/O		bdos will not allow	same as for cpm2
		this file to be
		overwritten or
		deleted.

ARCHIVE		not available		reset whenever a file is modified.
					used to flag what files are the
					same as on some archive source
					for reduced backup requirements.


Attributes for cpm2 are basically just cute additions -- r/o is nice but
there is no way other than stat to see what the attributes are.  there is
no way other than stat to even see what files are system files.  in cpm3
the attributes are much more integrated into the system and actually have
some uses.  now if only you could write a system user 0 file....  i guess
that dri has to add some screwup to what is otherwise a quite reasonable
version of os-8...

  -- Kevin
     kevinw@su-dsn