ERA
                      A Replacement for the DEL Command
                                 27 Aug 88

                        Program by Dennis Vallianos
                             Notes by Irv Hoff


ERA.COM is an MS-DOS "delete file(s)" program.  Unlike the normal DEL
command, it shows the names of the files that will be deleted, then
asks if you really want to erase them.

If a 'c' (for confirm) is appended to the command line, ERA will display
the files matching the command line individually, then ask if you really
want to erase each file.


HOW TO USE ERA

First, copy ERA.COM to a directory that is in your current PATH statement.
ERA does not accept drive specifications, and will only work in the
current drive and directory.  If it is in a directory named in your PATH
statement, you can use it in any directory.  Floppy disk users should
copy ERA.COM to their normal DOS disk.

You can use ERA by entering one of the following commands.  Notice the
wildcard filename.  Use *.* to indicate all files in the current
directory.

       1.       ERA *.TXT

       2.       ERA *.TXT C

       The first example is for normal use.  It shows the names of
       all files with a .TXT extent, then asks if it's OK to erase
       those files.

       The second example shows the files one-at-a-time and asks
       if you want to erase each file.

               (See below for an actual example)


This very short (636 bytes) program has the tremendous advantage of
allowing the user to SEE what will be erased and then verifying
the command before erasing the files. This is a terrific advantage over
the usual DEL command.


EXAMPLE of its usefulness:
--------------------------
    Recently I erased the entire UTIL directory of some 123 files,
    when I "thought" I was in another subdirectory where I did
    want to erase the entire contents (all three files).  I gave the
    command:

                        DEL *.*

    THEN discovered I was in UTIL and those files were GONE.
    Fortunately, I had a back up that was reasonably current,
    but what a nuisance!








INSTALLING ERA.COM
-------------------

        Just copy ERA.COM into in your UTIL or DOS directory.
        Make sure the directory chosen is in your PATH
        statement.  Now, instead of entering DEL to delete a
        file, just enter ERA instead.  If you enter DEL, you
        can still use the original DOS command.

DEMO of ERA
-----------

Let's take a look at a simulated session with ERA.  For the purposes
of this simulation, assume there is a directory, named \UU on drive C:.
Read along, pretending that you are entering the commands shown.
Remember, ERA.COM must be in a directory contained in your PATH statement.

   C:\UU>dir

    Volume in drive C has no label
    Directory of  C:\UU

   ABIWI    TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
   BIW33I   TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
   AGIWI8SK TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
   A238BDL  TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
   A82CKSW  TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
   AIBIS    TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
           6 File(s)  11857920 bytes free

   C:\UU>era *.TXT

   ABIWI   .TXT   BIW33I  .TXT   SGIWI8SK.TXT   A238BDL .TXT   A82CKSW .TXT
   AIBIS   .TXT     

   Ok to erase? y

   C:\UU>
   C:\UU>era *.txt c

   Press Y to delete, N to skip, ESC to stop.

   Delete ABIWI   .TXT? No
   Delete BIW33I  .TXT? Yes
   Delete SGIWI8SK.TXT? Yes
   Delete A238BDL .TXT? Yes
   Delete A82CKSW .TXT? No
   Delete AIBIS   .TXT? Yes

   No more matching files.

   C:\UU>dir *.txt     <<-- (just to show what's left)













    Volume in drive C has no label
    Directory of  C:\UU

   ABIWI    TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
   A82CKSW  TXT      636   8-27-88   4:44p
           2 File(s)  11866112 bytes free

   C:\UU>era *.txt      <<-- normal use of ERA

   ABIWI   .TXT   A82CKSW .TXT

   Ok to erase?y

   C:\UU>dir *.txt

    Volume in drive C has no label
    Directory of  C:\UU

    File not found

   C:\UU>