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Define file attributes

#252 | 2:15 |

Tutorials

Friday June 5, 2009

File attributes are like tags that tell the operating system and programs information about files. File attributes convey whether a file has been backed up, if it can be altered, if it's used by the operating system, and so on.

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Show Notes

- File attributes are used by the operating system to gain information about a file.

- The file attributes used under Windows and DOS are:

- System: which is designated by an "s". These files are used by the operating system and are generally 'hidden' as well.

- Hidden: which is designated by an "h". These files are hidden from view.

- If you do a DOS "DIR" command hidden files will not be seen.

- Read-Only: which is designated by an "r". These files can be read, but not altered.

- Archive: which is designated by an "a". These are files that have not been backed up or "archived" recently.

- Many backup programs will turn the archive attribute off when the backup is completed.

- Volume Label is also a file attribute.

- Directory: which is designated by "dir". This indicates a directory. Directories are used to hold and organize files.

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