Microsoft KB Archive/61730

Conversion Utility for MS-DOS Version 3.20 BACKUP Files PSS ID Number: Q61730 Article last modified on 02-18-1993 PSS database name: O_MSDOS

3.20

MS-DOS

Summary:

The BACKUP/RESTORE file format is undocumented; therefore, the following information is an overview of how the BACKUP command saves files.

The MS-DOS BACKUP command creates a file header for each file that is backed up. This file header contains, among other things, the complete path for that file. In MS-DOS version 3.20, this path is stored using the forward slash (“/”) as the pathname delimiter. MS-DOS version 3.21, along with other versions/dialects of DOS, uses the backslash (&quot;&quot;) as the pathname delimiter.

The RESTORE command looks at this file header to determine where to restore the file to. The MS-DOS 3.20 RESTORE command only accepts the “/” in the file headers, but other versions/dialects of RESTORE only support the “&quot; delimiter. The MS-DOS 3.21 RESTORE command recognizes either the”/&quot; or the “&quot;, so this version acts as a transitional version between 3.20 and 3.30. To maintain compatibility with other versions of 3.20 BACKUP/RESTORE programs and versions of 3.30 BACKUP/RESTORE programs, the forward slashes (”/“) need to be converted to backslashes (”&quot;).

Microsoft has a utility that will convert the “/” to “&quot; on MS-DOS BACKUP disks, thus making them compatible with other versions/dialects of BACKUP/RESTORE files. This utility is part of an application note called”MS-DOS BACKUP/RESTORE Supplemental Utilities&quot; (PD0315). This application note can be obtained by calling Microsoft Product Support Services.

Additional reference words: 3.20 noupd

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.