VMS Help DELETE, file  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    Deletes one or more files from a mass storage disk volume.

    Requires delete (D) access to the file and write (W) access to
    the parent directory. If the target file is itself a directory,
    the directory must be empty.

    Format

      DELETE  filespec[,...]

1 - Parameter

 filespec[,...]

    Specifies the names of one or more files to be deleted from a
    mass storage disk volume. The first file specification must
    contain an explicit or default directory specification plus an
    explicit file name, file type, and version number. Subsequent
    file specifications need contain only a version number; the
    defaults will come from the preceding specification. The asterisk
    (*)  and the percent sign (%) wildcard characters can be used in
    any of the file specification fields.

    If you omit the directory specification or device name, the
    current default device and directory are assumed.

    If the file specification contains a null version number (a
    semicolon (;)  followed by no file version number), a version
    number of 0, or one or more spaces in the version number, the
    latest version of the file is deleted.

    To delete more than one file, separate the file specifications
    with either commas (,)  or plus signs (+).

2 - Qualifiers

 2.1 - /BACKUP

    Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the
    /SINCE qualifier. The /BACKUP qualifier selects files according
    to the dates of their most recent backups. This qualifier
    is incompatible with the /CREATED, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED
    qualifiers, which also allow you to select files according
    to time attributes. If you specify none of these four time
    qualifiers, the default is the /CREATED qualifier.

 2.2 - /BEFORE

       /BEFORE[=time]

    Selects only those files dated prior to the specified time. You
    can specify time as absolute time, as a combination of absolute
    and delta times, or as one of the following keywords: BOOT,
    LOGIN, TODAY (default), TOMORROW, or YESTERDAY. Specify one of
    the following qualifiers with the /BEFORE qualifier to indicate
    the time attribute to be used as the basis for selection:
    /BACKUP, /CREATED (default), /EXPIRED, or /MODIFIED.

    For complete information on specifying time values, refer to the
    OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic DCL_Tips (subtopic
    Date_Time).

 2.3 - /BITMAP

       /BITMAP=n,x

    Enables the system manager to delete one or more active bitmaps
    to make memory resources available. If a bitmap is deleted, then
    former virtual unit members can only be added with a full copy.

    Requires ownership of the device or VOLPRO protection.

    For additional information on bitmaps, refer to Volume Shadowing
    for OpenVMS.

 2.4 - /BY_OWNER

       /BY_OWNER[=uic]

    Selects only those files whose owner user identification code
    (UIC) matches the specified owner UIC. The default UIC is that of
    the current process.

    Specify the UIC by using standard UIC format as described in the
    OpenVMS Guide to System Security.

 2.5 - /CONFIRM

       /CONFIRM
       /NOCONFIRM (default)

    Controls whether a request is issued before each delete operation
    to confirm that the operation should be performed on that file.
    The following responses are valid:

    YES      NO       QUIT
    TRUE     FALSE    Ctrl/Z
    1        0        ALL
             <Return>

    You can use any combination of uppercase and lowercase letters
    for word responses. Word responses can be abbreviated to one or
    more letters (for example, T, TR, or TRU for TRUE), but these
    abbreviations must be unique. Affirmative answers are YES, TRUE,
    and 1. Negative answers include: NO, FALSE, 0, and pressing
    Return. Entering QUIT or pressing Ctrl/Z indicates that you want
    to stop processing the command at that point. When you respond by
    entering ALL, the command continues to process, but no further
    prompts are given. If you type a response other than one of
    those in the list, DCL issues an error message and redisplays
    the prompt.

 2.6 - /CREATED

       /CREATED (default)

    Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
    qualifier. The /CREATED qualifier selects files based on their
    dates of creation. This qualifier is incompatible with the
    /BACKUP, /EXPIRED, and /MODIFIED qualifiers, which also allow
    you to select files according to time attributes. If you specify
    none of these four time qualifiers, the default is the /CREATED
    qualifier.

 2.7 - /ERASE

       /ERASE
       /NOERASE (default)

    When you delete a file, the area in which the file was stored is
    returned to the system for future use. The data that was stored
    in that location still exists in the system until new data is
    written over it. When you specify the /ERASE qualifier, the
    storage location is overwritten with a system specified pattern
    so that the data no longer exists.

 2.8 - /EXCLUDE

       /EXCLUDE=(filespec[,...])

    Excludes the specified files from the delete operation. You can
    include a directory but not a device in the file specification.
    The asterisk (*)  and the percent sign (%) wildcard characters
    are allowed in the file specification. However, you cannot use
    relative version numbers to exclude a specific version. If you
    specify only one file, you can omit the parentheses.

 2.9 - /EXPIRED

    Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
    qualifier. The /EXPIRED qualifier selects files according to
    their expiration dates. (The expiration date is set with the
    SET FILE/EXPIRATION_DATE command.) The /EXPIRED qualifier
    is incompatible with the /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /MODIFIED
    qualifiers, which also allow you to select files according
    to time attributes. If you specify none of these four time
    qualifiers, the default is the /CREATED qualifier.

 2.10 - /LOG

       /LOG
       /NOLOG (default)

    Controls whether the DELETE command displays the file
    specification of each file after its deletion.

 2.11 - /MODIFIED

    Modifies the time value specified with the /BEFORE or the /SINCE
    qualifier. The /MODIFIED qualifier selects files according to
    the dates on which they were last modified. This qualifier
    is incompatible with the /BACKUP, /CREATED, and /EXPIRED
    qualifiers, which also allow you to select files according
    to time attributes. If you specify none of these four time
    modifiers, the default is the /CREATED qualifier.

 2.12 - /SINCE

       /SINCE[=time]

    Selects only those files dated on or after the specified time.
    You can specify time as absolute time, as a combination of
    absolute and delta times, or as one of the following keywords:
    BOOT, LOGIN, TODAY (default), TOMORROW, or YESTERDAY. Specify one
    of the following qualifiers with the /SINCE qualifier to indicate
    the time attribute to be used as the basis for selection:
    /BACKUP, /CREATED (default), /EXPIRED, or /MODIFIED.

    For complete information about specifying time values, refer
    to the OpenVMS User's Manual or the online help topic DCL_Tips
    (subtopic Date_Time).

 2.13 - /STYLE

       /STYLE=keyword

    Specifies the file name format for display purposes while
    deleting files.

    The valid keywords for this qualifier are CONDENSED and EXPANDED.
    Descriptions are as follows:

    Keyword     Explanation

    CONDENSED   Displays the file name representation of what is
    (default)   generated to fit into a 255-length character string.
                This file name may contain a DID or a FID in the file
                specification.
    EXPANDED    Displays the file name representation of what is
                stored on disk. This file name does not contain any
                DID or FID abbreviations.

    The keywords CONDENSED and EXPANDED are mutually exclusive. This
    qualifier specifies which file name format is displayed in the
    output message, along with the confirmation if requested.

    File errors are displayed with the CONDENSED file specification
    unless the EXPANDED keyword is specified.

    Refer to the OpenVMS Guide to Extended File Specifications for
    more information.

3 - Examples

    1.$ DELETE COMMON.SUM;2

      The DELETE command deletes the file COMMON.SUM;2 from the
      current default disk and directory.

    2.$ DELETE *.OLD;*

      The DELETE command deletes all versions of files with file type
      .OLD from the default disk directory.

    3.$ DELETE  ALPHA.TXT;*, BETA;*, GAMMA;*

      The DELETE command deletes all versions of the files ALPHA.TXT,
      BETA.TXT, and GAMMA.TXT. The command uses the file type of the
      first input file as a temporary default. Note, however, that
      some form of version number (here specified as the asterisk
      (*)  wildcards) must be included in each file specification.

    4.$ DELETE /BEFORE=15-APR/LOG *.DAT;*
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]ASSIGN.DAT;1 deleted (5 block)
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]BATCHAVE.DAT;3 deleted (4 blocks)
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]BATCHAVE.DAT;2 deleted (4 blocks)
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]BATCHAVE.DAT;1 deleted (4 blocks)
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]CANCEL.DAT;1 deleted (2 blocks)
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]DEFINE.DAT;1 deleted (3 blocks)
      %DELETE-I-FILDEL, DISK2:[MAIN]EXIT.DAT;1 deleted (1 block)
      %DELETE-I-TOTAL, 7 files deleted (23 blocks)

      The DELETE command deletes all versions of all files with file
      type .DAT that were either created or updated before April 15
      of this year. The /LOG qualifier not only displays the name of
      each file deleted, but also the total number of files deleted.

    5.$ DELETE A.B;

      The DELETE command deletes the file A.B with the highest
      version number.

    6.$ DELETE/CONFIRM/SINCE=TODAY [MEIER.TESTFILES]*.OBJ;*
      DISK0:[MEIER.TESTFILES]AVERAG.OBJ;1, delete? [N]:Y
      DISK0:[MEIER.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;4, delete? [N]:N
      DISK0:[MEIER.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;3, delete? [N]:N
      DISK0:[MEIER.TESTFILES]SCANLINE.OBJ;2, delete? [N]:N
      DISK0:[MEIER.TESTFILES]WEATHER.OBJ;3, delete? [N]:Y

      The DELETE command examines all versions of files with file
      type .OBJ in the subdirectory [MEIER.TESTFILES], and locates
      those that were created or modified today. Before deleting each
      file, it requests confirmation that the file should be deleted.
      The default response-N-is given in brackets.

    7.$ DIRECTORY [.SUBTEST]
      %DIRECT-W-NOFILES, no files found
      $ SET PROTECTION SUBTEST.DIR/PROTECTION=OWNER:D
      $ DELETE SUBTEST.DIR;1

      Before the directory file SUBTEST.DIR is deleted, the DIRECTORY
      command is used to verify that there are no files cataloged
      in the directory. The SET PROTECTION command redefines the
      protection for the directory file so that it can be deleted;
      then the DELETE command deletes it.

    8.$ DELETE DALLAS"THOMAS SECRET"::DISK0:[000,000]DECODE.LIS;1

      This DELETE command deletes the file DECODE.LIS;1 from the
      directory [000,000] on device DISK0 at remote node DALLAS. The
      user name and password follow the remote node name.

    9.$ DELETE NODE12::"DISK1:DEAL.BIG"
      $ DELETE NODE12::DISK1:DEAL.BIG;

      Either of these DELETE commands can be used to delete the file
      DEAL.BIG on device ZZZ1 at remote node NODE12. Note that the
      DELETE command requires an explicit version number in a file
      specification, but the file to be deleted is on a remote node
      whose file syntax does not recognize version numbers. (NODE12
      is an RT-11 node.) Therefore, the file specification must
      either be enclosed in quotation marks (" ")  or entered with
      a null version number (that is, a trailing semicolon [;]).