atattribute

NAME

SYNOPSIS

char*atRetAttr (Af_key *aso, char *attributeName);

voidatFreeAttr (char *attributeValue);

intatSetAttr (Af_key *aso, char *attribute, int mode);

intatSetAttrFile (Af_key *aso, char *filename);

char*atAttrName (char *attribute);

char*atAttrValue (char *attribute);

intatMatchAttr (Af_key *aso, char *attribute);

DESCRIPTION

atRetAttr returns a string representation of the value(s) of the aso attribute named attributeName. If the attribute value is preceded by a value special character (see list below), it will be evaluated accordingly. When the evaluation fails, the original attribute value, including value special character, is returned. When the attribute value is empty, an empty string is returned. When the attribute does not exist or on any other error condition, a null pointer is returned.

Attribute citations (like 7.0) in attribute values will always be expanded by atRetAttr. There is no way to disable attribute expansion. If you need the raw, unexpanded attribute value, use af_retattr (manual page af_attrs(3)).

The attribute value returned by atRetAttr either resides in static memory (in case of AtFS standard attributes) or in allocated memory. Use atFreeAttr on each attribute value returned by atRetAttr when this not needed any longer. This will recycle allocated memory if possible.

atSetAttr sets the attribute attribute for aso. It calls af_setattr (manual page af_attrs(3)) and hence understands the modes AF_ADD, AF_REMOVE, and AF_REPLACE. Alternatively, the mode argument is ignored, when the equal sign between attribute name and value is preceded by either a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign for adding and deleting attribute values. The value special character at (@) will also be evaluated. atSetAttr opens the file and reads its contents. If either the opening or reading fails, the attribute setting is aborted and returns FALSE. On successful execution, atSetAttr returns TRUE, otherwise FALSE.

atSetAttrFile evaluates a file containing attributes. If opens the named file (filename) and interprets each line in the file as attribute argument to atSetAttr.

atAttrName fills a static memory buffer with the name of the given attribute and returns a pointer to this buffer. Subsequent calls of atAttrName overwrite previous results.

atAttrValue returns a pointer to the value part of attribute.

atMatchAttr checks if aso has the given attribute. Result values are TRUE or FALSE. If just an attribute name is given, atMatchAttr returns a positive result if the attribute exists in the asos attribute list or, in the case that it is a standard attribute, if it's value is non null. A full attribute (name and value) must match an attribute in the asos attribute list. The value of the given attribute argument may be a (sh(1)) pattern.  

ATTRIBUTE FORMAT

plus (+)

A plus sign preceding the equal sign indicates, that the value shall be added to existing values (no matter if there are any).

minus (-)

With the minus sign, the value shall be removed from the list of values, if it exists.

The following is the complete list of value special characters recognized by AtFStk.

circumflex (^)

The value is regarded as a reference to a file or ASO carrying the real attribute value as contents.

at (@)

An attribute value starting with an at (@) is considered to be a file name from where the real attribute value is to be taken. In contrary to the circumflex notation above, this causes the file read only once, when setting the attribute value.

exclam (!)

This introduces execution attributes. The attribute value is regarded as command to be passed to a shell process. On access, the command will be executed and its output will be catched as real attribute value.

asterisk (*)

This denotes a pointer attribute modeling relationships between attributed software objects. When atSetAttr finds an attribute value with an asterisk as first character it interprets the remaining value string as version identifier and tries to bind it using atBindVersion (manual page atbind(3)). On success, the network path (see atNetworkPath(3)) of the identifies ASO will be stored as attribute value together with the leading asterisk. atRetAttr maps pointer attributes to local pathnames using atLocalPath (manual page atnetwork(3)).

STANDARD ATTRIBUTES

Header

A compound attribute consisting of a $Header: Label followed by the bound file name (AF_ATTBOUND), the version date (vtime - see below), the versions author and state and a trailing dollar sign ($). Example:
$Header: attrs.c[1.1] Tue Dec 1 17:01:10 1992 andy@cs.tu-berlin.de proposed $

Log

The versions modification history from the very beginning. This might be long.

note

The modification note of the version as set by the author.

pred, succ

The physical predecessor/successor version as stored in AtFS. If there is none, the string n/a (not available) is returned.

vtime

The version date. For busy versions, this is the date of last modification, for saved versions, it is the saving date.

xpon, xpoff

Pseudo attribute turning attribute expansion on and off (see above).

Some other names are mapped to the appropriate AtFS standard name:

 AtFStk nameAtFS name (constant definition)AtFStk nameAtFS name (constant definition)

 atime  AF_ATTATIMErevisionAF_ATTREV
 author AF_ATTAUTHORselfAF_ATTBOUND
 ctime  AF_ATTCTIMEselfpathAF_ATTBOUNDPATH
 dsize  AF_ATTDSIZEsizeAF_ATTSIZE
 generationAF_ATTGENstateAF_ATTSTATE
 host   AF_ATTHOSTstimeAF_ATTSTIME
 lock   AF_ATTLOCKERsyspathAF_ATTSPATH
 ltime  AF_ATTLTIMEtypeAF_ATTTYPE
 mtime  AF_ATTMTIMEunixnameAF_ATTUNIXNAME
 name   AF_ATTNAMEversionAF_ATTVERSION
 owner  AF_ATTOWNER

atSetAttr may also be used to set standard attributes where possible. Attributes that may be altered are

 AttributeMapped to AtFS function

 authoraf_chauthor (af_protect(3))
 generation, revision, versionaf_svnum (af_version(3))
 mode af_chmod (af_protect(3))
 owneraf_chowner (af_protect(3))
 stateaf_sstate (af_version(3))
 note af_snote (af_note(3))

RETURN VALUES

SEE ALSO

Index

NAME

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

ATTRIBUTE FORMAT

STANDARD ATTRIBUTES

RETURN VALUES

SEE ALSO