When working on a project that involves many files, it can be convenient to have these files stored in a Favorites File List. However, if files are created frequently, it can be easy to forget to consistently issue a FAVORITE primary command every time. If that command is forgotten, your favorites list can be incomplete. 


It is now possible to issue a SET command, so that whenever a file matching a particular file pattern (mask) is created or saved, a corresponding entry will be automatically created in a Favorites File List. Because SET names are a global resource, the AUTOFAV feature applies to every file that matches the file pattern(s), regardless of what profile they are associated with.


Setting up an AUTOFAV request


Creation of an AUTOFAV request is done with a SET command, using the format:


SET AUTOFAV.filemask = filelist-name


Here, filemask is a simple standard file mask string to specify what files are to be included, and filelist-name is the name of the File List to which the name is to be added.


For example, to place every new or saved file having a name like ABC*.TXT into the ABC_PROJECT File List, you would issue the command:

SET AUTOFAV.ABC*.TXT = ABC_PROJECT


You may create multiple SET entries with different masks, all referring to the same File List; this is not a problem.


NOTE: Because of the use of wildcard characters * and ?, it is possible that you may create multiple SET entries that could apply to a particular file-name. Which one takes precedence?  The SET entries are maintained in alphabetical order, and the first one which causes a match will be the one used, even if a SET further down alphabetically is 'more specific'.


Example:        Given the two SET entries,


SET autofav.*.txt = Temp1

SET autofav.ABC*.txt = Temp2


the file ABC.TXT would be added to the Temp1.FLIST even though the ABC*.txt mask is more specific.


Note:  Because the SET list is maintained in alphabetical order, and gets re-sorted each time it is modified, the order you create your SET entries - whether by using the SET command or by direct editing in a SET Edit session - may not be the order in which the entries are stored. If you have any question on this, issue a SET command with no operands to enter a SET Edit session, after any changes have been made to it. That way, you will be able to see the (newly sorted) order of the SET names.


Using AUTOFAV with Named and standard File Lists


    • When you wish to have a file recorded in a named File List of your choosing, simply use the File List name you have set aside for this. If the named File List does not yet exist, SPFLite will automatically create it the first time a file is saved when an appropriate AUTOFAV definition is in effect, unless you take some action to create it some other way.


    • If you wish to have an AUTOFAV definition reference the standard ("unnamed") Favorite Files list, you can spell out the full name of this list, as Favorite Files, such as, SET AUTOFAV.XYZ*.TXT = "Favorite Files". If you do that, you have to include the name in quotes if you enter it on the command line. However, SPFLite understands the common abbreviations of this list, and so you can define this as any of the following, and they all mean the same thing as "Favorite Files":


      • SET AUTOFAV.XYZ*.TXT = Fav
      • SET AUTOFAV.XYZ*.TXT = Favorite
      • SET AUTOFAV.XYZ*.TXT = Favourite  

 

    • The other predefined lists, such as Open Files, Recent Files, etc. cannot be used with AUTOFAV.


    • Named Favorites cannot literally be used with AUTOFAV either, but that is not really a File List anyway, but rather, a "list of lists".


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