===== F   File Directories =====
This command enables you to list files in the current conference, and to find a particular file either by filename or by text in the file description.


==== Subcommands to Locate a File ====
Usually you will want to filter the list of files that are seen. You may pick any of the subcommands listed in the following table to control which files are displayed to them.  The L and N subcommands can be combined as well as the Z and N subcommands. The L and Z commands may not be combined.    See Examples for more details.

All of the subcommands in this section may also be accessed as commands right from the main menu.  Expert users will find that accessing this commands directly from the main menu is the fastest way.

|**L**|Locate filename(s).|
|**N**|Display files after a particular date.|
|**Z**|Search entire file listing for text.|
    

==== File Directory Subcommands ====
You should pick one or more of these subcommands to determine which file directories to view.  If you pick more than one subcommand, each must separated by a SPACE or a ;.  See Examples for more details.

|**[dir. #]**|File directory number.|
|**P**|View private upload directory.|
|**U**|View public upload directory.|


==== Miscellaneous Subcommands ====

|**D**|Flag the files found for download.|
|**FLAG**|Flag a file for download by filename.|
|**G**|Log off of the BBS.|
|**NS**|Display listing in non stop mode.|
|**R**|Re-display available file directories.|
|**V**|View a file.|


==== Subcommands (Alphabetical) ====

|**[dir.#]**|File directory number.|Specifies the file directory number(s) that you want to view.  If you want to view multiple file directories, enter each directory number separated by either a SPACE or a ; character.|
|**D**|Flag the files found for download.|Any files that are listed to the screen will also be flagged for download.  No warning is given if you exceed the batch file limit.  In other words, if you can batch transfer no more than 20 files then only the first 20 files that are displayed will be flagged for download.  The rest of the files will still be displayed but they will not be flagged.|
|**FLAG**|Flag a file for download by filename.|Enables you to flag any file by typing in the filename.  A single filename may be typed or wildcard characters may be used to flag multiple files with similar filenames.|
|**G**|Log off the BBS.|Immediately disconnects you from the system.|
|**L**|Locate filename(s).|Enables you to display only those files which match a particular filename.  Any valid DOS filename may be entered including those with wildcard (? and *) characters.|
|**N**|Display files after a particular date.|Quite frequently you will want to scan the file directories to see what new files have been recently put online.  PCBoard uses the N subcommand to display files that were posted after the date that you enter. The default date will always be the latest date seen in the file directories.  You can specify another date by stacking the date after the N subcommand or PCBoard will prompt you for the date. To specify the default date on the command line use S to represent the date.|
|**NS**|Display listing in non-stop mode.|When this subcommand is used the file listings will be displayed in non-stop mode.  This command may also enter this subcommand at any more? prompt while displaying the file listings.|
|**P**|View private upload directory.|This subcommand enables you to view the private upload directory of the current conference. In order to use this subcommand you must have a security level that is equal to or greater than the one that is entered in PCBSetup => Security Levels => Sysop Commands.|
|**R**|Re-display available file directories.|This subcommand will re-display the list of file directories that are available in the current conference.|
|**U**|View public upload directory.|When files are uploaded they go either to the private upload directory if you force all uploads to be private--otherwise, they are stored in the public upload directory.  This subcommand enables you to view a list of files and descriptions that are in the public upload directory of the current conference.|
|**V**|View a file.|Sometimes you may want more detailed information about a particular file.  When this subcommand is used you will be asked for the filename to view.  If the filename is a valid filename PCBVIEW.BAT will be executed.  This is a batch file that you can use to customize what information you see about that particular file.  For more information about PCBVIEW.BAT please see the Batch Files chapter of this manual.|
|**Z**|Search entire file listing for text.|A user may select only those files which contain particular text.  Like other search functions in PCBoard, you may use Boolean operands for more complex searching.  For more information on Boolean operands please see Searching For Text in the Sysop's Guide chapter of this manual.|


==== Description ====
File transfers are one of the most popular attractions to bulletin boards.  You may wish to view a list of files that are on the system to see if there are files that you wish to download or to make sure that a particular file is not already online.

When the user presses F to access the file directories a list of file directories that may be viewed will be listed on the screen.  After the list is displayed, you are given a file command prompt where you can use any of the previously listed subcommands to control what files are listed/downloaded.


==== Examples ====
To view all of the files that are available in file directory number 3, you would enter:

	F 3

To view the contents of ANYFILE.TXT, you would enter:

	F V ANYFILE.TXT