or clears the hidden attribute of the file. \fB-longname\fR will
expand each path element to its long version. This attribute cannot be
set. \fB-readonly\fR gives the value or sets or clears the readonly
attribute of the file. \fB-shortname\fR gives a string where every
path element is replaced with its short (8.3) version of the
name. This attribute cannot be set. \fB-system\fR gives or sets or
clears the value of the system attribute of the file.
.PP
On Macintosh, \fB-creator\fR gives or sets the Finder creator type of
the file. \fB-hidden\fR gives or sets or clears the hidden attribute
of the file. \fB-readonly\fR gives or sets or clears the readonly
attribute of the file. Note that directories can only be locked if
File Sharing is turned on. \fB-type\fR gives or sets the Finder file
type for the file.
.RE
.VS
.TP
\fBfile channels ?\fIpattern\fR?
.
If \fIpattern\fR isn't specified, returns a list of names of all
registered open channels in this interpreter.  If \fIpattern\fR is

A \fB\-\|\-\fR marks the end of switches; the argument following the
\fB\-\|\-\fR will be treated as a \fIpathname\fR even if it starts with
a \fB\-\fR.
.TP
\fBfile dirname \fIname\fR
Returns a name comprised of all of the path components in \fIname\fR
excluding the last element.  If \fIname\fR is a relative file name and
only contains one path element, then returns ``\fB.\fR'' (or ``\fB:\fR''
on the Macintosh).  If \fIname\fR refers to a root directory, then the
only contains one path element, then returns ``\fB.\fR''.
If \fIname\fR refers to a root directory, then the
root directory is returned.  For example,
.RS
.CS
\fBfile dirname c:/\fR
.CE
returns \fBc:/\fR. 
.PP

.CS
\fBfile join a b /foo bar\fR
.CE
returns \fB/foo/bar\fR.
.PP
Note that any of the names can contain separators, and that the result
is always canonical for the current platform: \fB/\fR for Unix and
Windows, and \fB:\fR for Macintosh.
Windows.
.RE
.TP
\fBfile link ?\fI-linktype\fR? \fIlinkName\fR ?\fItarget\fR?
.
If only one argument is given, that argument is assumed to be
\fIlinkName\fR, and this command returns the value of the link given by
\fIlinkName\fR (i.e. the name of the file it points to).  If

1, 1970).  If the file doesn't exist or its modified time cannot be queried
or set then an error is generated.
.TP
\fBfile nativename \fIname\fR
.
Returns the platform-specific name of the file. This is useful if the
filename is needed to pass to a platform-specific call, such as exec
under Windows or AppleScript on the Macintosh.
under Windows.
.TP
\fBfile normalize \fIname\fR
.
.RS
Returns a unique normalized path representation for the file-system
object (file, directory, link, etc), whose string value can be used as a
unique identifier for it.  A normalized path is an absolute path which has

Returns a string giving the type of file \fIname\fR, which will be one of
\fBfile\fR, \fBdirectory\fR, \fBcharacterSpecial\fR, \fBblockSpecial\fR,
\fBfifo\fR, \fBlink\fR, or \fBsocket\fR.
.TP
\fBfile volumes\fR
. 
Returns the absolute paths to the volumes mounted on the system, as a
proper Tcl list.  On the Macintosh, this will be a list of the mounted
proper Tcl list.  On UNIX, the
drives, both local and network.  N.B. if two drives have the same name,
they will both appear on the volume list, but there is currently no way,
from Tcl, to access any but the first of these drives.  On UNIX, the
command will always return "/", since all filesystems are locally mounted.
On Windows, it will return a list of the available local drives
(e.g. {a:/ c:/}).
.TP
\fBfile writable \fIname\fR
.
Returns \fB1\fR if file \fIname\fR is writable by the current user,