dat2ace - Create File objects for all files in a directory

update June 15, 2026

NAME

dat2birchdb.py - Create File objects for all files in a directory

SYNOPSIS

dat2birchdb.py $dat/dirname
dat2birchdb.py $local/dat/dirname

DESCRIPTION

This script is a shortcut way of entering information for many data files into a birchdocdb database. For each file in the target directory, write a File object to the file datfiles.tsv, in the target directory. datfiles.tsv can be read in birchdocdbkit.py. File objects can then be added to Program or Package objects.

The target directory dirname is the name of a directory either in $dat or in $local/dat. The safest way to run this command is to use the environment variables, as shown in the SYNOPSIS.

EXAMPLE

If the directory $local/dat/misc contains the file sample.txt, the following File object will be written to datfiles.tsv:

--------------------------------
-- add file object
INSERT_INTO     FILE    $local/dat/misc/sample.txt
Description     sample datafile
Command $ACE_FILE_LAUNCHER      $local/dat/misc/sample.txt
;

NOTES

It is always a good idea to proofread docfiles.tsv in a text editor before reading it into the database. For example, you may wish to delete some File objects, or create new ones before reading this file into the database.
In .tsv files, all fields are separated by TAB characters.