Modifile

Modifile is an application that allows users to apply Perl substitution expressions to files, modifying the name and/or contents of the file while creating backup versions of the original file when necessary. The project ensures that write permissions are checked before making any changes, and provides a comprehensive list of files that would have been altered but did not have write permissions.

The software offers several options, including --backup and --nobackup to control whether changed files are backed up, with the default being --backup. Users can also choose to modify either the base name or directory name of the files using the --basenames and --nodirnames options, respectively. Users can also interact with the software by choosing the --confirm option, which prompts the user before making any changes that would result in file modification.

Modifile allows users to change the contents of files by choosing the --contents or --nocontents option, with --contents being the default setting. There is also a feature to stop substitutions after a certain number of lines have been modified using the --count NUM option.

The software provides an option to read a file containing a list of all expressions to be evaluated, in the format of s/foo/bar/g or tr/a-z/A-Z/. Users can also choose to run the software with minimal output by selecting the --quiet option, or with debugging output by choosing the --verbose option.

The latest release of Modifile fixes an issue where substitution was only applied once per file, ensuring that all necessary modifications are made. Overall, Modifile is a reliable and flexible tool for modifying files efficiently while creating backup versions for added security.