You can use FCX commands to create a master file which contains all of the files that comprise the various releases of a project, and which allows you to specify a key to associate the files from a particular release with each other. Basic scenario 1.  Create the master file and insert the files which correspond to the first release of your project. Specify an access key such as the string “Release 1". 2.  When you have a second release, update the master file with the files which make up this release and specify an access key such as “Release 2". 3.  When you have additional releases, update the master file with the files which make up the latest release and specify an access key such as “Release n”. 4.  At any time you can get a list of the files which correspond to a given release, or you can retrieve the files which correspond to a given release. This will allow you to maintain master copies of your source and binary files in one place while keeping the releases separate and saving disk space at the same time. You can view the master file and list files by the access key. The master file can contain any type and number of files. You can store the source files, binaries, listing files, or any other types of files which make up the release. You can keep any number of versions of a particular file, or you can limit the number of versions by specifying the limit when you create the master file. This means you do not have to keep a separate directory for each new version, and you will save disk space because FCX compresses the files when it puts them in the master file. In FCX a master file is called a discpac (prior to Version 6 it was called a library) and uses the file extension .xlb (VMS) or .dpx (Windows, Linux, UNIX). Example Commands 1. Creating the Master file with the Initial Release 2. Updating the Master file When Ready for a New Release Here you have two ways of putting in the new files. You can use the FCX Refresh command which will look for later versions of the files which are already in the master file and add any that it finds. Or, you can use the FCX Update command to explicitly add the new files. Files which exist in the Master file and do not have a later version will not be added again. 3. Looking at the Contents of the Master File You can get a view the contents of a Master file using the FCX Directory command. The default directory displays a list of all of the latest versions of the files stored within the Master file. By adding the /All qualifier you can see all files including the prior versions. 4. Retrieving Files from the Master file If you need to restore files from the Master file you use the FCX Retrieve command. You can retrieve files by file name, including wildcards, or by access key (ident).   Distributing Master Files and their Contents There are two primary scenarios for distributing Master files and their contents. In the first scenario identical Master files are maintained at multiple sites and updates are sent among the sites to keep the Master files synchronized. Updates could originate at a main site and be distributed to the other sites, or updates could be generated by each site independently and their respective updates sent to each of the other sites to maintain synchronization. In the second scenario a single Master file is maintained at a central site and application files are distributed from within the Master file to other sites for use at those sites. The EXTRACT and INSERT commands provide an efficient way to accomplish both scenarios. Scenario 1 - Distributing Master File Updates The EXTRACT command is used to copy the desired files from the Master file on system A into an FCX file which can be transferred to system B. At system B the INSERT Command is used to copy the compressed files within the FCX file into the Master file at system B. The combination of EXTRACT and INSERT is analogous to a copy and paste procedure between the two Master files, using an FCX file as the vehicle. The benefit is that the compressed files never have to be expanded and recompressed when moved between Master files, or when portions of a Master file are to be sent to another computer. On system or node A On system or node B Scenario 2 - Distributing Application File Updates The EXTRACT command is used to copy the desired files from the Master file on node A into an FCX file which can be transferred to one or more other nodes. At the other nodes the files within the FCX file are expanded for use on those nodes. On system or node A On system or node B