file-attributes cleanup

Mostly, this replaces magic-number calls like (nth 4 A) with
more-informative calls like (file-attribute-access-time A).
It also fixes some documentation and minor timestamp coding
issues that I noticed while looking into this.
* doc/lispref/files.texi (File Attributes):
* lisp/files.el (file-attribute-size)
(file-attribute-inode-number, file-attribute-device-number):
* src/dired.c (Fdirectory_files_and_attributes)
(Ffile_attributes):
Mention which attributes must be integers, or nonnegative integers,
as opposed to merely being numbers.  Remove no-longer-correct
talk about representing large integers as conses of integers.
* doc/lispref/files.texi (Magic File Names):
* doc/misc/gnus.texi (Low-level interface to the spam-stat dictionary):
* lisp/autorevert.el (auto-revert-find-file-function)
(auto-revert-tail-mode, auto-revert-handler):
* lisp/auth-source.el (auth-source-netrc-parse):
* lisp/cedet/ede/files.el (ede--inode-for-dir):
* lisp/cedet/semantic/db-file.el (object-write):
* lisp/cedet/semantic/db-mode.el (semanticdb-kill-hook):
* lisp/cedet/semantic/db.el (semanticdb-needs-refresh-p)
(semanticdb-synchronize):
* lisp/cedet/srecode/table.el (srecode-mode-table-new):
* lisp/desktop.el (desktop-save, desktop-read):
* lisp/dired-aux.el (dired-file-set-difference)
(dired-do-chxxx, dired-do-chmod, dired-copy-file-recursive)
(dired-create-files):
* lisp/dired.el (dired-directory-changed-p, dired-readin):
* lisp/dos-w32.el (w32-direct-print-region-helper):
* lisp/emacs-lisp/autoload.el (autoload-generate-file-autoloads)
(autoload-find-destination, update-directory-autoloads):
* lisp/emacs-lisp/shadow.el (load-path-shadows-same-file-or-nonexistent):
* lisp/epg.el (epg--start, epg-wait-for-completion):
* lisp/eshell/em-ls.el (eshell-ls-filetype-p)
(eshell-ls-applicable, eshell-ls-size-string)
(eshell-ls-file, eshell-ls-dir, eshell-ls-files)
(eshell-ls-entries):
* lisp/eshell/em-pred.el (eshell-predicate-alist)
(eshell-pred-file-type, eshell-pred-file-links)
(eshell-pred-file-size):
* lisp/eshell/em-unix.el (eshell-shuffle-files, eshell/cat)
(eshell-du-sum-directory, eshell/du):
* lisp/eshell/esh-util.el (eshell-read-passwd)
(eshell-read-hosts):
* lisp/files.el (remote-file-name-inhibit-cache)
(find-file-noselect, insert-file-1, dir-locals-find-file)
(dir-locals-read-from-dir, backup-buffer)
(file-ownership-preserved-p, copy-directory)
(read-file-modes):
* lisp/find-lisp.el (find-lisp-format):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-agent.el (gnus-agent-unfetch-articles)
(gnus-agent-read-agentview, gnus-agent-expire-group-1)
(gnus-agent-request-article, gnus-agent-regenerate-group)
(gnus-agent-update-files-total-fetched-for)
(gnus-agent-update-view-total-fetched-for):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-cache.el (gnus-cache-read-active)
(gnus-cache-update-file-total-fetched-for)
(gnus-cache-update-overview-total-fetched-for):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-cloud.el (gnus-cloud-file-new-p):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-score.el (gnus-score-score-files):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-start.el (gnus-save-newsrc-file)
(gnus-master-read-slave-newsrc):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-sum.el (gnus-summary-import-article):
* lisp/gnus/gnus-util.el (gnus-file-newer-than)
(gnus-cache-file-contents):
* lisp/gnus/mail-source.el (mail-source-delete-old-incoming)
(mail-source-callback, mail-source-movemail):
* lisp/gnus/nneething.el (nneething-create-mapping)
(nneething-make-head):
* lisp/gnus/nnfolder.el (nnfolder-read-folder):
* lisp/gnus/nnheader.el (nnheader-file-size)
(nnheader-insert-nov-file):
* lisp/gnus/nnmail.el (nnmail-activate):
* lisp/gnus/nnmaildir.el (nnmaildir--group-maxnum)
(nnmaildir--new-number, nnmaildir--update-nov)
(nnmaildir--scan, nnmaildir-request-scan)
(nnmaildir-request-update-info)
(nnmaildir-request-expire-articles):
* lisp/gnus/nnmh.el (nnmh-request-list-1)
(nnmh-request-expire-articles, nnmh-update-gnus-unreads):
* lisp/gnus/nnml.el (nnml-request-expire-articles):
* lisp/gnus/spam-stat.el (spam-stat-save, spam-stat-load)
(spam-stat-process-directory, spam-stat-test-directory):
* lisp/ido.el (ido-directory-too-big-p)
(ido-file-name-all-completions):
* lisp/image-dired.el (image-dired-get-thumbnail-image)
(image-dired-create-thumb-1):
* lisp/info.el (info-insert-file-contents):
* lisp/ls-lisp.el (ls-lisp-insert-directory)
(ls-lisp-handle-switches, ls-lisp-classify-file)
(ls-lisp-format):
* lisp/mail/blessmail.el:
* lisp/mail/feedmail.el (feedmail-default-date-generator)
(feedmail-default-message-id-generator):
* lisp/mail/mailabbrev.el (mail-abbrevs-sync-aliases)
(mail-abbrevs-setup):
* lisp/mail/mspools.el (mspools-size-folder):
* lisp/mail/rmail.el (rmail-insert-inbox-text):
* lisp/mail/sendmail.el (sendmail-sync-aliases):
* lisp/mh-e/mh-alias.el (mh-alias-tstamp):
* lisp/net/ange-ftp.el (ange-ftp-parse-netrc)
(ange-ftp-write-region, ange-ftp-file-newer-than-file-p)
(ange-ftp-cf1):
* lisp/net/eudcb-mab.el (eudc-mab-query-internal):
* lisp/net/eww.el (eww-read-bookmarks):
* lisp/net/netrc.el (netrc-parse):
* lisp/net/newst-backend.el (newsticker--image-get):
* lisp/nxml/rng-loc.el (rng-get-parsed-schema-locating-file):
* lisp/obsolete/fast-lock.el (fast-lock-save-cache):
* lisp/obsolete/vc-arch.el (vc-arch-state)
(vc-arch-diff3-rej-p):
* lisp/org/ob-eval.el (org-babel--shell-command-on-region):
* lisp/org/org-attach.el (org-attach-commit):
* lisp/org/org-macro.el (org-macro-initialize-templates):
* lisp/org/org.el (org-babel-load-file)
(org-file-newer-than-p):
* lisp/org/ox-html.el (org-html-format-spec):
* lisp/org/ox-publish.el (org-publish-find-date)
(org-publish-cache-ctime-of-src):
* lisp/pcmpl-gnu.el (pcomplete/tar):
* lisp/pcmpl-rpm.el (pcmpl-rpm-packages):
* lisp/play/cookie1.el (cookie-snarf):
* lisp/progmodes/cmacexp.el (c-macro-expansion):
* lisp/ps-bdf.el (bdf-file-mod-time):
* lisp/server.el (server-ensure-safe-dir):
* lisp/simple.el (shell-command-on-region):
* lisp/speedbar.el (speedbar-item-info-file-helper)
(speedbar-check-obj-this-line):
* lisp/thumbs.el (thumbs-cleanup-thumbsdir):
* lisp/time.el (display-time-mail-check-directory)
(display-time-file-nonempty-p):
* lisp/url/url-cache.el (url-is-cached):
* lisp/url/url-file.el (url-file-asynch-callback):
* lisp/vc/diff-mode.el (diff-delete-if-empty):
* lisp/vc/pcvs-info.el (cvs-fileinfo-from-entries):
* lisp/vc/vc-bzr.el (vc-bzr-state-heuristic):
* lisp/vc/vc-cvs.el (vc-cvs-checkout-model)
(vc-cvs-state-heuristic, vc-cvs-merge-news)
(vc-cvs-retrieve-tag, vc-cvs-parse-status, vc-cvs-parse-entry):
* lisp/vc/vc-hg.el (vc-hg--slurp-hgignore-1)
(vc-hg--ignore-patterns-valid-p)
(vc-hg--cached-dirstate-search, vc-hg-state-fast):
* lisp/vc/vc-hooks.el (vc-after-save):
* lisp/vc/vc-rcs.el (vc-rcs-workfile-is-newer):
* lisp/vc/vc-svn.el (vc-svn-merge-news, vc-svn-parse-status):
* lisp/vc/vc.el (vc-checkout, vc-checkin, vc-revert-file):
* lisp/xdg.el (xdg-mime-apps):
Prefer (file-attribute-size A) to (nth 7 A), and similarly
for other file attributes accessors.
* doc/lispref/files.texi (File Attributes):
* doc/lispref/intro.texi (Version Info):
* doc/lispref/os.texi (Idle Timers):
* lisp/erc/erc.el (erc-string-to-emacs-time):
* lisp/files.el (file-attribute-access-time)
(file-attribute-modification-time)
(file-attribute-status-change-time):
* lisp/net/tramp-compat.el:
(tramp-compat-file-attribute-modification-time)
(tramp-compat-file-attribute-size):
* src/buffer.c (syms_of_buffer):
* src/editfns.c (Fget_internal_run_time):
* src/fileio.c (Fvisited_file_modtime)
(Fset_visited_file_modtime):
* src/keyboard.c (Fcurrent_idle_time):
* src/process.c (Fprocess_attributes):
Defer implementation details about timestamp format to the
section that talks about timestamp format, to make it easier
to change the documentation later if timestamp formats are
extended.
* lisp/gnus/gnus-util.el (gnus-file-newer-than):
* lisp/speedbar.el (speedbar-check-obj-this-line):
* lisp/vc/vc-rcs.el (vc-rcs-workfile-is-newer):
Prefer time-less-p to doing it by hand.
* lisp/ls-lisp.el (ls-lisp-format): Inode numbers are no longer conses.
* lisp/vc/vc-bzr.el (vc-bzr-state-heuristic):
Use eql, not eq, to compare integers that might be bignums.
* lisp/org/ox-publish.el (org-publish-cache-ctime-of-src):
Prefer float-time to doing time arithmetic by hand.

doc/lispref/files.texi

@@ -1299,28 +1299,27 @@ Alternate names, also known as hard links, can be created by using the
 @item
 The file's @acronym{UID}, normally as a string
 (@code{file-attribute-user-id}).  However, if it does not correspond
-to a named user, the value is a number.
+to a named user, the value is an integer.
 
 @item
 The file's @acronym{GID}, likewise (@code{file-attribute-group-id}).
 
 @item
-The time of last access, as a list of four integers
-@code{(@var{sec-high} @var{sec-low} @var{microsec} @var{picosec})}
-(@code{file-attribute-access-time}).  (This is similar to the value of
-@code{current-time}; see @ref{Time of Day}.)  The value is truncated
+The time of last access as a Lisp timestamp
+(@code{file-attribute-status-change-time}).  The timestamp is in the
+style of @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}) and is truncated
 to that of the filesystem's timestamp resolution; for example, on some
 FAT-based filesystems, only the date of last access is recorded, so
 this time will always hold the midnight of the day of the last access.
 
 @cindex modification time of file
 @item
-The time of last modification as a list of four integers (as above)
+The time of last modification as a Lisp timestamp
 (@code{file-attribute-modification-time}).  This is the last time when
 the file's contents were modified.
 
 @item
-The time of last status change as a list of four integers (as above)
+The time of last status change as a Lisp timestamp
 (@code{file-attribute-status-change-time}).  This is the time of the
 last change to the file's access mode bits, its owner and group, and
 other information recorded in the filesystem for the file, beyond the
@@ -1337,11 +1336,12 @@ The file's modes, as a string of ten letters or dashes, as in
 An unspecified value, present for backward compatibility.
 
 @item
-The file's inode number (@code{file-attribute-inode-number}).
+The file's inode number (@code{file-attribute-inode-number}),
+a nonnegative integer.
 
 @item
 The filesystem number of the device that the file is on
-@code{file-attribute-device-number}).
+@code{file-attribute-device-number}), an integer.
 This element and the file's inode number
 together give enough information to distinguish any two files on the
 system---no two files can have the same values for both of these
@@ -2918,7 +2918,7 @@ are included.
 This is similar to @code{directory-files} in deciding which files
 to report on and how to report their names.  However, instead
 of returning a list of file names, it returns for each file a
-list @code{(@var{filename} @var{attributes})}, where @var{attributes}
+list @code{(@var{filename} . @var{attributes})}, where @var{attributes}
 is what @code{file-attributes} returns for that file.
 The optional argument @var{id-format} has the same meaning as the
 corresponding argument to @code{file-attributes} (@pxref{Definition
@@ -3410,8 +3410,9 @@ between consecutive checks.  For example:
   (let ((remote-file-name-inhibit-cache
          (- display-time-interval 5)))
     (and (file-exists-p file)
-         (< 0 (nth 7 (file-attributes
-                       (file-chase-links file)))))))
+         (< 0 (file-attribute-size
+               (file-attributes
+                (file-chase-links file)))))))
 @end example
 @end defopt
 

doc/lispref/intro.texi

@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ giving a prefix argument makes @var{here} non-@code{nil}.
 
 @defvar emacs-build-time
 The value of this variable indicates the time at which Emacs was
-built.  It is a list of four integers, like the value of
+built.  It uses the style of
 @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}), or is @code{nil}
 if the information is not available.
 

doc/lispref/os.texi

@@ -1991,8 +1991,7 @@ the idleness time, as described below.
 
 @defun current-idle-time
 If Emacs is idle, this function returns the length of time Emacs has
-been idle, as a list of four integers: @code{(@var{sec-high}
-@var{sec-low} @var{microsec} @var{picosec})}, using the same format as
+been idle, using the same format as
 @code{current-time} (@pxref{Time of Day}).
 
 When Emacs is not idle, @code{current-idle-time} returns @code{nil}.

doc/misc/gnus.texi

@@ -25889,13 +25889,13 @@ Reset: (setq spam-stat (make-hash-table :test 'equal))
 Learn spam: (spam-stat-process-spam-directory "~/Mail/mail/spam")
 Learn non-spam: (spam-stat-process-non-spam-directory "~/Mail/mail/misc")
 Save table: (spam-stat-save)
-File size: (nth 7 (file-attributes spam-stat-file))
+File size: (file-attribute-size (file-attributes spam-stat-file))
 Number of words: (hash-table-count spam-stat)
 Test spam: (spam-stat-test-directory "~/Mail/mail/spam")
 Test non-spam: (spam-stat-test-directory "~/Mail/mail/misc")
 Reduce table size: (spam-stat-reduce-size)
 Save table: (spam-stat-save)
-File size: (nth 7 (file-attributes spam-stat-file))
+File size: (file-attribute-size (file-attributes spam-stat-file))
 Number of words: (hash-table-count spam-stat)
 Test spam: (spam-stat-test-directory "~/Mail/mail/spam")
 Test non-spam: (spam-stat-test-directory "~/Mail/mail/misc")

lisp/auth-source.el

@@ -956,7 +956,8 @@ Note that the MAX parameter is used so we can exit the parse early."
 
           (if (and (functionp cached-secrets)
                    (equal cached-mtime
-                          (nth 5 (file-attributes file))))
+                          (file-attribute-modification-time
+                           (file-attributes file))))
               (progn
                 (auth-source-do-trivia
                  "auth-source-netrc-parse: using CACHED file data for %s"
@@ -968,7 +969,8 @@ Note that the MAX parameter is used so we can exit the parse early."
             ;; (note for the irony-impaired: they are just obfuscated)
             (auth-source--aput
              auth-source-netrc-cache file
-             (list :mtime (nth 5 (file-attributes file))
+             (list :mtime (file-attribute-modification-time
+                           (file-attributes file))
                    :secret (let ((v (mapcar #'1+ (buffer-string))))
                              (lambda () (apply #'string (mapcar #'1- v)))))))
           (goto-char (point-min))

lisp/autorevert.el

@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ the list of old buffers.")
 
 (defun auto-revert-find-file-function ()
   (setq-local auto-revert-tail-pos
-              (nth 7 (file-attributes buffer-file-name))))
+              (file-attribute-size (file-attributes buffer-file-name))))
 
 (add-hook 'find-file-hook
 	  #'auto-revert-find-file-function)
@@ -434,7 +434,8 @@ Perform a full revert? ")
       (add-hook 'before-save-hook (lambda () (auto-revert-tail-mode 0)) nil t)
       (or (local-variable-p 'auto-revert-tail-pos) ; don't lose prior position
 	  (setq-local auto-revert-tail-pos
-                      (nth 7 (file-attributes buffer-file-name))))
+                      (file-attribute-size
+                       (file-attributes buffer-file-name))))
       ;; let auto-revert-mode set up the mechanism for us if it isn't already
       (or auto-revert-mode
 	  (let ((auto-revert-tail-mode t))
@@ -656,8 +657,8 @@ This is an internal function used by Auto-Revert Mode."
                        (and (file-readable-p buffer-file-name)
                             (/= auto-revert-tail-pos
                                 (setq size
-                                      (nth 7 (file-attributes
-                                              buffer-file-name)))))
+                                      (file-attribute-size
+                                       (file-attributes buffer-file-name)))))
                      (funcall (or buffer-stale-function
                                   #'buffer-stale--default-function)
                               t)))

lisp/cedet/ede/files.el

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ of the anchor file for the project."
 	(if ede--disable-inode
 	    (ede--put-inode-dir-hash dir 0)
 	  (let ((fattr (file-attributes dir)))
-	    (ede--put-inode-dir-hash dir (nth 10 fattr))
+	    (ede--put-inode-dir-hash dir (file-attribute-inode-number fattr))
 	    )))))
 
 (cl-defmethod ede--project-inode ((proj ede-project-placeholder))

lisp/cedet/semantic/db-file.el

@@ -307,8 +307,8 @@ Argument OBJ is the object to write."
     ;; Make sure that the file size and other attributes are
     ;; up to date.
     (let ((fattr (file-attributes (semanticdb-full-filename obj))))
-      (oset obj fsize (nth 7 fattr))
-      (oset obj lastmodtime (nth 5 fattr))
+      (oset obj fsize (file-attribute-size fattr))
+      (oset obj lastmodtime (file-attribute-modification-time fattr))
       )
 
     ;; Do it!

lisp/cedet/semantic/db-mode.el

@@ -178,8 +178,9 @@ handle it later if need be."
 	    (let ((fattr (file-attributes
 			  (semanticdb-full-filename
 			   semanticdb-current-table))))
-	      (oset semanticdb-current-table fsize (nth 7 fattr))
-	      (oset semanticdb-current-table lastmodtime (nth 5 fattr))
+	      (oset semanticdb-current-table fsize (file-attribute-size fattr))
+	      (oset semanticdb-current-table lastmodtime
+		    (file-attribute-modification-time fattr))
 	      (oset semanticdb-current-table buffer nil)
 	      ))
 	;; If this messes up, just clear the system

lisp/cedet/semantic/db.el

@@ -611,8 +611,8 @@ The file associated with OBJ does not need to be in a buffer."
       ;; Buffer isn't loaded.  The only clue we have is if the file
       ;; is somehow different from our mark in the semanticdb table.
       (let* ((stats (file-attributes ff))
-	     (actualsize (nth 7 stats))
-	     (actualmod (nth 5 stats))
+	     (actualsize (file-attribute-size stats))
+	     (actualmod (file-attribute-modification-time stats))
 	     )
 
 	(or (not (slot-boundp obj 'tags))
@@ -631,8 +631,8 @@ The file associated with OBJ does not need to be in a buffer."
   (oset table tags new-tags)
   (oset table pointmax (point-max))
   (let ((fattr (file-attributes (semanticdb-full-filename table))))
-    (oset table fsize (nth 7 fattr))
-    (oset table lastmodtime (nth 5 fattr))
+    (oset table fsize (file-attribute-size fattr))
+    (oset table lastmodtime (file-attribute-modification-time fattr))
     )
   ;; Assume it is now up to date.
   (oset table unmatched-syntax semantic-unmatched-syntax-cache)

lisp/cedet/srecode/table.el

@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ INIT are the initialization parameters for the new template table."
 	 (new (apply 'srecode-template-table
 		     (file-name-nondirectory file)
 		     :file file
-		     :filesize (nth 7 attr)
-		     :filedate (nth 5 attr)
+		     :filesize (file-attribute-size attr)
+		     :filedate (file-attribute-modification-time attr)
 		     :major-mode mode
 		     init
 		     )))

lisp/desktop.el

@@ -1031,7 +1031,8 @@ without further confirmation."
   (setq desktop-dirname (file-name-as-directory (expand-file-name dirname)))
   (save-excursion
     (let ((eager desktop-restore-eager)
-	  (new-modtime (nth 5 (file-attributes (desktop-full-file-name)))))
+	  (new-modtime (file-attribute-modification-time
+			(file-attributes (desktop-full-file-name)))))
       (when
 	  (or (not new-modtime)		; nothing to overwrite
 	      (equal desktop-file-modtime new-modtime)
@@ -1134,7 +1135,9 @@ without further confirmation."
 		(write-region (point-min) (point-max) (desktop-full-file-name) nil 'nomessage))
 	      (setq desktop-file-checksum checksum)
 	      ;; We remember when it was modified (which is presumably just now).
-	      (setq desktop-file-modtime (nth 5 (file-attributes (desktop-full-file-name)))))))))))
+	      (setq desktop-file-modtime (file-attribute-modification-time
+					  (file-attributes
+					   (desktop-full-file-name)))))))))))
 
 ;; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ;;;###autoload
@@ -1238,7 +1241,9 @@ Using it may cause conflicts.  Use it anyway? " owner)))))
                           'window-configuration-change-hook)))
 	    (desktop-auto-save-disable)
 	    ;; Evaluate desktop buffer and remember when it was modified.
-	    (setq desktop-file-modtime (nth 5 (file-attributes (desktop-full-file-name))))
+	    (setq desktop-file-modtime (file-attribute-modification-time
+					(file-attributes
+					 (desktop-full-file-name))))
 	    (load (desktop-full-file-name) t t t)
 	    ;; If it wasn't already, mark it as in-use, to bother other
 	    ;; desktop instances.

lisp/dired-aux.el

@@ -200,9 +200,12 @@ Examples of PREDICATE:
 
     (> mtime1 mtime2) - mark newer files
     (not (= size1 size2)) - mark files with different sizes
-    (not (string= (nth 8 fa1) (nth 8 fa2))) - mark files with different modes
-    (not (and (= (nth 2 fa1) (nth 2 fa2))   - mark files with different UID
-              (= (nth 3 fa1) (nth 3 fa2))))   and GID."
+    (not (string= (file-attribute-modes fa1)  - mark files with different modes
+                  (file-attribute-modes fa2)))
+    (not (and (= (file-attribute-user-id fa1) - mark files with different UID
+                 (file-attribute-user-id fa2))
+              (= (file-attribute-group-id fa1) - and GID.
+                 (file-attribute-group-id fa2))))"
   (interactive
    (list
     (let* ((target-dir (dired-dwim-target-directory))
@@ -269,12 +272,12 @@ condition.  Two file items are considered to match if they are equal
                                  (eval predicate
                                        `((fa1 . ,fa1)
                                          (fa2 . ,fa2)
-                                         (size1 . ,(nth 7 fa1))
-                                         (size2 . ,(nth 7 fa2))
+                                         (size1 . ,(file-attribute-size fa1))
+                                         (size2 . ,(file-attribute-size fa2))
                                          (mtime1
-                                          . ,(float-time (nth 5 fa1)))
+                                          . ,(float-time (file-attribute-modification-time fa1)))
                                          (mtime2
-                                          . ,(float-time (nth 5 fa2)))
+                                          . ,(float-time (file-attribute-modification-time fa2)))
                                          )))))
 		    (setq list (cdr list)))
 		  list)
@@ -308,11 +311,14 @@ List has a form of (file-name full-file-name (attribute-list))."
 		    (cond ((eq op-symbol 'touch)
 			   (format-time-string
 			    "%Y%m%d%H%M.%S"
-			    (nth 5 (file-attributes default-file))))
+			    (file-attribute-modification-time
+			     (file-attributes default-file))))
 			  ((eq op-symbol 'chown)
-			   (nth 2 (file-attributes default-file 'string)))
+			   (file-attribute-user-id
+			    (file-attributes default-file 'string)))
 			  ((eq op-symbol 'chgrp)
-			   (nth 3 (file-attributes default-file 'string))))))
+			   (file-attribute-group-id
+			    (file-attributes default-file 'string))))))
 	 (prompt (concat "Change " attribute-name " of %s to"
 			 (if (eq op-symbol 'touch)
 			     " (default now): "
@@ -365,7 +371,7 @@ into the minibuffer."
 	 ;; The source of default file attributes is the file at point.
 	 (default-file (dired-get-filename t t))
 	 (modestr (when default-file
-		    (nth 8 (file-attributes default-file))))
+		    (file-attribute-modes (file-attributes default-file))))
 	 (default
 	   (and (stringp modestr)
 		(string-match "^.\\(...\\)\\(...\\)\\(...\\)$" modestr)
@@ -1571,20 +1577,20 @@ If `ask', ask for user confirmation."
 
 (defun dired-copy-file-recursive (from to ok-flag &optional
 				       preserve-time top recursive)
-  (when (and (eq t (car (file-attributes from)))
+  (when (and (eq t (file-attribute-type (file-attributes from)))
 	     (file-in-directory-p to from))
     (error "Cannot copy `%s' into its subdirectory `%s'" from to))
   (let ((attrs (file-attributes from)))
     (if (and recursive
-	     (eq t (car attrs))
+	     (eq t (file-attribute-type attrs))
 	     (or (eq recursive 'always)
 		 (yes-or-no-p (format "Recursive copies of %s? " from))))
 	(copy-directory from to preserve-time)
       (or top (dired-handle-overwrite to))
       (condition-case err
-	  (if (stringp (car attrs))
+	  (if (stringp (file-attribute-type attrs))
 	      ;; It is a symlink
-	      (make-symbolic-link (car attrs) to ok-flag)
+	      (make-symbolic-link (file-attribute-type attrs) to ok-flag)
             (dired-maybe-create-dirs (file-name-directory to))
 	    (copy-file from to ok-flag preserve-time))
 	(file-date-error
@@ -1765,7 +1771,7 @@ ESC or `q' to not overwrite any of the remaining files,
                 (setq to destname))
 	      ;; If DESTNAME is a subdirectory of FROM, not a symlink,
 	      ;; and the method in use is copying, signal an error.
-	      (and (eq t (car (file-attributes destname)))
+	      (and (eq t (file-attribute-type (file-attributes destname)))
 		   (eq file-creator 'dired-copy-file)
 		   (file-in-directory-p destname from)
 		   (error "Cannot copy `%s' into its subdirectory `%s'"

lisp/dired.el

@@ -850,8 +850,8 @@ If DIRNAME is already in a Dired buffer, that buffer is used without refresh."
   (not (let ((attributes (file-attributes dirname))
 	     (modtime (visited-file-modtime)))
 	 (or (eq modtime 0)
-	     (not (eq (car attributes) t))
-	     (equal (nth 5 attributes) modtime)))))
+	     (not (eq (file-attribute-type attributes) t))
+	     (equal (file-attribute-modification-time attributes) modtime)))))
 
 (defvar auto-revert-remote-files)
 
@@ -1092,7 +1092,8 @@ wildcards, erases the buffer, and builds the subdir-alist anew
       (dired-build-subdir-alist)
       (let ((attributes (file-attributes dirname)))
 	(if (eq (car attributes) t)
-	    (set-visited-file-modtime (nth 5 attributes))))
+	    (set-visited-file-modtime (file-attribute-modification-time
+                                       attributes))))
       (set-buffer-modified-p nil)
       ;; No need to narrow since the whole buffer contains just
       ;; dired-readin's output, nothing else.  The hook can

lisp/dos-w32.el

@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ filesystem mounted on drive Z:, FILESYSTEM could be \"Z:\"."
 	       w32-direct-print-region-use-command-dot-com
 	       ;; file-attributes fails on LPT ports on Windows 9x but
 	       ;; not on NT, so handle both cases for safety.
-	       (eq (or (nth 7 (file-attributes printer)) 0) 0))
+	       (eq (or (file-attribute-size (file-attributes printer)) 0) 0))
 	  (write-region start end tempfile nil 0)
 	  (let ((w32-quote-process-args nil))
 	    (call-process "command.com" nil errbuf nil "/c"