Re: Hardware gadget for tape loading

[niallt@dai.ed.ac.uk (Niall Tracey)]

Darren Salt (news@youmustbejoking.demon.com.uk) wrote:
: In message <7sai2c$rcr$8@scotsman.ed.ac.uk>
:           niallt@dai.ed.ac.uk (Niall Tracey) wrote:

: > Ernest R. Schreurs (ernest@wxs.nl) wrote:
: [snip]
: >> Tapes for one system cannot be loaded on another system. I think it is
: >> very confusing to store all sorts of tape files for different machines in
: >> the same format. [...]

: > Then I'd like to suggest a slight alteration to the implementation of TZX
: > files. Provide alternative filename extensions for different machines.

: That loses immediately :-)

: > The actual encoding could be identical, but the extensions would allow the
: > user to distinguish between files for different machines. Say:
: >  TII for Apple II
: >  T80 for ZX80
: >  T81 for ZX81
: >  TBC or TAC for BBC Micro/Acorn Electron
: >  TAM or TPC for Amstrad CPC
: > etc

: > (It's a shame some OSes only support 3-letter extensions. [...]

: Hmm. RISC OS doesn't recognise filename extensions at all on Filecore-based
: filing systems such as ADFS and provides extension-to-filetype mapping in
: DOSFS and CDFS (and 3rd-party FSes of this type), so unless we're going to
: allocate yet more filetype numbers...

OK, well for the majority of machines, the extension idea should
stick. I'm afraid Arc users may have to settle for a single
filetype. But then that's not a problem, because the multiple
extension standard would really only be required for idiots. The only
idiots I know with RISC PCs and Arcs are school teachers... :)

: > Then the emulator/archive program could have the 'files of which type'
: > options:
: >  TZX for [computer being used] - that would show only files with the
: >                                  relevant extension.
: >  All TZX files                 - that would show all files with an
: >                                  extension accepted by the TZX
: >                                  standards body.

: Fair enough, but why bother when the emulator can multitask and interact with
: the Filer? :-)

Because the lure of the dark side is strong. It promises much to those
willing to listen. It fools the unwary and weak willed into believing
it has more power than the light side. You and I both know
differently...

There is much conflict in me. I can feel it. Perhaps one day I can
return to the true path...

: Clones are people two.

OUCH!

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