Re: ProDOS misc. questions

[rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com (Richard Der)]

dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) wrote:
>In article <4tkl99$fkj@elna.ethz.ch>, GUDATH@EZINFO.VMSMAIL.ETHZ.CH
>(Henrik 'Ratte' Gudat) wrote:
>
>>In <31FDD36C.B59@cardshow.com> Michael writes:
>>
>>> o Why the root directory of a ProDOS volume is limited to 51 files?
>>
>>There's limited space for the root structure.
>
>Actually, there is no reason why the root directory could not get
>larger, except that too many programs asssume the directory is
>always four blocks, starting at block 2 and ending at block 6.
>
>The file system is able to cope with an arbitrary number of blocks for
>the root directory.  In fact, on the /RAM volume, ProDOS only allocates
>one block for the root directory, which gives you space for 12 files.
 
You are right. There is a way to expand the root directory past 51
files. There used to be an operating system for 8-bit Apple IIs
called GEOS. You could copy as many ProDOS 8 files to the root
directory of a disk as you like with it. Providing none of the files
are extended GEOS files, which are inaccessable to P8, the disks are
completely usable from regular ProDOS applications.
 
I once translated two 2 sided 5.25" disks filled with DOS 3.3 Printshop
graphics. Using GEOS, it was possible to place the 100-200 files into
the root directory of a single 3.5" disk (this was done to make it
easier to work with for people used to the flat file DOS 3.3 system).


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