Paul Schlyter wrote:
In article <1183287598.028105.187190@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, mdj <mdj.mdj@gmail.com> wrote:Yep. Sparse files is one of the more innovative concepts in ProDOS,:-) Sparse files were available already in Apple DOS 3.3 as well as in CP/M-80, both of which predated ProDOS.
Interesting--so I presume that a sparse file is created in DOS by doing non-contiguous WRITEs to a random text file...? I'm trying to recall if I ever saw a DOS 3.3 sparse file. For my purposes, I find binary files much more convenient for arbitrary data structures, using ProDOS's "B" parameter for "positioning". -michael NadaNet file server for Apple II computers! Home page: http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/ "The wastebasket is our most important design tool--and it's seriously underused."